Health Affairs

Health Affairs, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.w41 (Published online November 24, 2008) © 2008 by Project HOPE	New Online   Getting Health Reform Done   After the State of the Union   Incremental Reform   E-Health in Developing World   Most-Read Articles in 2009

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Medicare's Private Plans: A Report Card On Medicare Advantage

Marsha Gold ^1*

¹ Marsha Gold is a senior fellow at Mathematica Policy Research Inc. in Washington, D.C.

^*Corresponding author.

Abstract

With higher payments and expanded private-plan authority, Medicare Advantage (MA) has caused the market to grow. One in three Medicare beneficiaries with Part D now gets this coverage through MA. Analysis of the sources of and reasons for enrollment growth suggest a troubling report card. Clearly, the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) has expanded choice and the private-sector role. But it also has added to Medicare's complexity and costs and has created potential inequities, without apparent improvements in quality. However the debate ends, a stronger system of performance monitoring and accountability is needed to meet Medicare's essential fiduciary requirements and oversight responsibilities. [Health Affairs 28, no. 1 (2009): w41-w54 (published online 24 November 2008; 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.w41)]

Key Words: Access To Care, Business Of Health, Consumer Issues, Elderly, Health Reform, Managed Care - Medicare, Medicare

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