(KLZA)--The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) released the 2026 Medicare Advantage Report ahead of the Medicare open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 through December 7. 
The report highlights the challenges Nebraska patients and hospitals are experiencing with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. 
The report is based on Nebraska Hospital Association surveys of its member hospitals and reveals that Nebraska’s non-profit hospitals are continuing to have major challenges with Medical Advantage  plans. 
Reimbursement payments from MA plans are significantly less than those from Traditional Medicare for the same services and 94% of Nebraska hospitals say the shift to Medicare Advantage has negatively impacted their financial position. 
However, this year alone the federal government is projected to spend $76 billion more to cover MA enrollees than it would have if these beneficiaries were enrolled in Traditional Medicare.
Patients are feeling the impact as well. 96% of respondents say MA beneficiaries are often unaware of or misunderstand key aspects of their plan such as provider network restrictions, prior authorization requirements, or coverage limitations.
Medicare Advantage plans deny care more often than Traditional Medicare and can delay care when patients need it most. A staggering 94% of hospitals say prior authorization requirements by MA plans negatively impact clinical care by delaying necessary treatment. 
The NHA recommends policy changes for MA plans including reforming prior authorization policies, requiring timely approvals and payments, and aligning reimbursement to reflect the cost of care, as well as additional federal oversight and accountability for the program. Seniors should know the facts about Medicare Advantage and consult with their health care provider before enrolling or switching plans during open enrollment this fall.