United Healthcare announced plans to roll out Medicare Advantage plans in 300 additional U.S. counties, whereas Cigna announced that it will expand to five new states in 2021.
The moves follow Humana’s decision to add MA plans in 125 new counties, and Aetna’s plans to broaden its MA footprint in 115 additional counties.
In addition, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna are highlighting telehealth benefits in their plans, with UnitedHealthcare touting $0 copays for telehealth visits and Cigna adding no-cost telebehavioral services and virtual physical therapy to its plans.
These moves demonstrate what a competitive market segment Medicare has become. More than a third (36%) of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in MA plans. By 2030, when 20% of the United States population will be over 65, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that 51% of Medicare beneficiaries will carry MA plans.
