News Briefs: Medicare Advantage Enrollment Hits 30M, but Isn’t Done Rising

Medicare Advantage now enrolls more than 30.6 million individuals, including more than 25 million in individual MA plans, according to the latest monthly enrollment data from CMS. Industry trade group AHIP called the information “cause to celebrate,” noting that “just 10 years ago, the program had 13 million enrollees.” Enrollment in the private Medicare plans is likely to rise more in the short term, however, as the 30.6 million figure reflects only those signups accepted through Dec. 2, 2022, and thus does not capture the full outcome of the Annual Election Period that ran from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, Citi analyst Jason Cassorla pointed out in a Jan. 17 research note.  

The percentage of Americans who said they or a family member put off medical treatment due to cost rose to 38% in 2022, representing a 12-percentage-point increase compared to 2021. That’s according to a new Gallup poll, which noted that the percentage of Americans reporting deferring care due to cost was at its highest level since Gallup began its survey in 2001. That finding comes after inflation reached the highest point in 40 years in 2022, and in the wake of “two consecutive 26% readings during the COVID-19 pandemic that were the lowest since 2004.” Gallup also added that “lower-income adults, younger adults and women in the U.S. have consistently been more likely than their counterparts to say they or a family member have delayed care for a serious medical condition.”