Seniors More Likely to Switch Medicare Advantage Plans in 2019, Survey Shows

A new Welltok survey says seniors are more likely to switch their Medicare Advantage (MA) plans this year, reports Healthcare Finance News . Almost 60 percent of surveyed seniors said they would consider switching their current MA plan in the near future, with low out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug coverage, and in-network access to providers listed as likely influencers. Respondents also cited the importance of their insurer offering programs and resources dealing with their total health and wellbeing. Nearly 50 percent felt their current plan does not offer relevant or personalized support. Seniors are embracing a new definition of health that accounts for all aspects of health, including physical, social, emotional, and financial. In addition, respondents are most likely to name financial stability, adequate sleep, and positive relationships as what they value most. Plans also would benefit by accounting for changing communication preferences among seniors. Email was respondents' most popular medium for communicating with health plans, especially among MA members, followed by phone and regular mail.