I thought I posted some information on the January 2010 enrollment figures being down for the first time in as long as I can remember, but I can’t find the link. In any case, enrollment jumped up sharply with the February 2010 effectives data from CMS. Here are the past 3 months of total MA enrollment:
- December 2009 – 11,302,744
- January 2010 – 10,981,480
- February 2010 – 11,383,884
My thoughts here as to why the numbers dropped and then popped back up is that CMS stops counting MA enrollments in early December when putting out the January report. Thus, all of the disenrollments (like plans leaving the PFFS market) would have been counted, but all of the re-enrollments of these folks which occured in the last couple weeks of December weren’t included.
Overall, these numbers are extremely impressive for Medicare Advantage, especially when you consider the loss of about 800,000 Private Fee for Service members was basically totally absorbed in one month. The February 2010 “mix of business” is MUCH more network based and, in my opinion, much more stable than what we had in December of 2009.
I’m looking forward to CMS’ reimbursement numbers coming tomorrow. That’s our first glance at how deep CMS will continue cutting.
Whatever….1-1-2011 & 1-1-2012 figures will tell the real truth!!! No matter what way you look at it our Seniors are getting S&%#W*D. So the devoted & dedicated broker shouldn’t feel to bad when their clients are getting treated the same way!
Mr. Ritter, Couple of things to note regarding the CMS numbers. The January update was not real-time January enrollment. From my analysis, the better comparison is the Feb to December time frame. Most plan’s enrollment for January was not complete and was not inclusive of much of the December enrollment/disenrollment activity for January.
If you compare Dec to January, the increase is .07 or a net gain in MA of 81,140. In Virginia, the increase was .3% (152,134 vs. 151,680) or a net gain of 454 for MA.
Bottom line is that CMS enrollment data is at least a month or two off of actual –especially around AEP timeframe.
No doubt that “Health Care” debate scared off many new entrants this year.
January 31 was also the end of the SEP for non-renewals.
JANUARY MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOWN BUT VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION SAVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ENROLLMENTS . (AND THEY MIGHT HAVE BY HELPING SENATOR BROWN GET ELECTED)
It will be interesting to see the impact if the additional Obama cuts are imposed on these plans and when people figure out that what once was a good deal for their health benefits costs more for a lot less in coverage.
http://www.quinnscommentary.com/category/healthcare
This is the entire country….What does Pennsylvania look like?