MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.,
July 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Just
call them 'Silver Techies'. Medicare eligible seniors are embracing
technology and loving it. Six in ten are embracing
technology more during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new
healthinsurance.com survey.
Seniors are using technology for their healthcare needs. The
survey reveals an incredible 340% increase in telemedicine
usage among Medicare recipients since the start of COVID-19.
One-third report ordering their prescriptions from an online
pharmacy. And it's not just telemedicine and the internet. Nearly
one-third say they monitor their health using a wearable. In
fact, 4 in 10 are interested in a wearable that helps them
and those around them maintain appropriate social distance.
The survey also explores seniors' internet usage, healthcare
cost concerns, Medicare enrollment, grandma and grandpa's
binge-watching habits, and more.
COVID-19 Impact
The coronavirus pandemic is affecting
seniors' daily habits and family life; 38% haven't seen
their kids or grandkids in person since mid-March. More than half
have put off a dentist appointment because of COVID-19. Six in
ten have only left the house to go food shopping or to the
pharmacy during COVID-19. On the flip side 27% say they have
left their house whenever they wanted during the pandemic.
35% are worried about contracting COVID-19 because they may
be hit with a surprise bill. Nearly 4 in 10 think those who
have a Medicare Advantage plan and who contract COVID-19 are
getting better care. 12% used the special enrollment period
to enroll in Medicare during COVID-19.
Telemedicine Is Trending
Telemedicine is trending
among those on Medicare. Prior to COVID-19 only 1 in 10 used
telemedicine. During COVID-19, 44% have used telemedicine
and 43% say they intend on using it after. Of those who used
telemedicine, 58% say they have used it just once and
30% report using it once a month. Two-thirds of those
who haven't tried telemedicine said the reason is simply because
they haven't needed the service.
Grandparents Are Binge Watching
Binge-watching doesn't
have an age limit; 75% of respondents say they have a smart
TV or use a streaming device, with 47% admitting to
binge-watching. But Grandma and Grandpa aren't totally sold on
cutting the cord, 66% of seniors still have Cable TV.
Liking Social Media
A majority of senior citizens are
hitting the like button; 73% are on social media with
83% saying they use Facebook the most. 52% say they
use social media to stay in touch with family and friends and
21% say they use it to get news.
Making Use Of Video Chatting
Seniors are using
technology to stay in touch with both family and friends during
COVID-19. More than half video chat with their kids and grandkids
at least once a month, with 50% saying they video chat more
since the start of COVID-19. And it's not just with family,
32% say they video chat with their friends.
Satisfied With Smartphones
Nine in
ten seniors say they have a smartphone and like to use it.
71% say their preferred method of communication is either
texting or talking on their cell phone. And it's not just
smartphones, two-thirds say they also have some type of
tablet. 11% have used the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason to
start using a smartphone.
2020 Election
In the upcoming election, nine in ten
say lowering drug prices is important to them. 68% say the
economy and healthcare are the two most important issues to them in
the 2020 election. How seniors are going to vote is split;
58% say they will vote via a mail in ballot, and 42%
say they will vote in person in November.
When asked about the outlook of the
United States, 84% say they haven't seen the country
more divided in their lifetime than it is now.
Medicare Enrollment Habits
Nearly 8 in 10
research their Medicare options online. But not all beneficiaries
enroll online; 44% sign up using the internet, and the
remaining 56% sign up either in person or on the phone. When
looking for a plan, 4 in 10 look for a Medicare plan that
accepts their doctor. For 26%, a Medicare plan with low
monthly premiums and copays is most important, while 22% are
looking for a plan that has extra benefits like dental, vision,
hearing or fitness programs. More than two-thirds with a Medicare
Advantage plan are happy with it. Two in ten intend to use the
annual enrollment period beginning in October to adjust their
current Medicare plan. 26% say they intend to switch from an
Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan and 22% plan
to change their prescription drug plan. When asked if the age to be
eligible for Medicare should be lowered to 60, 51% said
yes.
Healthcare Cost Worries
Two-thirds are
worried about out-of-pocket medical costs. Six in ten are
worried about an unexpected medical bill, so much so that
36% have put off seeing a doctor because of cost. 89%
think prescription drug prices are too high. One-third spend
more than $50 a month on prescription
drugs. As far as future costs are concerned, 50% of
respondents say they have money set aside for their family to use
for their health needs.
View the full survey results here:
https://www.healthinsurance.com/learning-center/article/medicare-eligible-seniors-survey
METHODOLOGY:
The above results were gathered through
an online poll of more than 1,000 Medicare eligible Americans aged
64+. The poll was conducted from July 17,
2020 to July 20, 2020,
gleaning representative samples from each state based on
population.
ABOUT HEALTHINSURANCE.COM:
Healthinsurance.com
combines the nation's leading health insurance carriers and
advanced technology to offer a suite of private insurance solutions
and Medicare plan options. In just a few clicks, our website
provides consumers the ability to access powerful online comparison
tools and educational resources that enable efficient self-guided
navigation of available health insurance and Medicare options. For
more information, visit www.healthinsurance.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Healthinsurance.com LLC is
part of the Benefytt Technologies family companies (NASDAQ: BFYT).
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements are statements other than
historical fact, and may include statements relating to goals,
plans and projections regarding new markets, products, services,
growth strategies, anticipated trends in our business and
anticipated changes and developments in the United States health insurance system and
laws. Forward-looking statements are based on our current
assumptions, expectations and beliefs are generally identifiable by
use of words "may," "might," "will," "should," "expects," "plans,"
"anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or
"continue," or similar expressions and involve significant risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and
business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by
these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among
other things, our ability to maintain relationships and develop new
relationships with health insurance carriers and distributors, our
ability to retain our members, the demand for our products, the
amount of commissions paid to us or changes in health insurance
plan pricing practices, our ability to integrate our acquisitions,
competition, changes and developments in the United States health insurance system and
laws, and our ability to adapt to them, the ability to maintain and
enhance our name recognition, difficulties arising from
acquisitions or other strategic transactions, and our ability to
build the necessary infrastructure and processes to maintain
effective controls over financial reporting. These and other risk
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements are
discussed in HIIQ's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other
documents that may be filed by HIIQ from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at
www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press
release is based only on information currently available to us and
speaks only as of the date on which it is made. You should not rely
on any forward-looking statement as representing our views in the
future. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be
made from time to time, whether as a result of new information,
future developments or otherwise.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seniors-are-embracing-technology-from-healthcare-needs-to-binge-watching-301099845.html
SOURCE healthinsurance.com