MA Plans Test New Flexibilities Targeted to Diabetic Members

From lowering cost sharing on select services to participating in the new Part D insulin model, Medicare Advantage insurers are incorporating new benefit flexibilities into their overall management of diabetes, which impacts one in every three Medicare beneficiaries.

Diabetes accounts for more than $300 billion in U.S. health care spending, including $17 billion spent on insulin in the Part D program. It also ranks as the most common condition served by specialized benefits in MA. According to a recent Faegre Drinker analysis, 23.7% of plans offering condition-specific benefits this year are targeting diabetes. The most popular benefits include reduced cost sharing on podiatry, physician specialist and primary care physician services, and additional supplemental benefits related to podiatry, meals and worldwide urgent coverage (see chart, p. 3).

© 2023 MMIT
Lauren Flynn Kelly

Lauren Flynn Kelly Managing Editor, Radar on Medicare Advantage

Lauren has been covering health business issues, including drug benefits and specialty pharmacy, for more than a decade. She served as editor of Drug Benefit News (the predecessor to Radar on Drug Benefits) from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2011 to 2016, and now manages Radar on Medicare Advantage. Lauren graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in English.

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