Disparities in Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Plans With Dental Benefits.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Weatherspoon DJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10867677 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Disparities in Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Plans With Dental Benefits.
Weatherspoon Darien J DJ Hutfless Susan S Manski Richard J RJ Moeller John F JF
JAMA network open 20240205 2
Similar Datasets
Project description:ImportanceSince 2019 and 2020, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have been able to offer supplemental benefits that address long-term services and supports (LTSS) and social determinants of health (SDOH).ObjectiveTo examine the temporal trends and geographic variation in enrollment in MA plans offering LTSS and SDOH benefits.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study used publicly available data to examine changes in beneficiary enrollment and plan offerings of LTSS and SDOH benefits from the benefits data from the second quarter of each year and other data from April of each year except 2024, for which the first quarter was the latest for benefits data and January the latest for other data at the time of analysis. Multivariable linear regression models for each type of benefit were used to investigate associations between county characteristics and enrollment in 2024. Analyses were stratified for (1) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) that exclusively enroll dual-eligible beneficiaries and (2) non-D-SNPs.Main outcomes and measuresThe percentage of MA enrollees in plans offering LTSS or SDOH benefits at the county level.ResultsThis study included 2 631 697 D-SNP and 20 114 506 non-D-SNP enrollees in 2020, which increased to 5 494 426 and 25 561 455, respectively, in 2024. From 2020 to 2024, the percentage of D-SNP enrollees in plans offering SDOH benefits increased from 9% to 46%, whereas the percentage fluctuated between 23% and 39% for LTSS benefits. There was an increase in non-D-SNP enrollees with LTSS (from 9% to 22%) and SDOH (from 4% to 20%) benefits from 2020 to 2023, which decreased in 2024. In 2024, the most offered LTSS benefit was in-home support services, and the most offered SDOH benefit was food and produce. The percentage of enrollees with these benefits varied across counties in 2024. In multivariable linear regression models, among D-SNPs, enrollment in plans offering any SDOH benefits was higher in counties with greater MA penetration (coefficient, 5.0 percentage points [pp] per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 2.1-7.9 pp), in urban counties (coefficient, 7.2 pp vs rural counties; 95% CI, 3.8-10.6 pp), in counties with greater enrollment in fully integrated D-SNPs (coefficient, 3.0 pp per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 2.2-3.9 pp), and in counties in states with approved Medicaid home- and community-based services waivers for individuals 65 years or older or those with disabilities (coefficient, 10.8 pp; 95% CI, 4.0-17.6 pp). Enrollment in D-SNPs offering LTSS benefits was also higher in counties with greater MA penetration (coefficient, 5.9 pp per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 2.4-9.5 pp), urban vs rural counties (coefficient, 4.6 pp; 95% CI, 1.1-8.1 pp), and counties with greater enrollment in fully integrated D-SNPs (coefficient, 3.0 pp per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 2.1-3.9 pp) in addition to counties with greater social vulnerability scores (coefficient, 1.4 pp per 10-pp change; 95% CI, 0.3-2.5 pp).Conclusions and relevanceIn this cross-sectional study of MA plans and enrollees, an increase in enrollment was most consistent in D-SNPs offering SDOH benefits compared with LTSS benefits and in D-SNPs compared with non-D-SNPs. Geographic variation in enrollment patterns highlights potential gaps in access to LTSS and SDOH benefits for rural MA beneficiaries and dual-eligible enrollees living in counties with lower enrollment in fully integrated D-SNPs and states with more limited Medicaid home- and community-based services coverage.
| S-EPMC11409149 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceMost Medicare beneficiaries now choose to enroll in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Racial and ethnic minority group and low-income beneficiaries are increasingly enrolling in MA plans.ObjectiveTo examine whether dental, vision, and hearing supplemental benefits offered in MA plans are associated with the plan choices of traditionally underserved Medicare beneficiaries.Design, setting, and participantsThis exploratory observational cross-sectional study used data from the 2018 to 2020 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey linked to MA plan benefits. The nationally representative sample comprised primarily community-dwelling MA beneficiaries enrolled in general enrollment MA plans. Data analysis was performed between April and October 2023.ExposuresBeneficiary self-identified race and ethnicity and combined individual and spouse income and educational attainment.Main outcomes and measuresBinary indicators were developed to determine whether beneficiaries were enrolled in a plan offering any dental, comprehensive dental, any vision, eyewear, any hearing, or hearing aid benefit. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were estimated to report average marginal effects adjusted for beneficiary-level demographic and health characteristics, plan attributes, and plan availability.ResultsThis study included 8139 (weighted N = 31 million) eligible MA beneficiaries, with a mean (SD) age of 77.7 (7.5) years. More than half of beneficiaries (54.9%) were women; 9.8% self-identified as Black, 2.0% as Hispanic, 83.9% as White, and 4.2% as other or multiple races or ethnicities. Plan choices by dental benefits were examined among 7516 beneficiaries who were not enrolled in any dental standalone plan, by vision benefits for 8026 beneficiaries not enrolled in any vision standalone plan, and by hearing benefits for 8131 beneficiaries not enrolled in any hearing standalone plan. Black beneficiaries were more likely to enroll in plans with any dental benefit (9.0 percentage points [95% CI, 3.4-14.4]; P < .001), any comprehensive dental benefit (11.2 percentage points [95% CI, 5.7-16.7]; P < .001), any eye benefit (3.0 percentage points [95% CI, 1.0 to 5.0]; P = .004), or any eyewear benefit (6.0 percentage points [95% CI, 0.6-11.5]; P = .03) compared with White beneficiaries. Lower-income individuals (earning ≤200% of the federal poverty level) were more likely to enroll in a plan with a comprehensive dental benefit (4.4 percentage-point difference [95% CI, 0.1-7.9]; P = .01) compared with higher-income beneficiaries. Beneficiaries without a college degree were more likely to enroll in a plan with a comprehensive dental benefit (4.7 percentage-point difference [95% CI, 1.4-8.0]; P = .005) compared with those with higher educational attainment.Conclusions and relevanceThe results of this study suggest that racial and ethnic minority individuals and those with lower income or educational attainment are more likely to choose MA plans with dental or vision benefits. As the federal government prepares to adjust MA plan star ratings for health equity, implements MA payment cuts, and allows increasing flexibility in supplemental benefit offerings, these findings may inform benefit monitoring for MA.
| S-EPMC10787318 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveRacial and ethnic minority enrollees in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans tend to be in lower-quality plans, measured by a 5-star quality rating system. We examine whether differential access to high-rated plans was associated with this differential enrollment in high-rated plans by race and ethnicity among MA enrollees.Data sourcesThe Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary File and MA Landscape File for 2016.Study designWe first examined county-level MA plan offerings by race and ethnicity. We then examined the association of racial and ethnic differences in enrollment by star rating by controlling for the following different sets of covariates: (1) individual-level characteristics only, and (2) individual-level characteristics and county-level MA plan offerings.Data collection/extraction methodsNot applicable PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Racial and ethnic minority enrollees had, on average, more MA plans available in their counties of residence compared to White enrollees (16.1, 20.8, 20.2, vs. 15.1 for Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and White enrollees), but had fewer number of high-rated plans (4-star plans or higher) and/or more number of low-rated plans (3.5-star plans or lower). While racial and ethnic minority enrollees had lower enrollment in 4-4.5 star plans than White enrollees, this difference substantially decreased after accounting for county-level MA plan offerings (-9.1 to -0.5 percentage points for Black enrollees, -15.9 to -5.0 percentage points for Asian/Pacific Islander enrollees, and -12.7 to 0.6 percentage points for Hispanic enrollees). Results for Black enrollees were notable as the racial difference reversed when we limited the analysis to those who live in counties that offer a 5-star plan. After accounting for county-level MA plan offerings, Black enrollees had 3.2 percentage points higher enrollment in 5-star plans than White enrollees.ConclusionsDifferences in enrollment in high-rated MA plans by race and ethnicity may be explained by limited access and not by individual characteristics or enrollment decisions.
| S-EPMC10012240 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundDifferences in the control of blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose among the various racial and ethnic groups of Medicare enrollees may contribute to persistent disparities in health outcomes.MethodsAmong elderly enrollees in Medicare Advantage health plans in 2011 who had hypertension (94,171 persons), cardiovascular disease (112,039), or diabetes (105,848), we compared the respective age-and-sex-adjusted proportions with blood pressure lower than 140/90 mm Hg, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels below 100 mg per deciliter (2.6 mmol per liter), and a glycated hemoglobin value of 9.0% or lower, according to race or ethnic group. Comparisons were made nationally and within regions and health plans, and changes since 2006 were assessed.ResultsBlack enrollees in 2006 and 2011 were substantially less likely than white enrollees to have adequate control of blood pressure (adjusted absolute differences in proportions of enrollees in the 2 years, 7.9 percentage points and 10.3 percentage points, respectively), cholesterol (11.4 percentage points and 10.2 percentage points, respectively), and glycated hemoglobin (10.1 percentage points and 9.4 percentage points, respectively) (P<0.001 for all comparisons). Differing distributions of enrollees among health plans accounted for 39 to 59% of observed disparities in 2011. These differences persisted in 2011 in the Northeast, Midwest, and South (6.9 to 14.1 percentage points, P<0.001 for all comparisons) but were eliminated in the West for all three measures (<1.5 percentage points, P≥0.15). Hispanic enrollees were less likely than whites in 2011 to have adequate control of blood pressure (adjusted difference, 1.6 percentage points), cholesterol (adjusted difference, 1.0 percentage points), and glycated hemoglobin (adjusted difference, 3.4 percentage points) (P≤0.02 for all comparisons). Asians and Pacific Islanders were more likely than whites to have adequate control of blood pressure (difference, 4.4 percentage points; P<0.001) and cholesterol (5.5 percentage points, P<0.001) and had similar control of glycated hemoglobin (0.3 percentage points, P=0.63).ConclusionsDisparities in control of blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose have not improved nationally for blacks in Medicare Advantage plans, but these disparities were eliminated in the West in 2011. (Funded by the National Institute on Aging.).
| S-EPMC4381536 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesWe assessed the characteristics of older Mexican American enrollees in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and the factors associated with disenrollment from FFS and enrollment in MA plans.DesignLongitudinal study linked with Medicare claims data.SettingThe Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly.ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling Mexican American older adults (N = 1455).MeasurementsWe examined insurance status using the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File and estimated the association of sociodemographic and clinical factors with insurance plan switching.ResultsAmong Mexican American older adults, FFS enrollees were more likely to be born in Mexico, speak Spanish, have lower levels of education, and have more disability than MA enrollees. Older adults with a larger number of limitations of instrumental activities of daily living (odds ratio [OR] = .50; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .26-.98) and more social support (OR = .70; 95% CI = .45-.98) were less likely to switch from FFS to MA compared with older adults with no limitations and less social support. Additionally, older adults living in counties with a greater number of MA plans were more likely to switch from FFS to MA (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.45-3.16), compared with counties with a lower number of MA plans. In counties with a higher number of MA plans, older adults with more social support had lower odds of switching from FFS to MA (OR = .48; 95% CI = .28-.82) compared with older adults with less social support.ConclusionCompared with those enrolled in MA, older Mexican American adults enrolled in Medicare FFS are more socioeconomically disadvantaged and more likely to demonstrate poor health status. Stronger social support and increased physical limitations were strongly associated with less frequent switching from FFS to MA plans. Additionally, increased availability of MA plans at the county level is a significant driver of enrollment in MA plans. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:313-320, 2020.
| S-EPMC7015142 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceAlthough Medicare Advantage plans frequently offer dental benefits, enrollees report lower rates of dental care use and higher rates of unmet dental need compared with individuals with employer-sponsored benefits. It is unknown which attributes of Medicare Advantage dental plans are associated with enhanced dental care access.ObjectiveTo determine attributes of Medicare Advantage dental plans associated with higher rates of dental care use and lower rates of unmet dental need.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study included respondents from the 2019 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey whose Medicare Advantage plan identifiers were linked to 2019 Medicare Advantage dental plan data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Respondents enrolled in a Medicare Advantage dental plan for all 12 months in 2019. Data analysis was performed between May and August 2024.ExposuresMedicare Advantage plans offering dental benefits.Main outcomes and measuresMain outcomes were unmet dental need in the past year, unmet dental need due to cost in the past year, and whether the respondent visited a dentist in the past year. Outcomes were measured in a survey of individuals ages 65 years and older.ResultsIn a sample including up to 1789 enrollees (mean [SD] age, 74.7 [7.4] years; 58.4% female; and 13.2% lived in a rural county), enrollees in Medicare Advantage HMO plans were 7.0 percentage points (95% CI, 3.2 to 10.9 percentage points) more likely to report unmet dental need and 4.4 percentage points (95% CI, 0.9 to 7.8 percentage points) more likely to report an unmet dental need due to cost. Prior authorization was associated with an increase of 4.5 percentage points (95% CI, 0.3 to 8.7 percentage points) in unmet dental need. Relative to plans that imposed no out-of-pocket costs on comprehensive services, plans that covered only preventive services were associated with an increase of 12.1 percentage points (95% CI, 3.2 to 21.0 percentage points) in unmet dental need and an increase of 7.8 percentage points (95% CI, 0.6 to 15.0 percentage points) in unmet dental need due to cost. Relative to plans with up to a $500 annual plan maximum, benefits with no annual plan maximum were associated with a decrease of -12.4 percentage points (95% CI, -20.9 to -3.8 percentage points) in unmet dental need.Conclusions and relevanceThis study found that restrictive characteristics of Medicare Advantage dental plans are associated with greater unmet dental need and financial barriers to care. Results of this study suggest that increasing annual plan maximums or eliminating them entirely from benefit plans could decrease unmet dental need and increase dental care utilization.
| S-EPMC11762240 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC9508655 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceHealth insurance literacy helps individuals make informed choices. However, evidence suggests that Medicare beneficiaries experience low health insurance literacy, leading to high-cost or poor-quality coverage choices.ObjectiveTo examine how health insurance literacy was associated with coverage choices between traditional Medicare (TM) and Medicare Advantage (MA), as well as within MA.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study included 6627 TM and MA enrollees, using data from the 2015-2016 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. Data analyses were conducted between May 1 and June 30, 2021.ExposuresThree self-reported measures of health insurance literacy (presence of information to make an informed comparison, ease in reviewing and comparing coverage options, and annual review and comparison of coverage options).Main outcomes and measuresEnrollment in TM vs MA and enrollment in an MA plan with different characteristics (star rating, monthly plan premium, in-network maximum out-of-pocket limit, plan type, and provision of supplemental benefits).ResultsWe included 6627 Medicare beneficiaries (3578 women [54.0%]; mean [SD] age, 75.13 [7.12] years). A total of 77 individuals were Asian (1.2%), 696 were Black (10.5%), 488 were Hispanic (7.4%), 5277 were non-Hispanic White (79.6%), and 225 (3.4%) were single races not of Hispanic origin (including American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian) or were 2 or more races. Medicare Advantage enrollment was higher among individuals with higher health insurance literacy than those with lower health insurance literacy, especially for those who reviewed or compared coverage options annually than among those who did not (38.0%; 95% CI, 36.0%-40.1% vs 27.8%; 95% CI, 25.8%-29.7%). Among MA beneficiaries, those who reviewed or compared coverage options annually were more likely to enroll in plans with 4 to 4.5 stars and plans with monthly premiums of $1 to $50 by 4.6 percentage points (95% CI, 0.1-9.2 percentage points) and 4.8 percentage points (95% CI, 0.6-9.0 percentage points), respectively. However, enrollment in plans with 5 stars was 3.8 percentage points lower (95% CI, -5.8 to -1.9 percentage points) among individuals who reviewed or compared coverage options annually than among those who did not. Among individuals with low socioeconomic status, the likelihood of reviewing or comparing coverage options annually was lower for those with Medicare and Medicaid dual eligibility than for those without it (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-0.99).Conclusions and relevanceResults of this study suggest that higher health insurance literacy-particularly, annual review and comparison of coverage choices-is associated with higher MA enrollment and choice of a particular MA plan. Policy makers should develop programs to encourage frequent review and comparison of coverage options for informed decision making.
| S-EPMC8814909 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC11549652 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceApproximately one-fifth of Medicare Advantage (MA) contracts terminated their participation in the MA program between 2011 and 2020. Little is known about subsequent insurance choices following a termination.ObjectiveTo examine the insurance destinations of MA enrollees and the characteristics of enrollees who switch into traditional Medicare (TM) after a contract termination.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study examined MA program data of MA beneficiaries in the Medicare Master Beneficiary File from 2016 to 2018. Statistical analysis was performed from June 2023 to April 2024.ExposuresBeneficiary characteristics, including age, sex, race and ethnicity, dual eligibility; hospital, nursing home, and home health utilization; and contract characteristics, including plan type, vertical integration, premium, and MA star rating.Main outcome and measuresThe main outcome was switching to TM in the year immediately after termination. We also evaluated the characteristics of contracts among those who remained in MA.ResultsA total of 117 681 beneficiaries were included in this analysis (64 654 [54.9%] female; 409 [0.4%] American Indian or Alaska Native; 2817 [2.4%] Asian; 76 725 [16.8%] Black; 11 131 [9.5%] Hispanic; 81 226 [69.0%] White; and 2373 [2.0%] other race or ethnicity; 27 078 [23.0%] dual-eligible; mean [SD] age, 71.2 [10.4] years). Following a contract termination, 20.1% (95% CI, 19.9%-20.4%) of enrollees switched to TM, including 32.7% (95% CI, 32.4%-33.1%) of dual-eligible beneficiaries and 16.4% (95% CI, 16.2%-16.5%) of non-dual-eligible beneficiaries. In nonterminated contracts, the concurrent switch rate was 6.2% (95% CI, 6.2%-6.2%) for all, 10.4% (95% CI, 10.4%-10.4%) for dual-eligible beneficiaries and 5.1% (95% CI, 5.1%-5.1%) for non-dual-eligible enrollees. The highest switch rates to TM were among Black enrollees (32.3% [95% CI, 31.7%-32.8%]) and those with prior use of hospital (31.3% [95% CI, 30.7%-31.9%], nursing home, 41.4% [95% CI, 40.4%-42.4%], or home health care (28.3% [95% CI, 27.4%-29.2%]). Beneficiaries who stayed in MA selected higher-rated star plans (mean posttermination contract star rating of 3.8 [95% CI, 3.8-3.8] stars compared with 3.3 [95% CI, 3.3-3.3] stars in the terminated year), but did not pay more in monthly premiums with 66.5% (95% CI, 66.2%-66.8%) paying the same or lower premiums.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cross-sectional study, 1 in 5 MA beneficiaries switched to TM after a contract termination, with Black beneficiaries and those with more intensive health needs having the highest switch rates. These findings highlight the need to examine consequences of contract terminations and subsequent insurance destinations on access to care and health outcomes, especially among those with marginalized race and ethnicity, those who are dual-eligible, and beneficiaries with higher health care needs.
| S-EPMC11337069 | biostudies-literature