With 10,000 Americans turning 65 everyday, there is a new wave of Medicare beneficiaries that have many decisions to make when selecting their health and prescription drug coverage. Their choices affect their out-of-pocket costs and which providers they can see.
The Medicare website, Medicare.gov, is a often a primary source for comparing options. However, a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has shown that it “is difficult for beneficiaries to use and provides incomplete information”.
In particular, beneficiaries struggle with using Medicare Plan Finder because it can be difficult to find information on the website and the information can be hard to understand. The main reasons were:
- Requires navigation through multiple pages before displaying plan details
- Lacks prominent instructions to help beneficiaries find information
- Contains complex terms that make it difficult for beneficiaries to understand information.
In response to GAO’s survey, 73% of officials who assist beneficiaries in selecting coverage reported that beneficiaries experience difficulty finding information in MPF, while 18 percent reported that government counselors themselves experienced difficulty.
Government Accountability Office (GAO): Usability Problems and Incomplete Information Create Challenges for Beneficiaries Comparing Coverage Options (2019)
What if you call Medicare.gov?
Medicare.gov has a toll-free number, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) that you can call any time to ask for information or help about signing up?
You are able to call any time, but that doesn’t mean that anyone will pick up the phone. You can, however, leave your number and request a return phone call. In fairness, if you do get to talk to someone, the person you get will be kind and helpful. But there is a very logical reason it is so difficult to get information when you need it.
What is it so difficult to get good information?
Many people need information that Medicare.gov cannot possibly keep up with the demand for advice or information. In fact:
- The number of Americans who are age 65 and older is surging. In fact, the 65-and-older population grew by 34.2% (or 13,787,044 individuals) during the past decade, and also by 3.2% (1,688,924) from 2018 to 2019. And about 10,000 Americans turn age 65 every single day.
- By the year 2020, all baby boomers have reached age 65 or older. This is obvious math since by definition baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. But it’s not all obvious. Today, there are about 73 million of them.
Not to mention, they are hamstrung by the typical need to explain everything in terminology only lawmakers and regulators understand.
Where can you turn to when you need your Medicare question answered Today?
At CoverRight, we’ve built a digital first platform to help solve the problems that have plagued the Medicare.gov website. We’re here to help you find the right Medicare coverage that you deserve. Reach out today and start finding the best Medicare plan for you.
Our licensed insurance agents are available to deliver you concierge-style service.
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