Medicare Advantage

Insurers and Wall Street analysts still see cuts ahead for Medicare Advantage plans even though the Obama administration says that tweaks to its draft policy mean the rates will rise.  “It’s not as clear-cut a win for the industry as some are making it out to be,” John Gorman, executive chairman of Gorman Health Group, a consulting firm, … Read more

Lost in Monday’s announcement by the CMS of 2015 Medicare Advantage rates was another significant decision it issued to allow consumers an opt-out option when their health plans narrow their MA networks. The agency “is establishing a policy to allow enrollees to switch plans when they are affected by significant mid-year provider network terminations initiated by their Medicare … Read more

After an aggressive lobbying push from the insurance industry, the CMS announced Monday that it would increase the overall rate it pays Medicare Advantage plans by 0.4% in 2015, despite a proposed policy issued in February that signaled a 1.9% rate cut.  The positive change is the result of “various policy changes” and “new estimates,” Jonathan Blum, CMS principal … Read more