eHealth Survey: Reducing Prescription Drug Costs Seen as Key to Ensuring Medicare's Future

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey of Medicare beneficiaries released today by eHealth, Inc. EHTH (eHealth.com) finds that most believe reducing the cost of prescription drugs is key to Medicare's survival. The survey was conducted on a voluntary basis in January and February of 2019, and a total of 2,021 responses were collected from Medicare enrollees who purchased Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medicare Supplement plans through websites operated by eHealth, Inc.

Survey highlights:

• Today's beneficiaries think they may be among the last Americans to receive Medicare: 23 percent don't believe Medicare will last throughout their own lifetime, while an additional 41 percent believe the program may not survive their children's generation. Only 19 percent of respondents are confident the Medicare program will survive for generations to come.
• Controlling drug costs is seen by many as key to the program's survival: 73 percent of respondents say that caps should be placed on prescription drug costs to help ensure the future of the Medicare program. 25 percent believe doctors and hospitals should be paid less; 23 percent say that Americans not yet eligible for Medicare should be taxed more to pay for the program.
• Reduced benefits and lower doctor participation scare beneficiaries: When asked what worries them most about the future of Medicare, 68 percent cite the threat of reduced benefits, while 58 percent cite the prospect of doctors no longer accepting Medicare patients.
• Beneficiaries love their Medicare coverage and think more Americans should have access: Only 6 percent of respondents express dissatisfaction with their Medicare coverage; 41 percent say that all Americans should have Medicare-like coverage (an increase from 34 percent last August); an additional 11 percent say that at least people age 55 and older should be eligible for Medicare.

Read eHealth's complete survey analysis.

About eHealth
eHealth, Inc. EHTH owns eHealth.com, a leading private online health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from brand-name insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online and over the phone. eHealth offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by many of the nation's leading health insurance companies. eHealth (through its subsidiaries) is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealth also offers educational resources, exceptional telephonic support, and powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online or over the phone through Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com), eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com), GoMedigap (www.goMedigap.com) and PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com).

For media inquiries, please contact:          

Sande Drew  
DMA Communications for eHealth, Inc.
(916) 207-7674
sande.drew@gmail.com

Rob Wyse
Capital Content for eHealth, Inc.
(212) 920-1470
rob@capital-content.com

Lisa Zamosky
Senior Director Communications, eHealth, Inc.
(917) 751-0232
lisa.zamosky@ehealth.com

SOURCE eHealth, Inc.