The 2021 Medicare Shopping and Switching Study provides health insurers and other interested parties with a detailed, nationwide snapshot of Medicare consumerism during the AEP. In continuing to build on years-long trends, the 2021 study also provides a look back on how both the COVID-19 pandemic and the General Election impacted consumers' health insurance experiences as well as their overall consumerism. From this, the study will describe implications for what we may expect in the upcoming OEP and next year’s AEP.
In addition, the study provides information on how specific Medicare policy components could potentially spur consumerism, particularly the Part B Premium Giveback benefit and the Medicare Savings Program, which limits certain insulin copays. The study explores tactics that carriers could use to attract members and build loyalty.
| Table of Contents |
| Study Overview |
| Key Findings |
| Market Landscape and Trends in Medicare Shopping and Switching |
| PDP Shopping and Switching |
| Reasons for Shopping and Switching |
| 2020 Elections, COVID-19, and Impacts on Shopping and Switching |
| Preferences and Attitudes about Networks |
| Medicare Shopping Prompts |
| Online Shopping Drilldown |
| Medicare Advantage Program Features and Shopping |
| Supplemental Benefits |
| Telehealth Utilization and Attitudes about Future Use |
| Enrollment Channels |
| Appendices |
