Examining Medicare plan selection matters for seniors.

1. Allsup Medicare Advisor® Seniors Survey
Examining Medicare Plan Selection
Matters For Seniors
October 2011
Satisfaction, confidence and health condition 2-5
Changing Medicare plans and challenges 6-9
Current coverage and what’s important 10-11
Reviewing plans and receiving help 12-13
Free preventive services (from healthcare reform) 14-15
Methodology & background 16

2. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
2
Nearly two in three seniors are very satisfied with their coverage. However, younger seniors are
generally less satisfied.
Satisfaction with Current Medicare Coverage
2%
Total 65% 25% 4%4%
1%
Age 65-69 58% 27% 9% 5%
3%
Age 70-79 66% 24% 3%4%
2%
Ages 80+ 72% 23% 3%
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Not sure Not too satisfied Not at all satisfied
Question: How satisfied are you with your current Medicare coverage? Would you say you are very satisfied,
somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied or not at all satisfied? (sample size = 900)
Source: Allsup

3. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
3
Satisfaction with specific aspects of Medicare coverage is high, except for the inclusion of prescription
drugs. As beneficiaries get older, satisfaction generally rises.
Satisfaction with Specific Aspects of Medicare Coverage
100%
89% 91%
88%
84% 85%
80% 81%
80%
72% 72% 72% 72%
70%
56%
60% 54%
53% 48%
40%
20%
0%
Overall Ages 65-69 Ages 70-79 Ages 80+
Benefits worth premiums Co-pays/costs reasonable Accepted by doctors Include Rx drugs
Questions: Do you feel that your Medicare benefits are worth the money you spend on your monthly premiums? Are the co-
pays and out of-pocket costs for your Medicare coverage too high or pretty reasonable? Is your Medicare plan accepted by
the doctors and specialists you want or do there need to be more options? Does your Medicare coverage include all of the
prescription drugs that you need or is it missing some that are important to you? (Sample size=900)
Source: Allsup

4. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
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While satisfaction with current coverage is high, confidence in coverage if health gets worse is much
lower.
Confidence in Coverage if Health Confidence in Coverage, by Age
Worsens
– Only 39 percent are very confident that
their current Medicare plan would provide % “Very” Confident
the coverage they need if their health got
worse.
Not
sure,
5%
Not too
/ not at % Not too/Not at
Very,
all, 16%
39% all confident
Somewhat,
40%
Question: If your health were to get worse, how confident are you that your current Medicare plan would provide
the coverage you need? (Sample size=900)
Source: Allsup

5. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
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Older seniors are most likely to report their health has declined.
Health Condition Since Enrolling in Medicare
Overall 6% 68% 26%
Ages 65-69 7% 76% 17%
Ages 70-79 7% 63% 30%
Ages 80+ 4% 67% 29%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Improved About the same Worse
Question: Which best describes your health since enrolling in Medicare? (Sample size=900)
Source: Allsup

6. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
6
The biggest challenge to changing Medicare plans is seniors’ concern whether their current doctor will
accept any new coverage.
Biggest Challenge to Changing Medicare Plans
Making sure doctor or healthcare
31%
provider takes your coverage
Making sure plan has adequate
18%
coverage for pre-existing condition
Finding an affordable plan 12%
Coordinating with your other
8%
insurance
Comparing information and plan
5%
details
Not sure/Refused 21%
Question: When you think about changing your Medicare coverage, what do you think would be the biggest
challenge? (Sample size=900)
Source: Allsup

7. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey 7
Overall, 56 percent definitely plan to keep their current Medicare coverage, while 44 percent are not
ruling out changes. Older seniors are less likely to consider changes, while younger seniors are more
likely to change.
Anticipate Changing Medicare Coverage in Next 12 Months
44% would consider changing
1%
Total 4%5% 34% 56%
48% would consider changing
1%
Age 65-69 7% 5% 35% 52%
47% would consider changing
2%
Age 70-79 4%5% 36% 53%
1% 38% would consider changing
Ages 80+ 2%5% 30% 62%
Definitely change Probably change Not sure
Probably keep current coverage Definitely keep current coverage
Question: How likely are you to change your current Medicare coverage during the next 12 months?
(Sample size=900)
Source: Allsup

8. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey 8
Overall, 18 percent report they have changed their Medicare coverage at least once. This is similar
across age groups, meaning younger seniors have already changed plans as often as seniors who
are decades older.
Ever Changed Medicare Coverage Changed Medicare, by Age
30%
Once More than
11% once 7%
% Yes
20%
18% 18%
17%
Never 10%
82%
0%
Ages 65-69 Ages 70-79 Ages 80+
Question: Since you enrolled in Medicare, have you changed your Medicare coverage once, more than once or never?
(Sample size=893)
Source: Allsup

9. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
9
For the minority of Medicare beneficiaries who have changed their coverage, cost was mentioned as
the top reason.
Reasons for Changing Medicare Coverage
Premiums were too high 27%
Plan was discontinued 15%
Co-pays or out-of-pocket expenses were too high 11%
Better benefits/coverage 10%
Moved to a new area 7%
Old plan didn't cover prescription drugs needed 6%
Wanted access to more doctors or specialists 4%
Plan changed 4%
Doctor/healthcare facility stopped taking old plan 3%
Other 8%
Not sure 6%
Question: When you (most recently) changed your Medicare coverage, what was the primary reason? (Sample size=157)
Source: Allsup

10. 10
Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
Of those surveyed, those 80 and older were less likely to know what type of Medicare coverage they had.
Current Coverage: Traditional Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
Overall 63% 24% 13%
Has Rx coverage 47%
Age 65-69 61% 26% 13%
Has Medigap coverage 25%
Age 70-79 65% 26% 9%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Ages 80+ 64% 18% 18%
Traditional Medicare Medicare Advantage Plan Not sure
Questions: Do you have traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage? (Sample size=900); Have you signed up or been enrolled
in Medicare prescription drug coverage? (Sample size=898); Have you signed up or been enrolled in Medigap, also called
Medicare Supplemental Insurance? (Sample size=570)
Source: Allsup

11. 11
Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
When asked to choose the most important part of a good Medicare plan, seniors indicated access to doctors.
This was higher than cost-related items such as co-pays, out-of-pocket expenses and monthly premiums.
Access to Doctors Most Important to Good Medicare Plan
All are
important,
6% Other/not
sure,
9%
Cost for Accepted by
monthly enough
premiums, doctors and
11% specialists,
43%
Co-pays and
out-of-
pocket
Coverage for expenses,
important 20%
prescription
drugs,
11%
Question: For you, what is the most important part of a good Medicare plan? (Sample size=900)
Source: Allsup

12. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
12
Of current beneficiaries, 69 percent have not reviewed their Medicare plan in the past year. Those
newest to Medicare are most likely to have reviewed their plan.
Have Reviewed Medicare Plan in Reviewed Medicare, by Age
Past 12 Months
50%
Not sure,
2%
40%
40%
% Yes
Yes, 29%
30%
26%
No, 69% 22%
20%
10%
Ages 65-69 Ages 70-79 Ages 80+
Question: In the past 12 months, have you reviewed your current Medicare plan in comparison to other Medicare
plan options available? (Sample size=900)
Source: Allsup

13. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey 13
More than 40 percent receive no help reviewing their Medicare coverage. Among those receiving help,
the most common response was a spouse or partner. The oldest beneficiaries are the most likely to
report the help of adult children.
Received Help Reviewing Medicare Plan Who Helps Beneficiaries Review Plan
(of those receiving help)
39%
Spouse or 42%
partner 42%
33%
Non- 22%
family, Adult 9%
25% children 19%
41%
No one, Doctor or 20%
41% other 17%
healthcare 17%
professional 27%
Employer or 16%
15%
former Total (n=532)
Family, 19%
employer 11% Age 65-69 (n=163)
34%
Age 70-79 (n=220)
14%
Friends 18% Ages 80+ (n=149)
13% Multiple responses accepted
11%
Question: Who helps you review and enroll in your Medicare coverage, or has helped in the past?
(Samples size=900)
Source: Allsup

14. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey 14
Forty percent of Medicare beneficiaries have used free preventive care services that became available
under healthcare reform legislation. Older Medicare beneficiaries are less likely to have used free
preventive services.
Has Used Medicare Free Preventive Used Free Medicare Services, by Age
Healthcare Services*
Not sure, 70%
4%
60%
Yes, 50%
40% % “Yes”
40% 43%
40%
No, 34%
56% 30%
20%
Ages 65-69 Ages 70-79 Ages 80+
*Free preventive services include annual wellness exams,
cardiovascular screenings, flu shots, medical nutritional
therapy and glaucoma tests.
Questions: Under healthcare reform, several preventive care services are now offered free to Medicare beneficiaries using
traditional Medicare. Have you taken advantage of any of these free services since they became available this year? (Sample
size=570; note: only traditional Medicare participants are eligible for preventive care services under healthcare reform)
Source: Allsup

15. Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey 15
A total of 54 percent of Medicare beneficiaries say they are likely to use free preventive services in
the next year. The oldest beneficiaries are least likely to take advantage of free Medicare services
in the future.
Plans to Use Free Preventive Likelihood of Using Free Medicare
Services in Future Services, by Age
Not sure, 70%
7% % Likely to
63%
60%
56%
Not at all Very likely, 50%
likely, 17% 28%
44%
40%
41% 41%
Not very
Somewhat likely,
likely, 22% 32%
26% 30%
% Not likely to
20%
Ages 65-69 Ages 70-79 Ages 80+
Question: How likely are you to take advantage of any of these free services this year or next year? (Sample size=320;
note: responses from those eligible who have not used free services already)
Source: Allsup

16. 16
Allsup Medicare Advisor Seniors Survey
Methodology & Demographics Demographics
The Allsup Medicare Advisor® Seniors Survey was an independently conducted
telephone survey of 900 randomly selected individuals 65 years of age and over who Age
have Medicare coverage.
65-69 29%
The survey was conducted between June 15-28, 2011, by Richard Day Research, an 70-79 43%
independent market research firm based in Evanston, Ill.
80 and over 28%
The survey is subject to a +/- 3 percent margin of error. Mean 74.8
Median 74
About Allsup Gender
Male 43%
The Allsup Medicare Advisor® service is a Medicare plan selection service that helps
people choose the most affordable and appropriate plan for their specific healthcare Female 57%
needs. The service examines all of someone’s Medicare options to provide an in- Income
depth, objective analysis and combines live, one-on-one personal guidance with
convenient access to online features. (Allsup is not a Medicare plan provider. It does Less than $50,000 34%
not accept fees or commissions from insurance providers, i.e., Medicare Advantage, $50,000+ 33%
Medicare Part D or supplement insurance plans.)
Not sure/Refused 33%
Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicare Employment
Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance
carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs nearly 800 professionals who deliver Full/part-time 11%
specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead Retired/not employed 89%
lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based
in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. For more information, visit www.Allsup.com.
Allsup contacts:
Rebecca Ray, (800) 854-1418 ext. 65065, r.ray@allsupinc.com
Mary Jung, (773) 429-0940, mtjung@msn.com