Following on widely publicized concerns from the public and policymakers regarding Medicare Advantage (MA) plans’ aggressive and deceptive marketing practices, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) intends to examine these practices.

The study will “focus on the complaints individuals reported”  about MA marketing practices to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from 2020 to 2024. In addition, the OIG will also look at “the actions taken by agents and brokers that led to the complaints and the incentive structures that encourage brokers to change individuals’ enrollments.”

LeadingAge has highlighted concerns from members about such deceptive practices, including our Programs of All Inclusive Care (PACE) organizations about MA brokers and agents that enticed PACE enrollees to drop their PACE coverage for attractive supplemental benefits of an MA or special needs plan (SNP).  Often the beneficiaries were unaware that they had to disenroll from PACE to receive the promised benefits.

The report is expected to be published in 2026.