Social programs

PACE: Fun activities, hot lunch, celebrations at the PACE center
“Participants can enjoy social and recreational activities and have meals at the PACE center.”
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/what-is-pace

Medicare Advantage: Limited social programs
“Few Medicare Advantage plans offer robust social or community programs.”
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2021/feb/medicare-advantage-plans-supplemental-benefits

Transportation

PACE: Rides to medical appointments and the PACE center
“PACE provides all medically necessary transportation to the PACE center and to other appointments.”
https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/health-plans/your-coverage-options/other-medicare-health-plans/PACE

Medicare Advantage: Rides depend on plan

“In 2025, only 30% of Medicare Advantage plans offered transportation benefits, down from 36% in 2024—showing that not all plans include this service.”
https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-2025-spotlight-a-first-look-at-plan-premiums-and-benefits

Copays, extra costs

PACE: No copays for drugs, dental, vision, hearing aids
“There’s no deductible or copayment for any drug, service, or care your health care team approves.”
https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/health-plans/your-coverage-options/other-medicare-health-plans/PACE

Medicare Advantage: You may pay extra for drugs, dental, vision, hearing
“Most Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision, and hearing but often require cost-sharing or have caps.”
https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/dental-hearing-and-vision-costs-and-coverage-among-medicare-beneficiaries-in-traditional-medicare-and-medicare-advantage

Emergency Room Visits

PACE: Fewer ER visits likely
“PACE participants had fewer hospital admissions and emergency department visits compared to similar beneficiaries.”
https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/private/pdf/76976/PACELitRev.pdf

Medicare Advantage: More ER visits possible
“Dual-eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage were more likely to visit the ED at least once than beneficiaries in other plans.”
https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/9739cab65ad0221a66ebe45463d10d37/dual-eligible-beneficiaries-integrated-care.pdf

Nursing Home Risk

PACE: Fewer people go to a nursing home
“Despite being nursing‑home eligible, most PACE participants do not require long‑term admission.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5822393

“Despite the fact that 100 percent of the PACE participants were nursing‑home certifiable, the risk of being admitted to a nursing home long term following enrollment from the community is low.”
Characteristics Predicting Nursing Home Admission in the Program of All‑Inclusive Care for Elderly People, The Gerontologist, 2005
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15799980/

Medicare Advantage: Higher nursing home risk
“After risk-adjustment, beneficiaries in D-SNPs, FIDE-SNPs or PACE were much less likely to be institutionalized than those in regular MA plans.”
https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/9739cab65ad0221a66ebe45463d10d37/dual-eligible-beneficiaries-integrated-care.pdf

Team Work

PACE: Team works as one
“An interdisciplinary team of health professionals provides coordinated care to PACE participants.”
https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/program-all-inclusive-care-elderly

Medicare Advantage: You call each medical office
“Care fragmentation is common under Medicare Advantage, as patients often navigate multiple offices themselves.”
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/2017/jul/fragmentation-health-care-stark-reality-us-health-system

Specialist Appointments

PACE: PACE arranges appointments, rides and there’s no paperwork
“Once the plan is in place, PACE will schedule appointments, arrange transportation and coordinate care so providers are in communication with one another and benefits and services don’t overlap or conflict.”
https://www.eldercareresourceplanning.org/medicaid-faq/benefits/pace-life-programs/

Medicare Advantage: You manage some care on your own, arrange rides, do the paperwork
“Prior authorization is the No. 1 administrative burden facing physicians today… too many older Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage are forced to deal with unnecessary delays when seeking out medical treatment.”
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/medicare-advantage-prior-authorizations-can-delay-healthcare-for-seniors-a-bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-is-trying-to-streamline-care-900bdc80

Enrollment Period

PACE: Enroll year-round
“A PACE application can be submitted at any time during the year.”
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/pace-chapter-4-12-05-23.pdf

Medicare Advantage: Limited enrollment period
“Every year, Medicare’s open enrollment period is October 15 - December 7.”
https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/medicare-open-enrollment-partner-resources

In-Home Care, Help for Family Caregivers

PACE: Help for family caregivers at home
“PACE provides home care, respite services, and caregiver training to support family caregivers.”
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-plans/pace/downloads/externalfactsheet.pdf
https://www.npaonline.org/what-is-pace-care

Medicare Advantage: Limited in-home care
“About one‑third of MA plans offer in‑home support services, and only 6% offer caregiver support.”
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105527