Core Insights - Millions of seniors experienced increased Medicare premiums due to overpayments to private insurers in the Medicare Advantage program, resulting in an average increase of about $212 per enrollee, totaling approximately $13.4 billion nationwide [1][3]. Medicare Advantage Program - Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C, allows private insurers like UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health's Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield to provide Medicare coverage, with the original intent for the program to be less costly than traditional Medicare [2]. Overpayment Impact - The federal government overpaid Medicare Advantage insurers by an estimated $76 billion to $84 billion last year compared to traditional fee-for-service Medicare, leading to higher Medicare Part B premiums for all enrollees [3][4]. - On average, covering a beneficiary in Medicare Advantage costs about 17% to 20% more than covering the same individual in traditional Medicare [5]. Social Security Implications - Increased Medicare premiums are reducing the net amount seniors receive from Social Security, as Medicare Part B premiums are automatically deducted from monthly Social Security payments [6]. - Since 2016, overpayments in Medicare Advantage have contributed approximately $82 billion to total Part B premiums, with around $6 billion paid by traditional Medicare enrollees who do not receive additional benefits from Medicare Advantage plans [7].