A majority of Medicare beneficiaries have had the same plan for at least three years and 36 percent don't know the annual enrollment period is currently underway, according to a new survey from online insurance marketplace eHealth.
The survey was released Oct. 31 and included responses from more than 1,000 beneficiaries after the enrollment period began. Respondents are covered under traditional Medicare, supplement, Part D and/or Medicare Advantage plans.
Five key takeaways:
- Among all respondents, 53 percent have had the same plan for three or more years and 45 percent have not reviewed new options over the last year, though 67 percent say they likely will for 2023 coverage.
- Among those not covered by traditional Medicare, 40 percent don't know if their benefits will change in 2023.
- Thirty-six percent of enrollees didn't know that the annual enrollment period is currently underway.
- Over the past year, 51 percent of respondents started visiting a new provider, 46 percent have been prescribed a new medication and have experienced changes in their personal finances, and 38 percent have been diagnosed with a new medical condition.
- Three-quarters of respondents are concerned about higher care costs because of inflation and fewer than half could afford out-of-pocket costs increasing more than five percent.