The Dark Side of Medicare Advantage Incentives

We’ve all seen Medicare Advantage (MA) plans become a significant player in the healthcare industry. Yet, with the promise of increased coverage options and potential savings, the dark side of these plans is beginning to emerge as companies prioritize profit over patient care. This push for increased revenue has led to concerning practices, like offering bonuses to doctors who schedule additional appointments and targeting older patients to ensure MA visits are completed. UnitedHealthcare’s recent programs illustrate how companies may leverage such practices to maximize profits under the guise of increased patient engagement.

The Incentive System: Profits Over Patients?

For years, health insurers have incentivized physicians to increase visits, but offering “ADDITIONAL BONUSES!!” to doctors who see more patients, especially older ones, raises serious ethical concerns. By encouraging doctors to prioritize specific patient demographics or weekend appointments, insurers can meet their MA visit quotas, often at the expense of quality care. Incentivizing volume over quality of care risks turning healthcare into a numbers game, with physicians focused more on meeting corporate targets than addressing patient needs.