“This spotlight analyzes publicly available data to review the Medicare Advantage plans offered in 2017, with information on including plan availability, premiums, out-of-pocket limits and other plan features:

• The average Medicare beneficiary will be able to choose from 19 plans in 2017, a number which has been relatively stable since 2012.
• The average beneficiary will be able to choose from plans offered by six firms; one-quarter of beneficiaries nationwide will have a choice of plans offered by three or fewer firms in 2017.
• If enrollees in Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MA-PDs) stay in the same plan between 2016 and 2017, their premiums will increase by 4 percent, on average.
• While premiums have been relatively flat, average limits on out-of-pocket costs for Part A and B benefits have increased by 25 percent, since 2011 from $4,281 in 2011 to $5,332 in 2017.
• About four in ten (41%) plans are rated as 4 stars or higher in 2017. Since 2012, Medicare has paid bonus payments to Medicare Advantage plans with four or more stars.”

LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):
MA status report.  

Medicare Advantage Plans in 2017: Short-term Outlook is Stable

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