New research, released today from online private health insurance marketplace eHealth, shows that people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans are highly satisfied with what they’ve got.
Among people who had who purchased a Medicare Advantage plan through eHealth’s website, 88% said they were “very” (63%) or “somewhat” (25%) satisfied with their coverage and just 6% were dissatisfied. Nearly the same percentage (86%) said they would recommend Medicare Advantage to a friend or family member; only 3% said they would not.
Santa Clara, Calif.-based eHealth, Inc. released results from a survey of more than 2,800 Medicare beneficiaries, exploring their satisfaction and experience with their Medicare Advantage plans.
Additional findings:
- Most of those previously enrolled in Medicare Supplement (Medigap) still prefer Medicare Advantage: 59% of beneficiaries previously enrolled in Medigap say they are “more satisfied” with their Medicare Advantage plan; an additionally 23% are “equally satisfied.”
- Most Medicare Advantage enrollees can’t afford the alternatives: Two thirds (67%) of those who chose Medicare Advantage over Medigap did so because Medigap was too expensive. If forced to find similar coverage elsewhere, 73% say they could afford monthly premiums of only $50 or less.
- Most see Medicare Advantage as a prime example of public/private cooperation: More than six in 10 (61%) say Medicare Advantage is a good example of cooperation between government and private enterprise, while 5% disagree; only 13% feel regulation of Medicare Advantage plans should be increased.
Read the full report.
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies and cover Medicare Parts A and B benefits, typically filling many coverage gaps and offering additional benefits. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include Part D prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plans are typically more affordable than Medicare Supplement and stand-alone Part D plans; many beneficiaries are able to enroll in $0-premium Medicare Advantage plans.
eHealth’s report is based on a voluntary survey of Medicare beneficiaries who purchased Medicare Advantage plans through eHealth. The survey was conducted in late May of 2022 and a total of 2,848 responses were collected.
