Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Medicare Advantage - Statistics & Facts
Medicare Advantage (MA) is the private health plan alternative to the original Medicare. The U.S. federal government requires Medicare Advantage (also called Part C) plans to provide all benefits and services covered by Medicare Parts A and B. Health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), special needs plans (SNPs), private fee-for-service plans (PFFS), and Medicare Savings Accounts (MSA) are various types of Medicare Advantage plans available to the enrollees. Depending on the MA plan a person enrolls in, deductibles and copayment amounts can vary. Many MA plans include prescription drugs (Part D) too. In 2024, over 50 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had enrolled in MA plans, and the MA penetration rate has roughly doubled in the past decade. UnitedHealthcare is the largest Medicare Advantage organization (MAO), with nearly 9.3 million members enrolled in 2024.
