Press release
eHealth's Medicare Index Report Tracks Increasing Popularity of $0 Premium Medicare Advantage Plans
Report highlights costs and trends among Medicare beneficiaries selecting new plans at eHealth over the past three Annual Enrollment Periods SANTA CLARA,
About this update from Ehealth, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Report highlights costs and trends among Medicare beneficiaries selecting new plans at eHealth over the past three Annual Enrollment Periods\n\n\nSANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) (eHealth.com) released an analysis of costs and trends among Medicare beneficiaries selecting Medicare insurance plans through eHealth during the last three Annual Enrollment Periods (AEPs). The report includes data on Medicare Advantage plans, stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans.\nHighlights from the report:\nThe popularity of $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans continues to rise – 83% of eHealth customers selecting Medicare Advantage plans during the AEP for 2020 coverage chose plans with a $0 monthly premium, compared to 73% for 2019 and 63% for 2018. $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans continue to drive down average costs – $6 was the average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans selected at eHealth during the AEP for 2020 coverage, down from $10 for 2019 and from $17 for 2018.\"Our report looks back at the choices Medicare consumers made during the last few AEPs but it also sets the stage for the upcoming AEP for 2021 coverage, which is just weeks away,\" said eHealth CEO Scott Flanders. \"The increasing availability and popularity of zero-dollar-premium Medicare Advantage plans is just one of the trends we'll be watching as the next big enrollment opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries begins October 15, 2020.\"\nThe data presented in eHealth's Medicare Index Report for 2020 Coverage is based on more than 280,000 submitted applications for Medicare insurance products received by eHealth during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for 2020 coverage, which occurred from October 15 through December 7, 2019. Only plan selections by eHealth customers are considered in this report.\nMedicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies contracting with Medicare to provide beneficiaries' Medicare Part A and Part B coverage; most also provide prescription drug coverage and other benefits. No information relevant to eHealth financial performance should be drawn from this report. Similar to other insurance brokers, eHealth is compensated on a fixed per-member basis for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, as regulated by the Centers for Medi...