Medicare Advantage enrollment goes up as premium costs decline

A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the enrollment increases were also due in part to seniors' reduced access to supplemental coverage as well as greater comfort with managed care.

Bloomberg: Medicare Advantage Enrollment Rises 10% On Lower Premiums
Enrollment in U.S. government-backed Medicare plans run by insurers led by UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) rose 10 percent to a record this year as lower premiums enticed people to sign up, a study shows. The average monthly charge for the 13.1 million people on Medicare Advantage fell $4 to $35, and is down from $44 in 2010, the Kaiser Family Foundation said today in a report (Wayne, 6/12).

The Hill: Report: Enrollment Up, Premiums Down For Medicare Advantage
The 2010 healthcare law contained cuts to Medicare Advantage that were strongly opposed by Republicans and insurance companies. The program offers care to seniors through private insurers that contract with the Medicare agency. ... The program now covers more than 13 million beneficiaries, or 27 percent of the Medicare population, the report stated. ... The law's cuts to the program are expected to save $136 billion over 10 years (Viebeck, 6/12).