With Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) halfway done, new research from eHealth offers five key insights into which plans beneficiaries are selecting for 2025 and how they feel about the future of Medicare.

1. Beneficiaries are counting on President-elect Trump

Sixty-four percent (64%) say they are more confident in the future sustainability of Medicare after the election. They want the new administration to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs, lower Medicare’s general out-of-pocket costs, and strengthen the Medicare Advantage program.

2. Part D drug plan premiums surge by 17%

Among Part D plans selected by eHealth customers in the first half of AEP, average premiums are up 17% year over year, from $29 to $34. By contrast, the average premium for Medicare Advantage plans selected in the first half of AEP shows no increase.

3. Most beneficiaries are facing coverage changes

Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Medicare Advantage and Part D plan enrollees say their current plan’s costs or benefits are changing in 2025. Of those who have already begun reviewing their coverage options this AEP, 63% say they have enrolled, or intend to enroll, in a new plan.

4. What makes picking the right Medicare plan so hard

Eighty-eight percent (88%) of beneficiaries call shopping for a new Medicare plan “overwhelming and confusing.” The three most challenging things about it are understanding what’s covered and what’s not, making sense of copays and deductibles, and knowing whether their favorite doctors are covered.

5. Licensed agents boost beneficiary confidence

Navigating Medicare choices can be complex, but there's help available. An overwhelming 87% of beneficiaries report increased confidence in their plan selection when working with a licensed agent. This highlights the value of professional guidance through the decision-making process.

Read the full report for more details– and remember that Medicare’s Annual Enrollment period continues through December 7!

eHealth’s findings are based on a survey of more than 500 Medicare beneficiaries drawn from the general population, and on an analysis of tens of thousands of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans selected by eHealth customers between October 15 and November 8, 2024.

No information relevant to eHealth’s financial performance should be drawn from this report. Like other insurance brokers, eHealth is compensated on a fixed per-member basis for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, as regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.