new york u.s. government pay u.s. health insurers provide medicare advantage plan elderly disable americans 0.85 percent average 2017 2016 reflect mostly stable medical cost government agency say monday department health human service final plan raise payments bite less 1.35 percent increase agency propose february say low figure reflect revisions medical service cost calculations medicare advantage rat look much line propose rule say ipsita smolinski capitol street washington research firm insurers include unitedhealth group inc aetna inc anthem inc manage health benefit 17 million americans enrol medicare advantage plan 30 million people eligible medicare coverage part government-run fee-for-service program share unitedhealth aetna slightly low light after-hours trade anthem unchanged year government set reimburse insurers healthcare service members use payments vary region quality rat earn health plan relative health members proposal always subject industry lobby often change finalize analysts say lower-than-proposed payment slight negative insurers agency make two modifications final overall payment plan would benefit industry next year capital alpha partner analyst kim monk say center medicare medicaid service health agency division regulate medicare give grind two issue new method calculate risk cut payments certain employer-based retiree drug plan government agency initially plan implement cut year say monday plan introduce two-year transition period hear insurers unions employers lobby group cut propose february aggressive insurance lobbyist america health insurance plan president marilyn tavenner say statement government make change mitigate negative impact original proposal could do improve stability employer-based retiree plan u.s. raise payments insurers medicare advantage 2017 plan