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A growing Medicare-eligible population must grapple with complex issues, like managing chronic diseases and affording costly medications. Thankfully, Group Medicare Advantage addresses these concerns—and much more.

The challenge: Chronic disease

95%

of older adults have at least one chronic condition1

40%

of employers say cardiovascular conditions are a top cost driver2

2 out of 5

Americans aged 65+ are obese, increasing chronic disease risk3

A checklist on a clipboard alongside a sneaker, dumbbell, water bottle, and apple

The solution: Preventive care focus

10 out of 11

The number of preventive care measures on which MA performs better than Original Medicare (OM)4

73.3%

of MA enrollees were screened for breast cancer in 2023 vs. 69.9% of those in OM5

49%

higher rate of pneumonia vaccination among MA enrollees compared with those enrolled in OM6

The challenge: Geographic barriers to care

80%

of rural America is medically underserved7

3x

as many physicians in urban areas vs. rural areas (per 100,000 people)8

23.9 miles:

median distance rural residents needed to travel for care in 2021, up from 3.4 miles in 20108

Smiling woman with short hair on laptop screen, with checklists and a speech bubble

The solution: Better access to remote care

2.9%

How much more likely MA beneficiaries are to have a provider offering telehealth services compared with Original Medicare beneficiaries9

83%

Percentage of MA plans offering telehealth benefit10

83%

Percentage of MA plans providing mental health telehealth coverage11

The challenge: Medication costs

76%

of older adults feel prescription drug costs are unreasonable12

23%

of seniors have difficulty affording their medications12

21%

of older adults do not take their medication as prescribed due to cost12

An illustration of a person with icons around them representing healthcare, pets, nutrition, transportation, and home energy efficiency

The solution: MAPD cost advantage

88%

Percentage of Medicare Advantage plans covering Part D prescription drug benefits13

143%

Increase in number of Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans over the past 10 years13

6x

How much higher monthly premiums are for drug coverage in stand-alone prescription drug plans versus MAPDs13

Sources:
  1. “Get the facts on chronic disease self-management,” National Council on Aging, June 1, 2024, last accessed May 6, 2025, https://www.ncoa.org/article/get-the-facts-on-chronic-disease-self-management
  2. “2025 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey,” Business Group on Health, August 20, 2024, last accessed May 6, 2025, https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/resources/2025-employer-health-care-strategy-survey-executive-summary#:~:text=Beyond%20cancer%2C%20employers%20continue%20to,up%20from%2030%25%20in%202023
  3. Mark Mather and Paola Scommegna, “Rising Obesity in an Aging America: Policy and Program Implications,” Today’s Research on Aging, 2022, last accessed May 6, 2025, https://www.prb.org/resources/tra-rising-obesity-in-an-aging-america/
  4. “New Study Demonstrates Higher Quality of Care in Medicare Advantage when Compared to Original Medicare,” AHIP, Dec. 13, 2023, last accessed May 6, 2025, https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/new-study-demonstrates-higher-quality-of-care-in-medicare-advantage-when-compared-to-original-medicare
  5. “Here’s how Medicare Advantage is Outperforming on Preventive Care,” AHIP, Dec. 14, 2023, last accessed June 11, 2025, https://www.ahip.org/news/articles/heres-how-medicare-advantage-is-outperforming-on-preventive-care
  6. Allyson Y. Schwartz, “Study shows improved outcomes in Medicare Advantage as Compared to Traditional fee-for-service Medicare,” Health Affairs, Jan. 5, 2021, last accessed June 11, 2025, https://www.healthaffairs.org/sponsored-content/value-of-medicare-advantage-5
  7. “Rural Health: Addressing Barriers to Care,” NIHCM Foundation, Oct. 25, 2023, last accessed June 11, 2025, https://nihcm.org/publications/rural-health-addressing-barriers-to-care?x-craft-preview=500l2VTUmx&token=Mh_dUNRmnLD5mkklxDAy6p0X0Sw8zip-
  8. Kendal Orgera, Siena Senn, and Atul Grover, “Rethinking Rural Health,” Association of American Medical Colleges, Sept. 27, 2023, last accessed June 11, 2025, https://www.aamcresearchinstitute.org/our-work/issue-brief/rethinking-rural-health
  9. Sungchul Park , Hye-Young Jung , Jiani Yu , “Telehealth availability and use among beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage,” National Library of Medicine, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Feb 2025), last accessed May 6, 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39239886/
  10. Meredith Freed et al., “Medicare Advantage 2024 Spotlight: First Look,” KFF, Nov. 15, 2023, last accessed May 6, 2025, https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-2024-spotlight-first-look/.
  11. New Analysis Highlights Innovative Approaches to Behavioral Health Coverage in Medicare Advantage, Better Medicare Alliance, Nov. 1, 2022, last accessed May 6, 2025, https://bettermedicarealliance.org/news/new-analysis-highlights-innovative-approaches-to-behavioral-health-coverage-in-medicare-advantage/.
  12. “Data Note: Prescription Drugs and Older Adults,” KFF, last accessed May 6, 2025, https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/data-note-prescription-drugs-and-older-adults/#:~:text=Prescription%20Drug%20Use%20and%20Affordability%20Issues&text=More%20than%20half%20of%20adults,18%2D29%20(7%25).
  13. Meredith Freed et al., “Medicare Advantage 2025 Spotlight: First Look,” KFF, November 15, 2024, last accessed May 6, 2025, https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-2025-spotlight-a-first-look-at-plan-premiums-and-benefits/
To learn more, visit Humana Group Medicare
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