Why Are More Americans Choosing Medicare Advantage?

Lower out-of-pocket costs. Higher quality. Better outcomes. Improved experiences.

Medicare Advantage is a public-private partnership that provides more than 24 million beneficiaries – over one third of the Medicare population – with affordable, high-quality, and convenient health care that protects against unforeseen medical costs, coordinates care for those with chronic illnesses, and reduces hospital readmissions to keep beneficiaries as healthy as possible.

Unlike Medicare Fee-For-Service, Medicare Advantage simplifies coverage, combining Medicare Part A – which includes inpatient care, such as hospital admissions – and Part B – which includes outpatient services, such as doctor visits. Medicare Advantage can also integrate medical and prescription drug coverage so beneficiaries have access to unified and coordinated coverage.

In addition, Medicare Advantage offers benefits beyond Medicare Fee-For-Service, such as vision, hearing and dental care, gym memberships, and care coordination programs. And with predictable copays, capped annual out-of-pocket expenses, and stable and low premiums, UnitedHealth Group research shows that Medicare Advantage lowers costs for beneficiaries by as much as 39% compared to Medicare Fee-For-Service.

Simply put, Medicare Advantage provides beneficiaries more value for their Medicare dollar.

Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs

A Medicare beneficiary’s health care costs vary significantly based on their choice of health coverage. UnitedHealth Group research shows annual health care costs for a 72-year-old beneficiary of average health in Medicare Advantage ($3,632) are as much as 39% less than for a comparable beneficiary in Medicare Fee-For-Service.
 

Higher Quality and Better Outcomes

Medicare Advantage provides beneficiaries with personalized, higher-quality care that leads to better outcomes.

Research shows:

• Hospital readmission rates are 13% to 20% lower in Medicare Advantage than in Medicare Fee-For-Service.

• Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are about 20% more likely than those in Medicare Fee-For-Service to have an annual preventive care visit.
   

Improved Experiences

The consumer experience for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage beneficiaries is improved by a variety of distinctive benefits and programs, including:

• Virtual Visits: In 2020, UnitedHealthcare is making virtual visits available to most beneficiaries, giving more than 4 million people access to care providers through a smartphone or computer for minor health issues or behavioral health support, often at no cost.
  
  
• HouseCalls: Almost all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are able to access HouseCalls, a program that offers people an annual health and wellness visit from the comfort of home, helping make it easier to get needed care, tests, and treatment. HouseCalls closed 3 million gaps in care for Medicare beneficiaries in 2019.
  
  
• Navigate4Me: This personalized, concierge support program is available to UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage beneficiaries facing complex health issues such as diabetes or congestive heart failure, or experiencing an acute event like a knee or hip replacement. It pairs beneficiaries with a single point of contact to coordinate care, address claims issues, provide social support, and help with other needs. UnitedHealthcare anticipates nearly 2 million members will have access to Navigate4Me in 2020. Navigate4Me has shown a 9% reduction in ER visits among enrollees with congestive heart failure.

More People Are Choosing Medicare Advantage

A growing number of Americans are selecting Medicare Advantage over Medicare Fee-For-Service, with enrollment doubling from 2010, reaching over 24 million beneficiaries today. 

The rise in popularity of Medicare Advantage should come as no surprise. After all, according to a survey of beneficiaries published last fall, 94% of beneficiaries said they were satisfied with their coverage, with 62% of beneficiaries calling Medicare Advantage a better choice than Medicare Fee-For-Service.

Why have 24 million Americans chosen Medicare Advantage?
Lower out-of-pocket costs. Higher Quality. Better Outcomes. Improved Experiences.

March 2020