Research Finds Link Between Poor Health And Seniors Switching Out Of Private Medicare Plans

New research finds that many seniors who switch from their HMO-style Medicare Advantage plan to traditional Medicare have higher levels of significant health problems, fueling concerns that the private plans cater to more profitable, healthy beneficiaries but don’t provide the most attractive care for the very ill.

More than 13 million people, a quarter of all Medicare beneficiaries, are enrolled in these private plans. Enrollment has been growing, in part because the plans often offer lower premiums than does traditional Medicare, as well as special perks such as free gym memberships. Many Republicans want to build on them while capping the amount of money each Medicare beneficiary gets toward insurance. Democrats are disturbed the plans are more expensive than traditional Medicare and cut payments in the 2010 health law.

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Source: Kaiser Health News