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Ninety Percent of Seniors Satisfied with Medicare Supplement Coverage WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 2005) - Nine of 10 seniors who use a Medicare supplement (Medigap) insurance policy to cover expenses not paid by Medicare are satisfied with their Medigap coverage, according to a new survey released today.
According to the survey, conducted by AmericanViewpoint for the Coalition to Promote Choice for Seniors, 68 percent said they are very satisfied with their Medigap policy, and 22 percent are somewhat satisfied, yielding a total satisfaction rating of 90 percent. In addition, the vast majority of those surveyed, 84 percent, said they would recommend the insurance to friends or relatives who are enrolling in the Medicare system.
"It is clear from this survey that Medicare supplement insurance plays an important role in financing seniors' health care needs, and there is an extremely high level of satisfaction among seniors with this type of policy," said AmericanViewpoint Senior Vice President Gary Ferguson.
Seniors appreciate the choice, coordination of benefits, nationwide availability and predictable premium costs that they experience with their Medigap policies. A total of 80 percent of those surveyed said their Medigap policy was an excellent or good value, with 32 percent rating it an excellent value and 48 percent considering it a good value.
Current Medigap policies appear to have found a good balance between cost and benefits for many beneficiaries. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they would not be willing to pay higher deductibles or other out-of-pocket expenses in order to reduce their monthly Medigap premiums.
"Seniors across the country have come to depend on their Medicare supplement policies, and this survey indicates how much they value the coverage they receive," Ferguson said. "As Medicare reform continues to be debated on Capitol Hill, it is important for lawmakers to understand the important role Medigap plays for so many seniors and their overwhelming satisfaction with their Medigap policies."
The survey, which was conducted April 1-4, 2005, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
The Coalition to Promote Choice for Seniors is a Washington-based advocacy group. The Coalition's goal is to protect the Medigap policies of the 11 million seniors that are currently enrolled and to promote Medigap as an option to the Medicare beneficiaries that may be interested in that choice.
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