Pittsburgh-based UPMC said its health plan now has more Medicare Advantage members than Pittsburgh-based rival Highmark, according to Trib Live.
UPMC Health Plan covers 37 percent of the Western Pennsylvania market, according to UPMC, and is outpacing Highmark in Medicare Advantage members by about 50,000.
"We've grown dramatically," Diane Holder, president of UPMC's Insurance Services Division, told Trib Live. "We are now the largest provider of Medicare Advantage in Western Pennsylvania."
During fall 2018 alone, UPMC recorded its second-best year in Medicare Advantage sales. Eight thousand members were added for 2019 compared to the year prior, according to UPMC's year-end financial updates.
At the same time, Highmark's Medicare Advantage enrollment fell by 21,000 members, according to UPMC. Highmark spokesperson Aaron Billger told the publication he would not comment or "speculate on data points presented by UPMC."
UPMC attributed the change to its impending split with Highmark in summer 2019, which caused fewer members to choose Highmark and opt for alternatives like Aetna, the health system said.
More articles on payers:
BCBS of Michigan accused of charging hidden fees
UnityPoint back in network with Humana, Molina
Anthem study: Employers are increasingly bundling health benefits