This week’s graphic features data from a new report from KFF highlighting how little competition there is in most markets for Medicare Advantage. KFF’s analysis finds that most Medicare Advantage (MA) markets are dominated by one or two insurers; virtually all counties were considered highly concentrated (79%) or very highly concentrated (18%) in 2024. In 44% of markets comprising 22% of all MA enrollment, a single insurer had at least half of enrollment in 2024. The market concentration was most pronounced in rural markets; 39% of most rural counties were very highly concentrated in 2024 compared with 15% of rural counties that were near urban areas and 6% of urban counties. Higher market concentration in MA insurance markets may lower the incentive for insurers to compete for potential enrollees by making plans more appealing through more comprehensive benefits or lower costs, the authors said.
