Traditional Medicare

Medicare beneficiaries can choose between traditional Medicare or a private Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. In traditional Medicare, beneficiaries have broad access to providers without a limited network and are less likely to need prior authorization for care. However, traditional Medicare imposes higher cost-sharing and does not cover the supplemental benefits MA plans typically offer. Changes to the traditional Medicare program have important consequences for overall federal spending, beneficiary affordability, and beneficiaries’ choice between traditional Medicare and MA. Our work on traditional Medicare encompasses issues such as Medigap markets, payment reforms and value-based arrangements to contain traditional Medicare spending, benefit design, and beneficiary cost-sharing.

Explore policy proposals related to Existence of Medicare Advantage and Premium support in our Medicare Advantage Compendium.