Event Recap: HILL BRIEFING | Improving Consumer Understanding of Medicare Advantage

Better Medicare Alliance hosted a Congressional briefing presentation and panel discussion on beneficiary education and understanding of Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part C, the private-public managed care option under Medicare following the release of a new report from a convening held with 50 thought leaders. The briefing was an educational opportunity to learn about educational resources on Medicare coverage options and the gaps and developing recommendations for enhancing education and decision-making tools for Medicare beneficiaries. Speakers discussed the role of SHIP counselors and health insurance agents, improving the Medicare Plan Finder and other tactics to improve communication/education efforts for consumers. Roughly 46 people attended, most people stayed for the whole briefing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Congresswoman Schwartz said the new wave of seniors need to make choices about their health care options and seniors need improved information to understand their options

• Adjoa Adofo, communications director of BMA, talked about the convening that discussed beneficiary’s educational needs, available resources, and barriers to educating beneficiaries. She said beneficiaries understanding of Medicare Advantage is low and the convening report seeks to address these issues to help seniors make an active choice.

• Dr. Virginia Brown, University of Maryland College Park said health and financial literacy are both critical to obtain the right health coverage, which is why she helped develop an educational program found educate adults about health insurance

• Nora Super, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging said SHIPs provide free, state specific and unbiased information, which is valuable to seniors. SHIP funding has been around $50 million for several years, but the program has consistently been on the chopping block

• Erin Fisher, Connecticut Association of Health Underwriters said agents go through extensive training and must have a health license, the service for Medicare is valuable to seniors. She advocated for a bill that would enable people over 65 to stay on COBRA before transitioning to Medicare.

• Joel White, Clear Choices Campaign said the organization did an assessment of the Plan Finder and found it got mostly failing grades. His organization is coming out with a report that makes 11 recommendations to improve the Plan Finder and save beneficiaries money.

Speakers:

Congresswoman

Allyson Y. Schwartz

PRESIDENT & CEO BETTER MEDICARE ALLIANCE

Dr. Virginia Brown

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND – COLLEGE PARK

View PowerPoint here 

Erin Fisher

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH UNDERWRITERS

View PowerPoint here

Nora Super

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING

View PowerPoint here 

Joel White

CLEAR CHOICES CAMPAIGN

View PowerPoint here 

Live stream of the event available here