Who Relies on Medicare? A Profile of the Medicare Population

This AARP Insight reports findings from an analysis of MSP enrollment patterns in a sample of four states before and after the states expanded MSP eligibility criteria.

Despite gains in health coverage and affordability under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a significant number of Americans remain uninsured, including millions of adults ages 50 to 64, and affordability and access barriers remain. Policymakers can pursue a wide range of options to improve access to affordable health coverage and reduce racial/ethnic and other disparities in coverage.

A Texas federal court recently ruled that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision of requiring most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services without cost-sharing was unconstitutional, putting access to no-cost critical preventive health services in jeopardy for millions of Americans. That decision is now pending appeal.

Speakers discussed new research on people’s experiences with Medicare marketing, what factors and information influence Medicare coverage choices, and potential policy opportunities to better support consumers during open enrollment.

This study examined Medicare enrollment experiences for adults 64 (coming-of-agers) and 65+. It assessed familiarity, satisfaction, and plan switching.