New Report Examines Benefits of Medicare Advantage

​Four years into implementation, nearly 40 percent of Medicare Advantage plans are offering either expanded primarily health-related benefits (EPHRB) or Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) in 2023. A new report guided by the SSBCI Leadership Circle and produced by ATI Advisory and LTQA has taken a closer look at the plans and their benefits.
 
“A Deep Dive on In-Home, Caregiver, and Social Supports in Medicare Advantage: Can These Benefits Meaningfully Meet Member Needs and Support Independence?” examines why benefits that help members stay in their homes–specifically in-home support services (IHSS), caregiver supports, and social needs benefits–have experienced significant growth and adoption despite the challenges in providing a human-powered service. 

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Each of these benefits grew in terms of the number of plans offering them between 2020 and 2023, with a 364 percent increase in plans offering IHSS (from 283 plans to 1,314), a 320 percent increase in caregiver supports (134 to 563), and a 1,215 percent increase in social needs benefits (34 to 447).
 
Key findings from the research include:

• Plans offer these benefits because they are directly and particularly responsive to identified member needs and gaps in the care system. 
• Plans often offer these benefits as part of a broader, flexible package of benefits to help meet individual needs and support overall health. 
• Beyond addressing needs, plans view these benefits’ primary impact as promoting member satisfaction and retention.

 
To learn more and read the report, click here.