Health care prices have surged over the past decade, forcing private insurers to pay 143% more for physician services compared to Medicare. This disparity has fueled calls to align private insurance rates with Medicare—but would it cause widespread access issues?
New analysis reveals a surprising truth: the vast majority of physicians (89%) accept new Medicare patients, a rate nearly identical to those accepting new private insurance patients (91%). Even among primary care providers, where concerns are highest, 83% still welcome new Medicare patients, challenging the narrative that Medicare rates are too low for physician participation.