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8 in 10 Older Americans Believe They Are Prepared to Age Well, But Need Help Understanding Their Benefits and Navigating the Health Care System |
Three in five older Americans find some aspect of the health care system difficult to navigate;
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190925005052/en/ Older Americans Express Confidence in
Among the respondents, which included U.S. adults ages 60 and older, 65 percent reported that they had some type of
Despite this confidence, 42 percent believe better understanding their insurance benefits would empower them to better manage their health. Many older adults (59%) still find at least one thing difficult when navigating the health care system, such as understanding their benefits; understanding their diagnoses and deciding on treatment; and communicating effectively with their health care providers. They currently seek out the following resources to help them better navigate the health care system:
Over Half of Non-Retired Older Americans Need More Help Understanding Benefits vs. Retirees Employment plays a large role for older Americans when it comes to understanding their health care plans. According to the survey:
Women Report Greater Challenges in Managing Their Care; Men More Likely to Ask for Help Detailed findings highlight unique attitudes and challenges that each gender experiences when it comes to understanding, affording and accessing care. According to the survey, women are more likely than men to report at least one challenge with navigating the health care system (65% vs. 52%, respectively), such as communicating effectively with their health care provider, knowing their health plan benefits, and understanding their diagnoses and treatments. In addition, women are less likely than men to feel confident about having all the information they need to make health insurance decisions (77% vs. 84%, respectively). Men are more likely than women to agree that consulting their health insurance provider to better utilize the system would help them navigate the health care system better (31% vs. 23%, respectively). Survey of Adult Caregivers* Cites Low Confidence in Navigating System; Limited Understanding of Benefits A complementary survey fielded by The Harris Poll among adult caregivers (U.S. adults ages 18+ who have care recipients) found this group has lower confidence navigating the health care system than older adults. Specifically, the survey found that nearly eight in ten (79%) caregivers believe that they would be better able to help the person they care for manage their health if they better understood their care recipient’s benefits. Caregivers surveyed identified several options that would help them better navigate the health care system on behalf of individuals, including: talking to the person’s doctor; reading reviews and other self-help tools; and consulting the health insurance provider to which the person they’re caring for belongs. Despite identifying several options that would help them better navigate the health care system, 77 percent of caregivers surveyed consider the health insurance provider of the person they care for as a partner in their healthy aging. Experts Collaborate to Provide Resources to Older Americans and Caregivers
“Our goal is to simplify the health care experience, so that all Americans feel empowered to manage their health and fully utilize their benefits,” said
“Each year, local Area Agencies on Aging serve and support millions of people across the country who are having difficulty understanding and navigating the health care system and their benefits,” says
Anthem’s affiliated health plans are continually expanding their
n4a members across the country are providing answers on aging through a range of resources including Information and Referral lines and To learn more about Anthem and n4a and access resources available from Anthem and n4a, please visit www.antheminc.com and www.n4a.org, respectively. About the Survey
The survey of older Americans was conducted online within
For complete research method, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact About the About Anthem is a leading health benefits company dedicated to improving lives and communities, and making health care simpler. Through its affiliated companies, Anthem serves more than 78 million people, including over 40 million within its family of health plans. We aim to be the most innovative, valuable and inclusive partner. For more information, please visit www.antheminc.com or follow @AnthemInc on Twitter. *Adults ages 18+ who provide support or counsel related to health care decisions to someone in their life who is currently eligible for View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190925005052/en/ Source:
Hieu Nguyen
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