Better Medicare Alliance

What Better Medicare Alliance does

Better Medicare Alliance (BMA), founded in 2014, is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit research and advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to Medicare Advantage. It convenes a coalition of more than 225 allied organizations spanning major MA insurers (UnitedHealth Group, Humana, CVS Health/Aetna), value-based primary-care providers (ChenMed, Oak Street Health, VNS Health), community aging services (Meals on Wheels America, YMCA of the USA, LeadingAge), and trade associations (American Medical Group Association, American Telemedicine Association, Council for Affordable Health Coverage, National Hispanic Health Foundation), alongside a grassroots network of more than 1 million Medicare Advantage beneficiary advocates. BMA's functional mission is to protect and strengthen Medicare Advantage through data-driven policy research, comment letters and testimony to CMS, MedPAC, HHS and Congress, and beneficiary mobilization, with the Medicare Advantage program now covering 35M+ Americans and approximately 55% of the eligible Medicare population.

BMA does not develop proprietary technology. Its service portfolio consists of information and advocacy deliverables: an interactive Medicare Advantage Enrollment Map (medicareadvantageenrollmentmap.com) populated with CMS data, the "Medicare Advantage 101" educational resource, a digital Resource Library of issue briefs, reports, fact sheets and white papers, the BMA Blog, an Advocate Stories testimonial platform, a Policy Research email signup, a SSBCI Database (ssbcidatabase.org) for special supplemental benefits, and a "Become an Ally" coalition-membership program. Research depth comes from a wholly-owned 501(c)(3) research arm, the Center for Innovation in Medicare Advantage, which commissions analytic work from external partners including Milliman ($32.5B annual added-value study), NORC at the University of Chicago (social-determinants-of-health case studies across 12 MA plans), ATI Advisory (cost-protection analysis for low-income beneficiaries), and Avalere Health (plan landscape and enrollment data analysis).

BMA is funded through ally membership fees, advocacy contributions, and partnerships with healthcare organizations, with documented financial supporters including major MA insurers and provider groups. The go-to-market is community-led advocacy: beneficiaries are mobilized via the "Medicare My Way" grassroots campaign, allies amplify BMA's research and policy positions through their own member networks, and policy makers are reached through a multi-channel mix of website content, email alerts, press releases, congressional and CMS engagement, paid digital advertising, and hosted events. The organization is led by President and CEO Mary Beth Donahue (appointed 2021; prior HHS Chief of Staff and AHIP executive) and Chief of Staff/COO Robin Goracke, with advisory oversight from a Council of Scholars that includes Mark McClellan, Joe Newhouse, Lanhee Chen, Ken Thorpe, and Mark Fendrick.

Name

Better Medicare Alliance

Legal name

Better Medicare Alliance

Website

https://bettermedicarealliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Better Medicare Alliance is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for Medicare Advantage through policy research, a 225+ allied-organization coalition, and a network of more than 1 million beneficiary advocates engaging Congress, CMS, and MedPAC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans (FSAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Medicare Quality, Risk Adjustment & Stars Analytics/Services (FSAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Medicare advantage advocacy
• Healthcare policy research
• Nonprofit healthcare coalition
• Beneficiary advocacy services
• Medicare policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advocacy and Membership Support: Better Medicare Alliance generates support through ally membership fees, advocacy contributions, and partnerships with healthcare organizations. As a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organization, funding comes from allied healthcare organizations, health plans, providers, and advocacy contributions dedicated to supporting Medicare Advantage.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Better Medicare Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy and research organization that supports Medicare Advantage through policy research, data-driven analysis, grassroots mobilization, and coalition-based advocacy. It convenes 225+ ally organizations, commissions actuarial and policy studies through its Center for Innovation in Medicare Advantage, and mobilizes more than 1 million beneficiary advocates to engage Congress, CMS, and other federal policymakers.

Product overview

Better Medicare Alliance is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization supporting Medicare Advantage. Rather than a unified technology product, it offers a portfolio of informational and advocacy resources including the Medicare Advantage Enrollment Map for visualizing enrollment data, the Medicare Advantage 101 educational resource, a Resource Library of policy publications (fact sheets, issue briefs, reports), the BMA Blog for policy insights, and an Advocate Stories platform featuring beneficiary testimonials. The organization also operates the Become an Ally coalition membership program and provides a Policy Research Sign Up newsletter service. These offerings collectively support the organization's mission to advocate for and build evidence for the value of Medicare Advantage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Become an Ally Coalition Membership Program Formal coalition membership program for healthcare organizations (health plans, provider groups, community organizations) to join the Better Medicare Alliance, participate in advocacy efforts, share expertise, and support Medicare Advantage policy initiatives.
• Medicare Advantage Enrollment Map Interactive online tool providing Medicare Advantage enrollment numbers by state, Congressional District, and county, populated with CMS data to visualize enrollment coverage across the United States.
• Medicare Advantage 101 Educational resource explaining Medicare Advantage, how it works, how it compares to Fee-for-Service Medicare, and how to enroll, targeted at seniors and beneficiaries considering the program.
• Policy Research Newsletter Sign-Up Email newsletter subscription delivering the latest Medicare Advantage news, policy updates, and research releases to allies, beneficiaries, and policymakers.
• Center for Innovation in Medicare Advantage (Research Services) Research arm that commissions independent actuarial analyses, policy briefs, and studies on Medicare Advantage value, cost, quality, and social determinants of health, with notable studies from Milliman, NORC at the University of Chicago, ATI Advisory, and Avalere Health.

Quantifiable outcome

• Medicare Advantage beneficiaries save $3,486 annually compared to Fee-for-Service Medicare in total health spending
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• AetnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAetna is a major health insurance company and ally of BMA, supporting advocacy for Medicare Advantage policies. Aetna offers Medicare Advantage plans serving millions of beneficiaries and contributes to BMA's coalition efforts.
• UnitedHealth GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnitedHealth Group is a key ally providing support for Medicare Advantage advocacy. Through Optum and UnitedHealthcare, they offer MA plans and participate in BMA's coalition to support value-based care policies.
• HumanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumana is a major Medicare Advantage insurer and BMA ally, supporting advocacy efforts for favorable MA payment rates and policies.
• CVS HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVS Health (Aetna) is an ally organization participating in BMA's coalition to support Medicare Advantage and advocate for policies benefiting MA beneficiaries.
• ChenMednotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerChenMed is a primary care provider group serving Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through value-based care models. They participated in NORC case studies on social determinants of health approaches.
• American Medical Group Association (AMGA)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMGA represents medical groups delivering healthcare to millions of patients. They support BMA's advocacy for value-based care and Medicare Advantage policies.
• American Telemedicine AssociationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerATA supports BMA's telehealth policy recommendations and advocacy for Medicare Advantage coverage of telemedicine services.
• Meals on Wheels AmericanotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeals on Wheels America partners with BMA to address social determinants of health for seniors, advocating for Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits that address food insecurity.
• YMCA of the USAnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCAs partner with BMA to advocate for Medicare Advantage's role in addressing social determinants of health. Katie Adamson serves on BMA's Board representing YMCA.
• National Hispanic Health FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHHF supports BMA advocacy and Dr. Elena Rios serves on BMA's Board. Focus on health equity and serving diverse Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.
• VNS HealthnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNS Health is one of the largest not-for-profit home and community-based healthcare providers and an ally organization. Dan Lowenstein serves on BMA's Board.
• SCAN Health PlannotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCAN Health Plan is a Medicare Advantage plan focused on seniors. They participated in NORC research on social determinants of health in Medicare Advantage.
• Oak Street HealthnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerOak Street Health is a primary care provider group focused on Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and value-based care.
• Council for Affordable Health CoveragenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on healthcare affordability that partners with BMA on advocacy for Medicare Advantage value.
• LeadingAgenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadingAge represents aging services organizations and supports BMA's advocacy for Medicare Advantage policies benefiting seniors.
• PodimetricsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodimetrics is a health technology company and ally supporting Medicare Advantage innovation, with Jon Bloom M.D. featured in BMA's Ally Voices.
• MillimannotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMilliman conducted actuarial analysis on Medicare Advantage value to the federal government, finding $32.5 billion in annual added value. Research commissioned by BMA's Center for Innovation.
• NORC at the University of ChicagonotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNORC conducted research on Medicare Advantage approaches to social determinants of health, compiling case studies from 12 leading MA plans and community partners.
• ATI AdvisorynotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerATI Advisory conducted analysis on Medicare Advantage cost protections for low-income and diverse populations, finding beneficiaries save $1,965 annually vs FFS Medicare.
• Avalere HealthnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAvalere Health analyzed Medicare Advantage plan landscape and enrollment data for BMA publications on plan availability and beneficiary options.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BMAlliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Better Medicare Alliance