Seniors strongly support Medicare Advantage, a new poll shows, with 93% of MA beneficiaries saying that protecting funding for the program should be a priority of the current administration, and 68% saying it should be a top priority.1
The Morning Consult poll of 1,000 seniors on Medicare, conducted last month, found 88% would oppose the federal government reducing the amount of money it contributes to MA.1
These results come as CMS prepares for its annual Rate Notice process, where it will determine annual payment rates for MA and Part D plans for the next contract year.
High member satisfaction
The high level of public support for MA is no surprise given the high member satisfaction studies have documented. An overwhelming 94% of members are satisfied with their coverage, and 95% are satisfied with their network of doctors, hospitals and specialists, the poll found.2 Eighty-nine percent of MA members also said the program saves them money compared with other coverage.2
“With swelling enrollment numbers and continued near-universal beneficiary satisfaction, it’s no wonder that seniors feel so strongly about protecting the Medicare Advantage coverage they choose and enjoy,” said Mary Beth Donahue, president and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance.
However, the poll highlighted a need to improve federal outreach and education so that more seniors are aware that MA is an option for them. Almost half of seniors on Medicare said they were not familiar with MA when they turned 65, and 21% were not familiar at all. Ninety-three percent of seniors on Medicare say it is important to have an option besides fee-for-service Medicare, and 48% would have liked to have known more about MA when they first enrolled.
About 29.5 million Americans are expected to enroll in MA this year, and with solid support from current members and strong outreach and education for incoming Medicare beneficiaries, MA plans will have an opportunity to bring their high-quality coverage to growing numbers of US seniors.
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References
- Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Protecting Medicare Advantage Funding. Better Medicare Alliance. Jan. 12, 2022. https://bettermedicarealliance.org/news/poll-shows-overwhelming-support-for-protecting-medicare-advantage-funding/
- Survey Results: Annual Seniors on Medicare Survey. Morning Consult/Better Medicare Alliance. January 2022. https://bettermedicarealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BMA_Seniors-on-Medicare-Memo_final3.pdf
