CHICAGO, Sept. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GoHealth,
Inc. (GoHealth) (NASDAQ: GOCO), a leading health insurance
marketplace, released its findings on a new report of more
than 2,100 Medicare beneficiaries and those nearing Medicare
eligibility. The "Biannual Medicare 2020 Report" found that
shopping and enrolling in a Medicare plan is overwhelming for
many.
Two in five Americans nearing eligibility (42%) haven't even
started thinking about their Medicare options. And, while 50% of
Medicare beneficiaries started thinking about Medicare options six
months before turning 65, 20% waited until turning 65 or after
becoming eligible.
GoHealth polled 1,106 Americans enrolled in Medicare
("beneficiaries") and 1,000 approaching the age of Medicare
eligibility ("those nearing eligibility") to understand enrollment
challenges, coverage gaps, pain points and their outlook on
healthcare.
Key Findings - Understanding Medicare
- 47% of Medicare beneficiaries and 57% of those nearing
eligibility admitted they are overwhelmed at the idea of finding
the right plan.
- Many of those nearing eligibility don't know where to start
(47%) and say official resources like Medicare.gov are confusing
(51%).
- 37% of Medicare beneficiaries agree that Medicare resources
like Medicare.gov are confusing
- 19% of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a plan without any
outside help.
Key Findings - Medicare Enrollment & Coverage
Gaps
- Half of Medicare beneficiaries (51%) and three in four
Americans nearing eligibility (72%) chose/will choose a plan based
on affordability.
- 50% of Medicare beneficiaries and 65% of those nearing
eligibility are worried their plan will not cover their long-term
needs.
- One in five Medicare beneficiaries (19%) already indicate their
plan does not meet all their healthcare needs, with the primary
coverage gaps in specialist care (35%), prescription medication
(18%), and long-term care (17%).
"We've been in the business for years -- enrolling in Medicare
should be a consultative experience each year. Medicare enrollment
is so complex, when on your own. The wrong Medicare plan creates
barriers for Americans to get the healthcare they need when they
need it most, and with the proper coverage and protections against
cost," said Clint Jones, co-founder
and CEO of GoHealth. "Having proper health insurance coverage
improves health outcomes on so many levels. It's critical that we
provide the right resources and support to advise Americans on
their options and help them enroll a plan that meets their
individual needs. A plan that works for your friend may not be the
right choice for you. And, there may be a better option available
for you when evaluating the next year."
Additional Insights
- Healthcare expenses impact people's ability to pay for
essential needs like groceries and even health needs like
prescriptions. Nearly one in seven beneficiaries (12%)
and one in six Americans nearing eligibility (15%) have had to
decide between paying a medical bill and buying groceries or paying
a household bill. One in six (15% of beneficiaries, 16% of those
nearing eligibility) have skipped out on filling prescriptions due
to costs.
- Interest in virtual care is there, but total adoption
barriers exist. Half (49% of beneficiaries, 56% of
those nearing eligibility) are open to having virtual doctor
appointments. Still, almost a third are not open (31% of
beneficiaries, 26% of those nearing eligibility). Of those
unwilling, 74% indicated their doctor has never offered nor
mentioned they provide virtual services. One in three (32% of
beneficiaries, 31% of those nearing eligibility) say they don't
have access to a laptop or mobile phone, and the majority (65% of
beneficiaries, 59% of those nearing eligibility) admitted they
don't know how to use video-call technology.
- During the pandemic, about half skipped or postponed
their healthcare services. 54% of beneficiaries skipped or
postponed, with almost a third skipping/postponing two or more
appointments.
For more information about the Biannual Medicare 2020 Report,
visit
https://www.gohealth.com/gohealth-biannual-medicare-2020-report/.
About GoHealth
As a leading health insurance marketplace, GoHealth's mission is to
improve access to healthcare in America. Enrolling in a health
insurance plan can be confusing for customers, and the seemingly
small differences between plans can lead to significant
out-of-pocket costs or lack of access to critical medicines and
even providers. GoHealth combines cutting-edge technology, data
science and deep industry expertise to match customers with the
healthcare policy and carrier that is right for them. Since its
inception, GoHealth has enrolled millions of people in Medicare and
individual and family plans. For more information, visit
https://www.gohealth.com/.
Contacts
Investor Relations, IR@gohealth.com
Media Relations, pressinquiries@gohealth.com
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SOURCE GoHealth, Inc.