Medicare Advantage Cost Burden On Beneficiaries Is Lower Than Medicare Fee-For-Service

The cost burden for beneficiaries is lower for those enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) than those enrolled in traditional Medicare fee-for-service (FFS Medicare). Beneficiaries in MA reported out-of-pocket and premium spending of $3,354 a year in 2018, compared with $4,994 reported by those in FFS Medicare. This results in a total cost burden of 11.8% for MA consumers, and 20.0% for FFS Medicare. Approximately 26.0% of those enrolled in MA are cost burdened, compared to 49.4% of those in FFS Medicare.

Under FFS Medicare, the government pays directly for the . . .