WASHINGTON, D.C. – (May 18, 2021) – In a report issued earlier today, independent research institution NORC at the University of Chicago found that dual eligibles enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) were less likely to experience disruptions in their health care during COVID-19 than dual eligibles enrolled in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare.
According to NORC, Americans dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid are some of the most complex and vulnerable seniors. “Dual eligibles who chose to enroll in MA tend to be older, sicker, and more racially and ethnically diverse than their dual eligible counterparts in the traditional FFS Medicare program,” NORC’s release states.
“Despite being older and sicker, dual eligibles in MA were less likely to report difficulty accessing care during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the release continues. “Only 35 percent of dual eligibles in MA said they were unable to get a regular check-up during the pandemic, compared to 51 percent in FFS. Similarly, dual eligibles in MA were less likely to report that they were unable to get diagnostic or medical screening tests, treatment for ongoing conditions, and urgent care for accidents or illnesses during the pandemic.”
Funding for this analysis was provided by AHIP. NORC retained full control over the data, methods, and content of the analysis.
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