Majority of Seniors Report More Time Alone, But
Significant Uptake of Technology
Findings released today from a new Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM)
national poll indicate the extent to which seniors’ health – and
their values related to health – have been affected since the onset
of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Overall, four-in-five
seniors reported that their lives have changed since the start of
the pandemic. For many, these changes may have a lasting effect on
what they value going forward and which could shape their choices
during the fall 2021 Medicare Annual Election Period, which opened
on Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, 2021.
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(Graphic: Business Wire)
The national poll of 1,003 seniors aged 64+ was conducted in
partnership with Kelton Global.
When it comes to seniors’ personal health, the social and mental
aspects have taken the biggest toll from the pandemic, with
one-in-two (51%) seniors reporting that they spend more time alone
and 43% indicating that they spend less time doing the things that
bring them joy. Senior women are more likely than their male
counterparts to report that they feel sad more often (26% v. 15%)
and feel less independent than ever before (21% v. 13%). Despite
these feelings, when asked if they had met virtually with a mental
health specialist during the pandemic, only 3% of seniors indicated
that they had done so.
Seniors’ physical health has also been negatively impacted, with
one-in-two (52%) seniors reporting that their physical activity
level has decreased since March 2020, and one-in-four (26%) having
experienced a decrease in the amount of sleep they get each
night.
Despite preconceived notions that seniors tend to shy away from
technology, such as telehealth and video meeting tools, the poll
revealed the opposite: more than four-in-five (84%) seniors used
technology to manage their health and wellness during the pandemic.
Among them, one-in-three used telehealth to meet with their doctor
during the pandemic.
“While we have known about the acute effects the pandemic has
had on our nations’ seniors, this new data sheds light on many of
the long-lasting effects that will impact how they live their lives
going forward,” said Kathy Driscoll, MSN, RN, CCM, Senior Vice
President and Chief Nursing Officer at Humana. “Health plans should
take particular notice, since it is critical to understand all the
evolving needs of seniors – health, social and behavioral – as the
industry increasingly moves toward models of ‘whole health’ senior
care and coverage.”
The Pandemic’s Effects on Seniors’ Values &
Priorities
The pandemic appears to have underscored the preciousness of
time and the need to focus on what’s most meaningful. For many
seniors, that includes family, friends, travel and getting
vaccinated:
- 75% value spending more time in person with family and friends
than before the pandemic.
- 67% say doing things they value and bring them joy will be at
the top of their list following the pandemic.
- 53% plan to prioritize travel at the end of the pandemic.
The pandemic also exposed social and economic inequities that
have changed the way many seniors view the companies with which
they do business. That’s especially true for Black seniors, with
42% preferring to give their business to companies that address
issues of social equity and equality, compared to 19% of white
seniors. Additionally, many more Black seniors than white seniors
prefer to give their business to companies that positively impact
their community’s health (40% vs 27%) and also consider a company’s
values in purchase decisions (33% vs 24%).
“Whether it’s through investments
that increase the supply of affordable housing, shoring up access
to nutritious food, mitigating loneliness or addressing the digital
divide, we are committed to closing health equity gaps, including
those that affect too many of our nation’s seniors,” said J. Nwando
Olayiwola, M.D., MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer at Humana.
“Seniors have every right to expect that their health plan not only
supports their personal health, but also the greater health of
their community.”
The Pandemic’s Effects on Choosing a Health Plan
When it comes to choosing a health plan, 69% of seniors
indicated that their top concern is ensuring a plan has adequate
coverage for all their healthcare needs; 67% of seniors said that
having access to all their healthcare providers was key in choosing
a plan; and 64% stated that low, out-of-pocket costs were a factor
in choosing their plan.
And, while 46% of seniors indicated that they would pay closer
attention to what is covered in their 2022 health plan, 59% of
Black seniors said they would do so.
For information about Humana’s 2022 Medicare offerings, visit
www.Humana.com/Medicare or call toll-free 1-800-213-5286 (TTY:
711). Licensed sales agents are available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local
time, seven days a week.
About the Survey
This survey was fielded among 1,003 people aged 64+ in the
United States by Kelton Global. The survey was conducted online
during the period of September 14-21, 2021 and has a margin of
error of +/- 3.1%.
About Humana
Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is committed to helping our millions of
medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our
successful history in care delivery and health plan administration
is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power
to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are
leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare,
families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities
at large.
To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care
professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right
place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical
capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care,
behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness
solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes
health care easier to navigate and more effective.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via
the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at
www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission filings
- Most recent investor conference presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls
- Calendar of events
- Corporate Governance information
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211026005320/en/
Mark Mathis Humana Corporate Communications 312-441-5010
mmathis@humana.com
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