When Medicare Advantage plans stop serving people with Alzheimer's and related dementias

Effects of Contract Terminations for Medicare Advantage Enrollees with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

NIH-funded research Brown University · NIH-11191392

This project looks at how Medicare Advantage plan cancellations affect people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and whether automatic plan reassignments change their access to care.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrown University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Providence, United States)
Project IDNIH-11191392 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia and are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, the team will use Medicare enrollment and claims records to follow what happens when your plan ends. They will compare people whose MA contracts terminated with similar beneficiaries whose plans continued, tracking switches to traditional Medicare or new Part D plans, changes in medications, provider access, and health events. The researchers will pay special attention to low-income, dual-eligible, and Black beneficiaries to see if disruptions are worse for some groups. Their methods rely on historical national Medicare data rather than in-person visits, so individuals do not need to travel to participate.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People eligible would be Medicare Advantage enrollees diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, including low-income or dual-eligible beneficiaries.

Not a fit: People on traditional Medicare (not enrolled in Medicare Advantage), younger individuals not on Medicare, or those without dementia are unlikely to be directly affected by this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Findings could inform Medicare policies or protections to reduce coverage disruptions and keep people with dementia connected to needed care and medications.

How similar studies have performed: Previous health policy research shows MA contract terminations change enrollment patterns, but the specific effects on people with Alzheimer's and related dementias are not well documented and remain relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Providence, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer's disease and related dementiaAlzheimer's disease and related disordersAlzheimer's disease or a related dementiaAlzheimer's disease or a related disorderAlzheimer's disease or related dementia
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.