Patient Experiences in Selecting a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan

Stults, Cheryl D; Baskin, Alison S.; Tai-Seale, Ming; Bundorf, M. Kate

doi:10.17294/2330-0698.1359

Cited by 2 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Our results are partially consistent with some findings from qualitative literature regarding choice and Medicare Part D. Stults and colleagues mentioned that even among highly educated beneficiaries [44], obtaining information from a "live" person was important when selecting health insurance. However, their participants, who have higher education levels, used CMS resources, and family members were not considered a reliable source of advice.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Seniors don’t use Medicare.Gov: how do eligible beneficiaries obtain information about Medicare Advantage Plans in the United States?

Rivera‐Hernandez

Blackwood

Mercedes

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background Managed care programs in the US are becoming a preferred alternative among low-income individuals in the US. Every year during open enrollment, seniors can enroll in Medicare Advantage (MA) or switch MA plans. However, there is very limited information about how seniors obtain information to help them make their choices. While the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare offer online resources that are designed to enable potential beneficiaries to make informed coverage decisions, there is no information as to whether seniors use these resources, and therefore whether these resources are effective compared to other information retrieval methods. Methods The purpose of the present study was to qualitatively explore how seniors obtain information about insurance plans in MA. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 MA beneficiaries from Rhode Island. Results We found that most seniors have strong preferences for obtaining information in-person regarding benefits, cost and other plan information. Some seniors relied heavily on insurance brokers or representatives, and considered the information provided to them without questioning the potential for bias. Others consulted with family and/or friends for guidance, or to compare costs and benefits. Only a few of these seniors used the available internet resources, and in fact most of them mentioned that they did not have a computer/smart device with internet capabilities. However, among those who used and appeared to be comfortable with navigating the internet, www.medicare.gov was not discussed as a useful resource for making decisions regarding health insurance. Conclusions This study suggests that existing online medical resource usage and effects among senior citizens in the United States may need supplementing with in-person communication among influential agents.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Seniors don’t use Medicare.Gov: how do eligible beneficiaries obtain information about Medicare Advantage Plans in the United States?

Rivera‐Hernandez

Blackwood

Mercedes

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…In our focus group, we also found that older adults wanted assistance in choosing a plan (13). As a result, we developed 3 versions of CHOICE1.0, each of which varied based on the extent to which and how they provide the user with personalized expert recommendations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Older adults utilize a wide range of resources to assist them in selecting a Medicare Part D plan. Some turn to experts, such as the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program and insurance brokers, while others refer to books, brochures, or the Internet for guidance (13). One focus group study regarding the experiences of beneficiaries selecting a Medicare Part D plan found that the most frequently reported website was the Medicare.gov Plan Finder tool.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hosted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), this interactive online tool has beneficiaries enter their zip code and current medications and then provides a list of all the available plans in the region, as well as their estimated costs and coverage. While some participants found the CMS tool to be helpful, others described it as confusing and prone to glitches (13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To alleviate the reported difficulties with the CMS online tool and in response to evidence that older adults were more likely to switch plans when provided with easy-to-access evidence on the costs associated with different plans (12), we developed a new online Medicare Part D selection tool, CHOICE1.0, with a multidisciplinary team of researchers at Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute and Stanford University, as well as a software developer, user experience consultant, pharmacist stakeholder, and health IT executive at Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) Community Health Resource Center and patient stakeholders. Building on findings from our focus group research (13) and input from stakeholders, CHOICE1.0 incorporates user-centered design concepts by having a more streamlined interface and by directly importing beneficiaries’ medications that are listed in the electronic health record (EHR) of a large, multispecialty group practice, PAMF.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Comparative Usability Study of a Newly Created Patient-Centered Tool and Medicare.gov Plan Finder to Help Medicare Beneficiaries Choose Prescription Drug Plans

Stults

Fattahi

Meehan

et al. 2018

Journal of Patient Experience

Self Cite

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Introduction: In response to reported difficulties in selecting a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, we designed a patient-centered online Part D plan selection tool (CHOICE1.0) to simplify the selection process and to provide personalized, expert recommendations. Methods: This ethnographic comparative usability study observed 44 patients using the first version of the tool during Medicare 2016 Open Enrollment. Participants were observed as they chose their drug plan using Medicare.gov and 1 of 3 versions of CHOICE1.0 that varied in amount of expert guidance. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze exit survey data. The observations were video-recorded, and field notes were analyzed thematically. Results: Participants were significantly more satisfied with CHOICE1.0 for choosing a plan, understanding information, and ease of use compared to Medicare.gov . Those using expert versions of CHOICE1.0 were more likely to indicate their intention to switch plans than those using Medicare.gov , though they wanted to know the source and content. Conclusion: The more patient-centered prescription drug choice tool improved user experience and enabled users to choose plans more consistent with expert recommendations.

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Patient Experiences in Selecting a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

Seniors don’t use Medicare.Gov: how do eligible beneficiaries obtain information about Medicare Advantage Plans in the United States?

Seniors don’t use Medicare.Gov: how do eligible beneficiaries obtain information about Medicare Advantage Plans in the United States?

Comparative Usability Study of a Newly Created Patient-Centered Tool and Medicare.gov Plan Finder to Help Medicare Beneficiaries Choose Prescription Drug Plans

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