A record 33.8 million seniors and people with disabilities—55 percent of the Medicare population—are now enrolled in the program.
The Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) says as the program continues to grow, it has become more diverse. More beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage are low income, identify as a racial and ethnic minority, and have more chronic conditions, according to BMA’s 2024 State of Medicare Advantage report.
Indeed, 30 percent of the nearly 34 million Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are now Black, Latino, or Asian, compared to 18 percent in fee-for-service Medicare, the report finds. Sixty-four percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees report having three or more chronic conditions.
“As the Medicare choice for a majority of America’s seniors, Medicare Advantage increasingly reflects the diversity of this country,” said Mary Beth Donahue, president and CEO of BMA in the announcement. “Seniors choose Medicare Advantage for affordable health care, and protecting this program has never been more important.”
Here are nine other findings from the report:
- Overall, Medicare Advantage enrollment has doubled over the past decade: 33.8 million seniors and people with disabilities (55 percent of the Medicare population) are now in a Medicare Advantage plan
- In rural areas, Medicare Advantage enrollees are nearly three times as likely to be Black and more likely to be Latino compared to fee-for-service Medicare enrollees
- The percentage of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage by race or ethnicity are Latino (65 percent), Black (64 percent), Asian (54 percent), white (46 percent), and Native American (37 percent).
- Fifty-two percent of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries live below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
- Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage have more social risk factors that are key drivers in health disparities: 52 percent live on annual incomes of less than $24,500.43; 16 percent of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries completed less than a high school degree compared to nine percent of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries; 17 percent of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries experience food insecurity compared to 11 percent of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries.
- Food insecurity disproportionately impacts Black and Latino Medicare Advantage beneficiaries: 36 percent of Black beneficiaries and 35 percent of Latino beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage report being food insecure compared to 15 percent of white Beneficiaries.
- Dually eligible Black and Latino beneficiaries enroll in Medicare Advantage at higher rates: 50 percent of dually eligible Black beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage and 57 percent of dually eligible Latino beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage.
- Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are 19 percent more likely to live in socially vulnerable counties compared to fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. They are also 20 percent more likely to live in counties at high risk for negative impacts of natural hazards, such as floods, wildfires, and droughts.
- Medicare Advantage beneficiaries spend an average of $2,541 less per year on out-of-pockets costs and premiums compared to those enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare. The average monthly premium in Medicare Advantage is just $18.50 this year.