Free Medicare help is available 800-333-4114
POLICY TOPIC

Medicare Sustainability

Our Work

Policy Documents & Resources

Positions and Publications

Medicare Advantage Marketing, Brokers, and Agents 

Agents and brokers for MA plans receive commissions per enrollment and often receive additional “administrative” bonuses that balloon MA spending. These financial incentives drive aggressive and misleading marketing aimed at people looking for coverage. As a result, beneficiaries fall into the “MA Trap,” finding themselves enrolled in an MA plan that doesn’t meet their needs and without an efficient way to switch back to Original Medicare.

Download PDF
Positions and Publications

Beneficiary Experiences With Medicare Advantage Marketing

As the cost of care rises, beneficiaries increasingly look for plans that promise discounts or additional benefits. MA plans take advantage of this and flood potential beneficiaries with marketing calls, mailers, ads, and even in-person solicitation that can be deceptive and easily misunderstood.

Download PDF
Positions and Publications

Beneficiary Experiences with Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits

Original Medicare has significant gaps in coverage, including very limited coverage of dental, vision, and hearing care. By advertising supplemental benefits that seem to fill these gaps and help tackle the cost of care and living, MA plans captivate the attention of beneficiaries struggling to afford care. But these benefits are not standardized or clearly communicated, falling short of their original promises.

Download PDF
Positions and Publications

Medicare Advantage Proliferation: Too Much of a Complicated Thing

In recent years, insurance companies have flooded the MA market with plans that are difficult to tell apart, creating overwhelm and confusion that costs both beneficiaries and the Medicare program more than Original Medicare. This part addresses the causes and consequences of the rapid proliferation of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in the absence of adequate consumer guidance and federal regulation.

Download PDF
Positions and Publications

Medicare Site Neutrality: Pursuing a More Rational Payment System

Under current site-specific payment rates, the same service can cost patients and Medicare vastly different amounts based on the location and hospital affiliation of the provider. This part of the series explains how these payment rules incentivize hospitals to vertically integrate routine care in order to drive up profits. Site-neutral payments offer a more rational alternative that would minimize arbitrary differences in cost and protect Medicare sustainability.

Download PDF
View all resources →

Become a Medicare Champion

2,400+ Champions stand with older Americans. Your gift keeps the helpline free, the policy work loud, and the next 30 years possible. Will you join them?

Become a Champion →