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Strong Growth From May to June In Medicare Advantage
As noted last month, I decided to continue my Medicare Advantage (MA) monthly enrollment blogs because of continuing strong month-over-month increases. Admittedly, the continuing growth is tied to remaining strong benefit packages for 2024 and appears to be isolated to a few big plans. Many plans will rein in benefits and geographies for contract year 2025 due to significantly deteriorating bottom lines. This is being caused by the return of robust utilization, inflation picking up in the healthcare sector (especially at hospitals), poor Star scores, negative rate increases for 2024 and 2025, and new regulatory burdens (such as the new prior authorization restrictions). The recent 2024 Star recalculation, which was precipitated by losses in court by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will mean some plans refile bids and benefits for 2025. But we are hearing great reluctance to refile by many due to the quick deadlines, the negative