Five Big Insights into Medicare Beneficiaries This Annual Enrollment Period

Medicare AEP Consumer Insights Cover Image

 

October 15th is the day when Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for 2025 coverage begins, and it’s expected to be a challenging year for many beneficiaries. As eHealth CEO Fran Soistman says, “Many Medicare Advantage and Part D plan enrollees could see significant changes to out-of-pocket costs and core and supplemental benefits in 2025.”

So, what’s on the minds of Medicare beneficiaries as we head into AEP this year? Here are five key insights from a new eHealth report based on a survey of more than 1,200 Medicare beneficiaries:

  1. Costs, Rx coverage, benefit changes keep beneficiaries up at night: eHealth asked beneficiaries to identify their top-three healthcare concerns and here’s where they landed: 73% are worried about their out-of-pocket costs; 53% are worried about changes to their Medicare plan benefits; and 50% are worried about their prescription drug coverage
     
  2. Medicare sustainability is on voters’ minds: 84% of beneficiaries say that ensuring the future of the Medicare program is one of their top-three voting priorities in this year’s presidential election.
     
  3. Beneficiaries are satisfied with their coverage: 92% of Medicare Advantage enrollees and 95% of Medicare Part D plan enrollees say they are either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their current Medicare plan.
     
  4. Few beneficiaries are well informed about changes coming in 2025: Only 30% of Medicare Advantage and Part D plan enrollees have read their Annual Notice of Change letter. These letters are sent out by insurers to inform enrollees about upcoming changes to their coverage.
  5. Beneficiaries want an Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) extension: Given the distraction of the presidential election and the late Thanksgiving holiday, 75% of beneficiaries would like to see AEP extended this year.

Read the full report.

eHealth’s new report is based on a voluntary survey of more than 1,200 Medicare beneficiaries who purchased Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medicare Supplement plans through eHealth, with coverage still in effect at the time of the survey. For additional methodology information, please refer to the full report.