The Wild Wild West of Medicare Advantage

The conversation between Aaron Trish, co-director of USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, Rick Gilfillan, former president and CEO of Trinity Health and Geisinger Health Plan, and Sachin Jain, CEO of Scan Health Plan, surrounds the topic of Medicare Advantage (MA). The discussion focuses on the increasing enrollment in MA, surpassing traditional Medicare, and whether this direction is positive. Gilfillan argues that MA has largely proven a "failed experiment," as it costs more than traditional Medicare and often impedes care accessibility, with many claims being denied. However, Jain counters, arguing that while MA needs refinement, it offers more comprehensive benefits, particularly for individuals who can't afford Medicare supplemental coverage. While both agree on the need for change, they disagree on the method, with Jain advocating for incremental improvements to MA, and Gilfillan suggesting a complete overhaul of the system.