Press release
eHealth Launches Inaugural Signature Research Report: Health Insurance Trends
Key findings from survey of more than 4,700 consumers and more than two dozen major insurers across the United States include: 54% say COVID vaccines should
About this update from Ehealth, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Key findings from survey of more than 4,700 consumers and more than two dozen major insurers across the United States include:\n 54% say COVID vaccines should not be required by law\n 60% support expanding Medicare\n 74% want government action on drug costs\n 52% of insurers do not anticipate raising rates due to COVID\n\n\nSANTA CLARA, Calif., May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) released the inaugural edition of its bi-annual signature research series: Health Insurance Trends. The report presents an analysis of survey responses and first-hand interviews collected from more than 4,700 consumers and two dozen insurers across three megatrends that dominate the health care market today: COVID-19, Technology and Innovation, and Public Policy Reforms. \nHundreds of millions of Americans have felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, not only in their personal lives but also in how they interact with health care. As the pandemic begins to wind down, the health care market approaches a turning point in its digital transformation and is entering a promising new era: health care delivery is expanding online, new technologies are unleashing innovation, and there is a fresh vitality in the Medicare and Affordable Care Act (ACA) markets that could lead to significant expansions.\nKey Findings\n On public policy issues:\n60% favor expanding access to Medicare in some form, whether that means making Medicare available to all Americans (28%), lowering the eligibility age to 60 (18%), or allowing adults age 50+ to buy in early (14%). 49% say Medicare should continue to be run through public/private cooperation between government and insurers; only 16% feel that the government alone should run the Medicare program. 74% say the federal government should directly negotiate with drug makers to lower costs; among Medicare beneficiaries, 86% feel the same. Insights from insurers:\n52% of insurers say they do not anticipate raising rates due to the COVID pandemic; 39% do anticipate raising rates, but no more than 5%. 33% of insurers are likely to make changes to plan benefits as a result of the pandemic, with 86% of those saying changes are likely to their telehealth and mental health benefits. 55% of insurers report a 50% or greater increase in utilization of telehealth benefits over the period before the pandemic; many re...