Medicare Must Provide Additional Cost and Access Information to Enhance Decision Making Around Trade Offs Between Medicare Advantage and Medigap

Health insurance coverage options are complicated and often leave Medicare beneficiaries, families, advocates, and brokers confused. Medicare should make small changes to its existing Compare Coverage Options tool that would enhance the public's understanding of the trade-offs between Medicare Advantage and supplemental Medigap with Fee-for-Service Medicare. For cost considerations, Medicare should include a projection of annual out-of-pocket (OOP) spending, whether an OOP cap applies and whether the ability to alter OOP for additional clinical benefit is offered. For access considerations, Medicare should provide access to information to educate the public on coverage and costs associated with dental, vision, and hearing benefits, network adequacy, prior authorization, and supplemental benefits. These changes will enhance transparency and decision making.

Automated summary

Health insurance coverage options can be complicated, but small changes in the existing Compare Coverage Options tool can enhance public understanding. Including information on annual out-of-pocket spending, access to dental, vision, and hearing benefits, and network adequacy can improve transparency and decision making.