With Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period Underway and a Presidential Election Approaching, eHealth Survey Explores Medicare Beneficiaries' Sentiments on Key Issues
Key findings from the survey:
- A majority of Medicare beneficiaries support early buy-in to Medicare: 60% of survey respondents say adults age 60 to 64 should be able to buy in to Medicare coverage earlier than the standard eligibility age of 65.
- Medicare beneficiaries express increasing discomfort with any new coronavirus vaccine: 47% say they are either "very" or "somewhat" uncomfortable receiving a coronavirus vaccine released in the near term, up from 37% in eHealth's
July 2020 survey. Notably more Republican voters would feel "very comfortable" getting a vaccine than would Democratic voters (31% vs. 18%, respectively). - A strong majority of Medicare beneficiaries support mandatory mask rules: 85% say masks should be required in public places where social distancing is difficult; 98% of likely Democratic voters favor mandatory mask rules, as do 69% of likely Republican voters.
- Many Medicare beneficiaries want access to non-standard coronavirus treatments: 40% want access to unproven or experimental treatments if they come down with the coronavirus, while 23% do not; 37% are unsure. College educated respondents are more likely to want access to non-standard treatments than those with only a high school education (45% vs. 33%, respectively).
- Nearly two thirds of Medicare beneficiaries voted early, but they differ on the safety of in-person voting: 64% say they have already cast their vote for president; 67% of likely Republican voters say they would feel comfortable voting in person, compared to only 29% of likely Democratic voters.
- Most Medicare beneficiaries feel the government should do more to lower the cost of drugs, but a
$200 check would help: 63% say the government isn't doing enough to lower the cost of prescription drugs; a similar figure (64%) say a$200 check from the government would make a meaningful difference in their personal drug costs.
Findings presented in eHealth's report are based on a voluntary survey of Medicare beneficiaries who purchased Medicare health insurance products from eHealth. The survey was conducted
About eHealth
Media inquiries:
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lara.sasken@ehealth.com
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