Why Medicare Advantage Enrollees Are Leaving Plans

Why It Matters

Rapid MA disenrollment disproportionately affects low‑income and minority seniors, highlighting systemic equity failures that could undermine the program’s cost‑effectiveness and public trust.

Key Takeaways

• Rapid MA disenrollment rose from 3.5% to 12.2% (2017‑2022).
• Dual-eligible beneficiaries faced nearly 20% rapid disenrollment rate.
• Black, Hispanic, and Native enrolles disenrolled more than whites.
• Plan complexity and network mismatches drive early member exits.
• Findings raise equity concerns and call for policy and research action.

Summary

The Health Affairs podcast episode examines a new study on rapid disenrollment from Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, finding that the share of beneficiaries leaving a newly chosen plan within three months jumped from 3.5% in 2017 to 12.2% in 2022.

The authors identify three core patterns: (1) overall rapid disenrollment more than tripled while fall‑open‑enrollment switches remained flat; (2) dual‑eligible enrollees experienced a 19.4% rate—almost double that of Medicare‑only members; (3) Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native beneficiaries disenrolled at higher rates than white or Asian‑Pacific Islander peers. The study also links higher disenrollment to plan complexity, network restrictions, and mismatched drug formularies.

M. Balkan cites a graphic showing a quarter of January 2022 enrollees had switched by the following April, and references a companion Health Affairs paper by Grace Mack that found higher risk scores and hospitalizations among off‑cycle switchers. He also notes recent litigation exposing broker incentives that may steer vulnerable members into unsuitable plans.

These trends signal equity gaps in the MA market and suggest that policymakers should tighten oversight of plan disclosures, network adequacy, and broker practices. Researchers are urged to explore the root causes of rapid exits to ensure MA delivers on its promise of coordinated, high‑quality care for all seniors.

Original Description

Health Affairs' Rob Lott interviews Em Balkan of Brown University about their recent paper showing that rapid disenrollment from Medicare Advantage plans tripled from 2017 to 2022, with higher rates among dual‑eligible beneficiaries and certain racial and ethnic groups — raising questions about how well plans are meeting beneficiaries’ needs.

Medicare Advantage enrollment is booming—but more beneficiaries are leaving their plans than ever before. In this episode of A Health Podyssey, host Rob Lott speaks with Brown University researcher Em Balkan about new research showing that rapid disenrollment from Medicare Advantage plans tripled between 2017 and 2022. They break down what “rapid disenrollment” means, why enrollees may exit plans within months, and why rates are especially high among dual‑eligible beneficiaries and certain racial and ethnic groups. The conversation explores what these trends reveal about plan choice, access to care, equity, and whether Medicare Advantage is meeting beneficiaries’ needs.

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