2023 urban and rural differences in Medicare Advantage: Current landscape and plan considerations

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have expanded in recent years to include new offerings in rural areas. This paper provides insight into the current market for Medicare Advantage, specifically how the landscape differs between rural and urban areas across the country. We highlight key differences in plan offerings in the market today and provide considerations for MA plans when contemplating expansion into rural areas. We first present some background on the program history, funding overview, and network adequacy requirements. We then offer analysis on the following: 

• MA penetration 
• Payment rates
• Plan characteristics and supplemental benefit offerings