KFF report analyzes Medicare Advantage plans

MedicareAdvantage plans enrolled a record 9.8 million beneficiaries, more thanone in five of the nation’s 44 million people on Medicare as of April2008. That represents an increase of more than 800,000 beneficiaries injust four months, continuing a period of unprecedented growth forprivate plans in Medicare since 2003.

This issue brief, preparedfor the Kaiser Family Foundation by Marsha Gold of Mathematica PolicyResearch, Inc., analyzes recent developments in the Medicare Advantagemarketplace, including plan choices available to beneficiaries andenrollment trends by plan type and geography.

The brief alsoexamines market share for the companies offering Medicare Advantageplans and the role Medicare Advantage plans play in providingemployer-sponsored retiree health benefits.

Issue Brief (.pdf)