The poll, conducted by Morning Consult and sponsored by the Better Medicare Alliance, surveyed 1,020 seniors in mid-May on Medicare Advantage. Here are the key findings.
The survey found near unanimous satisfaction with Medicare Advantage, high favorability for telehealth, a strong trust in information provided by Medicare Advantage plans, and few interruptions of health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the key findings:
- Ninety-nine percent of all seniors surveyed said they are satisfied with their Medicare Advantage coverage (up from 94 percent in 2019). Sixty-four percent said they are very satisfied.
- The majority (94 percent) are satisfied with their Medicare Advantage plan’s overall handling of the coronavirus. Eighty-nine percent said they are satisfied with how their Medicare Advantage plan has kept them informed about their response to the coronavirus.
- Most seniors on Medicare Advantage (73 percent) have continued to receive care for their health care needs either in person or by telehealth, while 27 percent have experienced interruptions in health care during coronavirus.
- Sixty-eight percent of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are confident that they would have access to a coronavirus test if needed.
- Most (79 percent) said they have received enough information about receiving health care during coronavirus. Twenty-one percent wished they received more information about receiving health care during COVID-19.
- A little more than half of seniors on Medicare Advantage (52 percent) are comfortable using telehealth services to receive health care, while 30 percent are uncomfortable, and 18 percent are unsure. A quarter (24 percent) have used telehealth services during the coronavirus to receive health care.
- Among those who have used telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic, the majority (91 percent) had a favorable telehealth experience and 78 percent are likely to complete a medical appointment via telehealth again in the future.
The results are very encouraging, Allyson Y. Schwartz, president and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance, in an announcement. The survey shows that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries trust information provided from their doctors and health plans about the COVID-19 pandemic more than the news media or even family and friends. Beneficiaries are also highly confident in their ability to obtain a coronavirus test if needed, a finding The Better Medicare Alliance attributes to Medicare Advantage’s strong emphasis on coordinated and primary care.
“Together, these findings offer a comprehensive picture of the significant value that Medicare Advantage delivers to seniors in these difficult times, and of beneficiaries’ willingness to receive health care in new ways. We hope policymakers will take these findings to heart as they consider actions needed to provide security and stability for Medicare Advantage that 24.4 million Americans rely on today,” she said.