Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108453

Amy Heller, PhD, MPH¹, Mary A. Laschober, PhD², David Newman, PhD³, and Gabrielena Alcala-Levy, MA². (1) Division of Beneficiary Analysis, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd, S1-13-05, Woodlawn, MD 21244, (2) Health Policy and Program Administration, BearingPoint, 1676 International Drive, McLean, VA 22102, (3) Health Policy, Abt Associates, 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-634-1749, david_newman@abtassoc.com

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began fielding the Survey of New Medicare Beneficiaries (SNMB) in February 2003 to learn about newly eligible beneficiaries' awareness of the choices they need to make upon eligibility, the importance of these choices, available information resources, and knowledge of their basic Medicare benefits and rights. The survey questionnaire asks about the information received from Medicare, other sources used to acquire information about Medicare and supplemental insurance, the availability and usefulness of information sought, supplemental health insurance coverage status, demographics as well as a rotating panel of topical questions of interest.

Analyses based on a one-year sample (n=3,724) suggest that a majority of new Medicare enrollees are aware of the general features of their coverage. While the general features of the Medicare program are fairly well understood, the program specifics are less well understood. Newly eligible beneficiaries are less aware of: their right to appeal Medicare decisions; coverage of preventive care services; Medicare Savings Programs; or Medicare's toll-free number or website. Summary measure scales were created and bivariate analyses reveal that being in poor health, having little formal education, and/or being Black or Hispanic was associated with less Medicare program knowledge. These differences indicate there is a continuing need to segment and target Medicare communications designed for new enrollees. Special educational materials and dissemination strategies should be developed for vulnerable individuals who are often most in need of understanding and less knowledgeable about their Medicare benefits, rights, and choices.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Discuss influence of health status, education and race on awareness of Medicare coverage for new enrollees.
• 2. Describe how Medicare program knowledge impacts enrollment decisions.
• 3. Explain how communication material can be designed to tailor and target segments of the Medicare population.

Keywords: Medicare, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation