Troubled by Too Many Plan Options, MedPAC Agrees to Pursue MA Benefits Standardization

To help overwhelmed seniors make better Medicare Advantage plan comparisons, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) nearly a year ago began discussing the concept of standardizing a limited number of common supplemental benefits in MA. During its September public meeting, MedPAC agreed to devote a chapter of its June 2024 report to standardizing select MA benefits, while several commissioners echoed previous sentiments about striking a balance between standardization and flexibility.

At its November 2022 public meeting, the independent congressional agency considered two different approaches: (1) standardizing a limited number of common supplemental benefits, such as dental, hearing and vision, and (2) standardizing Medicare Parts A and B services, whereby plans use a limited number of benefit packages. But some commissioners at the time expressed concern about potentially hampering MA plan innovation.