Medicare Advantage plans save lives. Just ask Freddie Sanchez from Palm Springs, California.
When Freddie wasn’t feeling well, he went to see a doctor from his Medicare Advantage network. The doctor immediately admitted him to the hospital, where he found he had pneumonia and experienced a mild heart attack. Freddie received the care he needed and made a full recovery.
Thanks to Medicare Advantage plans and their high-value networks, beneficiaries like Freddy have access to reliable and more affordable care. In fact, past studies have found that when Medicare Advantage plans and providers share accountability for patient care, visits to the emergency room and hospital fall while doctor visits and survival rates increase.
High-value networks are just one way health insurance providers create choices for seniors and meet their unique needs. Unlike traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage offers seniors better services, better access to care, and better value. For example, in 2020 roughly 93% of seniors can choose a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage included. Additionally, next year, premiums are expected to decline by 23% from 2018, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – their lowest in 13 years.
At the same time Medicare Advantage enrollees will see lower costs, their plans will have greater flexibility. CMS has expanded the available types of benefits included in Medicare Advantage plans in 2020. This means seniors could have coverage for things like pest control treatment to address a chronic condition, transportation to doctor’s appointments for certain illnesses, and access to healthy produce.
So, what do seniors think? Today, 93% of seniors in Medicare Advantage are satisfied with their plans and their choice of providers and the preventive care benefits they receive. Additionally, 92% would recommend it to friends and family. High satisfaction rates strongly confirm that consumers who choose Medicare Advantage are happy with the care they receive. This means access to high-quality care at a price they can afford. With Medicare Advantage, seniors can stay happy and healthy.