Medicare beneficiary information needs: 1994.

The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) is a powerful tool for analyzing enrollees' access to medical care (Adler, 1994). Based on a stratified random sample, we can derive information about the health care use, expenditure, and financing of Medicare's 36 million enrollees. We can also learn about those enrollees' health status, living arrangements, and access to and satisfaction with care. In the charts that follow, we have presented some findings on enrollee information needs in 1994, number of beneficiaries with information needs met, and sources of information used by beneficiaries. These charts attempt to answer the following questions: What types of needs do our beneficiaries have? How well do our beneficiaries understand Medicare?

The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) is a powerful tool for analyzing enrollees' access to medical care (Adler, 1994). Based on a stratified random sample, we can derive information about the health care use, expenditure, and financing of Medicare's 36 million enrollees. We can also learn about those enrollees' health status, living arrangements, and access to and satisfaction with care.

In the charts that follow, we have presented some findings on enrollee information needs in 1994, number of beneficiaries with information needs met, and sources of information used by beneficiaries. These charts attempt to answer the following questions: What types of needs do our beneficiaries have? How well do our beneficiaries understand Medicare?

Nearly one in five beneficiaries reported a need for information about new benefits or changes in the Medicare program in 1994.

Of the 5.9 million beneficiaries who had at least one need for information in 1994, including benefits, assignment, charges, services, or medigap coverage, 75 percent had all of their information needs met.

Of those who have received and read their explanation of benefits, 78 percent find it easy to understand.

Questions regarding Medicare coverage are the most commonly mentioned information need among those beneficiaries reporting at least one need.

Thirty-six percent of beneficiaries reported multiple information needs during the year.

Beneficiaries who needed information in the last year found the information they needed through television, magazines, radio, or newspapers more than any other sources.

Only 59 percent of those beneficiaries who had at least one need for information last year indicated that they have a general understanding of the Medicare program, while 69 percent of those with no needs felt that way.