The results were more exaggerated for people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. Those people are allowed to switch anytime and usually use increasingly expensive care, Dr. Rahman said.
It’s not clear why people needing higher levels of care are more likely to switch out of Medicare Advantage plans, said Dr. Gretchen Jacobson, associate director with the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Program on Medicare Policy in Washington, D.C.
For example, it could be due to limited provider networks, unused extra benefits, or prescription drug needs, said Dr. Jacobson, who wasn’t involved with the new study.
However, she said, it’s important to point out that the vast majority of people remain in their chosen programs.
“Most people are not changing when they make an initial decision about their coverage, but this is an area that’s ripe for more research,” she said.
A representative of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) also stressed that the study only looked at one point in time, and changes for Medicare Advantage plans were adopted since that period.
“More specifically, enrollment in Medicare Advantage has continued to increase year after year as program continues to offer coordinated care that leads to better outcomes for seniors and those with chronic conditions,” said AHIP’s Clare Krusing.
“If the type of disenrollment that was highlighted in this study was as pervasive as the authors suggest, there would be much greater evidence that beneficiaries were leaving the program in significant numbers,” she said.
