| Medigap Proves Satisfaction For Nearly 9 In 10 Senior
According to a new survey by the Blue Cross Blue Shield
Association (BCBSA) and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP),
Medigap policyholders are overwhelmingly satisfied with their coverage
and say it provides good value for their money.
"Medigap policies provide important protections from
Medicare's high out-of-pocket costs," said Scott P. Serota, BCBSA
president and CEO. "Seniors are highly satisfied with these policies."
The Findings:
Eighty-eight percent of Medigap policyholders are satisfied with their
coverage and 62 percent are very satisfied. In addition, more
than three-fourths (77 percent) of policyholders surveyed say Medigap
provides excellent or good value for their money and 87 percent would
recommend Medigap to a friend or relative.
"Nearly 10 million seniors across the country rely on
Medigap for their health security," said Karen Ignagni, President and
CEO of AHIP. "Seniors like the predictability, financial
security, and peace of mind these plans provide."
The policy holders are most pleased with their Medigap
coverage, because it allows them to see the doctor of their choice, it
provides financial security and peace of mind, and it makes it easier
to deal with medical bills and paperwork.
Other Key Findings:
- Medigap policyholders are unwilling to pay higher
deductibles or other out-of-pocket expenses in order to reduce their
premiums (69 percent).
- A majority (68 percent) of policyholders would oppose
Congressional action that would require policyholders to pay annual
deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses for services that are
currently covered by their Medigap policies.
- If policyholders could no longer afford to purchase
Medigap insurance, their main concerns would be dealing with medical
bills/Medicare (22 percent); the possibility of high costs due to
illness (18 percent); out-of-pocket costs for health care (17 percent);
and loss of financial security and peace of mind (13 percent).
Address: America’s Health Insurance Plans, 601
Pennslyvania Avenue, NW, South Building, Suite 500, Washington DC
20004; (202) 778-3200, www.ahip.org.
|
