Seniors Early Experiences with the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit April 2006

Transcription

1 Chartpack Selected Findings from the Kaiser Health Poll Report Survey Seniors Early Experiences with the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit April 2006 April 2006

2 Methodology This tracking poll on the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit is based on interviews with 517 adults ages 65 and older who were interviewed as part of the Kaiser Family Foundation Health Poll Report Survey. The survey was conducted and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation. In total, a nationally representative random sample of 1,446 adults ages 18 and older, including an oversample of adults ages 65 and older, was contacted by telephone by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between April 6 and April 11, Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. The margin of sampling error for the survey is plus or minus 3 percentage points for total respondents. For respondents ages the margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points, and for respondents ages 65 and older it is plus or minus 5 percentage points. For results based on smaller subsets of respondents the margin of sampling error is higher. Note that sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. Full topline survey results are available separately at

3 Chart 1 Seniors Understanding of Medicare Drug Benefit Among seniors: As you may know, a new prescription drug benefit is now available for people on Medicare. How well would you say you understand this new benefit? Very well 22% 21% Somewhat well Don t know/ Refused 4% 31% 22% Not too well Not well at all

4 Chart 2 Trends in Seniors Understanding of Personal Impact Among seniors: Do you feel you have enough information about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit to understand how it will impact you personally, or not? 80% 60% 66% 62% 58% 54% 49% 47% Yes 40% 20% 27% 33% 36% 40% 45% 46% No 0% Apr-05 Aug-05 Oct-05 Dec-05 Feb-06 Apr-06 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys

5 Chart 3 Impressions of Medicare Drug Benefit Among seniors: Given what you know about it, in general, do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of this new Medicare prescription drug benefit? Favorable Unfavorable Neither/ Neutral (VOL.) Don t know All seniors 30% 46% 15% 9% Enrolled seniors (n=154) 48% 36% 10% 5% Seniors who have NOT enrolled (n=353) 21% 52% 17% 10% Note: VOL. indicates a volunteered response

6 Chart 4 Trends in Seniors Impressions of Drug Benefit Among seniors: Given what you know about it, in general, do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of the new Medicare drug benefit? 70% 60% 50% 40% 55% 47% 45% 44% 42% 34% 32% 37% 50% 45% 46% Unfavorable 30% 20% 10% 17% 24% 24% 27% 31% 28% 25% 21% 23% 30% Favorable 0% Feb- 04* Apr- 04* Jun- 04* Oct- 04* Dec- 04* Apr- 05 Aug- 05 Oct- 05 Dec- 05 Feb- 06 Apr- 06 Notes: Question prior to Apr-05 referred to new Medicare prescription drug law ; Changes in the percent saying favorable and unfavorable are statistically significant between Aug-05 and Feb-06, but smaller changes between Dec-05 and Feb-06 are not statistically significant. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys

7 Chart 5 Seniors Primary Source of Information About Benefit Among the 76% of seniors who have a favorable or unfavorable impression of the new Medicare drug benefit, percent who say that impression is based mainly on What they ve seen and heard on TV, radio, newspapers Own experience 35% 41% 4% Don t know/ Refused 6% 13% Some other source What they ve learned from friends and family

8 Chart 6 Seniors Views on Implementation of the Drug Benefit Among seniors: Overall, what grade would you give the implementation of the new Medicare drug benefit so far A for excellent, B for good, C for average, D for poor, or F for failing? A B C D F All seniors 4% 19% 29% 20% 17% Enrolled seniors (n=154) 8% 30% 30% 16% 13% Seniors who have not enrolled (n=353) 2% 14% 30% 23% 19% Don t know responses not shown

9 Chart 7 Seniors Reported Plans for Enrollment Among seniors: Since November 2005, when you could first sign up, have you enrolled in a plan that offers the new Medicare drug benefit or not? If no, do you think you will enroll, you will NOT enroll, or don t you know yet? Plan to enroll 13% 38% Will not enroll Already enrolled 31% 16% Don t know yet 2% Don t know if enrolled/ Refused

10 Chart 8 Trends in Reported Plans for Enrollment Among seniors: Since November 2005, when you could first sign up, have you enrolled in a plan that offers the new Medicare drug benefit or not? If no, do you think you will enroll, you will NOT enroll, or don t you know yet? 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 47% 45% 43% 44% 40% 35% 37% 37% 34% 29% 38% 33% 29% 22% 23% 20% 9% 16% Enrolled/ Plan to enroll Will NOT enroll Don't know yet 0% Apr-05 Aug-05 Oct-05 Dec-05 Feb-06 Apr-06 *Question wording varies slightly over time Source: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys

11 Chart 9 Seniors Reported Assistance In Choosing a Medicare Drug Plan Among enrolled seniors (n=154): Did you choose this drug plan on your own, or did someone help you? Chose on own Someone helped 54% 45% 1% Don t know

12 Chart 10 Seniors Ease with Choosing Drug Plans Among enrolled seniors (n=154): Would you say it was very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat difficult, or very difficult to choose a Medicare drug plan? Very easy Somewhat easy 32% 19% Don t know 2% 25% 23% Somewhat difficult Very difficult

13 Chart 11 Important Factors in Choosing a Drug Plan Among enrolled seniors (n=154): Percent who say each item was very important in deciding upon a drug plan When forced to choose, percent who say each is the MOST important factor* Specific drugs covered by the plan 74% 14% Amount the plan charges for each prescription 71% 18% Amount the plan charges in monthly premiums 70% 12% Reputation of the company offering the plan Recommendation from someone already enrolled in the plan 24% 67% 16% 4% *Note: also includes those who said only one factor was very important Note: VOL. indicates a volunteered response 0 23% All are important (VOL.)

14 Chart 12 Seniors Reported Satisfaction With Drug Plan Among enrolled seniors (n=154): How satisfied are you with the Medicare drug plan you are enrolled in? Compared to what you were paying before, do you think your new Medicare drug plan will Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Save me money Cost more 44% 31% 55% 19% Don t know 6% 10% Not at all satisfied 11% Not too satisfied 6% Don t know 19% Cost about the same Source: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys

15 Chart 13 Seniors Reported Reasons for NOT Enrolling Among the 54% of seniors who say they will NOT enroll or don t know if they will enroll in a Medicare drug plan: Percent who say each of the following is a MAJOR reason I don t need to enroll because I already have an drug coverage under another plan or program 65% I don t think it will save me money 37% It s too complicated 37% I don t take enough prescriptions to need a Medicare drug plan 31% I don t know enough about it 31% It s too hard to figure out which plan to choose 28%

16 Chart 14 Seniors Reported Problems with Filling Prescriptions Among enrolled seniors (n=154): Have you tried to fill any prescriptions under your new Medicare drug plan yet? Among 84% of enrolled seniors who have tried to fill a prescription (n=125): Have you experienced any problems getting your prescriptions filled or not? No Yes Yes, problem 18% No problems 15% 84% 82% 1% Don t know

17 Chart 15 Seniors Knowledge of Drug Plan Deadlines Among seniors: To the best of your knowledge When is the 2006 deadline for seniors to enroll in a new Medicare drug plan Would a senior WITHOUT drug coverage have to pay a financial penalty for late enrollment if he/she waits until 2007 to sign up for a Medicare drug plan, or not? May 15* 55% June 15 1% July 15 3% No 6% deadline Yes, will have to pay* 53% 18% No, will not have to pay 34% 29% * Correct answer Don t know Don t know

18 Chart 16 Seniors Knowledge of Drug Plan Deadlines Among seniors who may still enroll (planning to enroll or don t know yet n=139): When is the 2006 deadline for seniors to enroll in a new Medicare drug plan? May 15 th * June or July 15th No deadline 46% unaware of deadline Don t know 54% 5% 9% 32% Would a senior without drug coverage have to pay a financial penalty for late enrollment if s/he waits until 2007 to sign up for a drug plan? Yes* No Don t know 54% unaware of penalty 46% 21% 33% * Correct answer

19 Chart 17 Seniors Reported Awareness and Use of Medicare Among seniors: Have you heard of a toll-free phone number, MEDICARE, that you can call to get information about Medicare? Yes 61% 37% No Have you ever called MEDICARE? Have called MEDICARE 2% Don t know 12% 49% Heard of hotline, but have not called 37% 2% Don t know Have not heard of MEDICARE

20 Chart 18 Seniors Reported Awareness and Use of Medicare.gov Among seniors: Have you heard of the website Medicare.gov? Have you ever looked for information/ tried to compare plans on Medicare.gov? No Yes Never been online 5% 4% Compared plans on Medicare.gov Looked for info on Medicare.gov 36% 62% 67% 24% Been online but not visited Medicare.gov 2% Don t know 33% of seniors have been online

21 Chart 19 Comparing plans on Medicare.gov Among seniors, percent who have compared plans on Medicare.gov themselves, or whose friends or family have compared plans for them on Medicare.gov 10% Total who have compared plans themselves or through friend/family Friend or family member has compared plans for them on Medicare.gov Have compared plans themselves on Medicare.gov 5% 6% 5% 84% Have not compared plans on Medicare.gov Don t know

22 Chart 20 Trends in Seniors Use of Medicare Information Sources Percent of seniors who say they have called Medicare or visited the website Medicare.gov 40% 33% 30% 27% 28% Ever online 20% 10% 0% 20% 14% 12% 7% 8% 10% 9% 6% 3% Aug-05 Oct-05 Feb-06 Apr-06 Called MEDICARE Visited Medicare.gov Source: Kaiser Family Foundation surveys

23 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 2400 Sand Hill Road Menlo Park, CA Phone: (650) Fax: (650) Washington Office: 1330 G Street, NW Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) Additional copies of this publication (#7502) are available on the Kaiser Family Foundation's website at The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation dedicated to providing information and analysis on health care issues to policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public. The Foundation is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries.