People With Medicare Rate Coverage More Highly Than Those With Employer-Sponsored Plans
<p>In a national Commonwealth Fund survey, elderly Medicare beneficiaries reported greater overall satisfaction with their health coverage, better access to care, and fewer problems paying medical bills than people covered by employer-sponsored plans. These findings, published today as a <a href="/publications/journal-article/2009/may/meeting-enrollees-needs-how-do-medicare-and-employer-coverage">Web Exclusive</a> in <i>Health Affairs,</i> support the development of a public insurance plan similar to Medicare that would be available to the under-65 population.</p>
<p>Using data from the Commonwealth Fund 2007 Biennial Health Insurance Survey, Fund researchers Karen Davis, Ph.D., Stuart Guterman, Michelle M. Doty, Ph.D., and Kristof M. Stremikis found that the gap between consumers' ratings of Medicare and employer-sponsored insurance has widened since a similar survey in 2001. The survey also reveals that:</p>
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<div class="itlbulletlist">Medicare beneficiaries are more satisfied with their insurance coverage. Only 8 percent of elderly Medicare beneficiaries rated their insurance "fair or poor," in contrast with 18 percent of individuals with employer-based insurance. Thirty-two percent of Medicare beneficiaries had at least one negative insurance experience, compared with 44 percent of those covered by an employer plan.</div>
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<div class="itlbulletlist">Medicare beneficiaries report easier access to physicians. Ten percent of Medicare beneficiaries’ physicians did not accept their insurance, compared with 17 percent of respondents with employer-sponsored plans.</div>
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<div class="itlbulletlist">Medicare beneficiaries are less likely to report not getting needed services. Twelve percent of elderly Medicare beneficiaries reported going without care, such as prescribed medications or recommended tests, because of cost restraints. Of individuals with employer-based plans, 26 percent reported experiencing these cost/access issues.</div>
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<p>"This study shows that in important ways, Medicare works better for its beneficiaries than does coverage available to those under age 65," the authors say. "The data suggest that if a Medicare-sponsored public plan option were made available, many under age 65 might prefer it."</p>