Navigating the medicare coverage maze: challenges and policy solutions

As Medicare open enrollment begins next month, millions of Americans will assess their coverage options. Should they choose traditional Medicare or opt for a private Medicare Advantage plan?

What about private prescription drug plans and Medigap plans that cover services that Medicare does not? With so many choices and marketing messages, how do consumers make these decisions?

On September 22, 2023, speakers discussed new research on people’s experiences with Medicare marketing, what factors and information influence Medicare coverage choices, and potential policy

opportunities to better support consumers during open enrollment. INTRODUCTION: * Harriet Komisar, Ph.D., Senior Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute, AARP PRESENTERS: * Gretchen

Jacobson, Ph.D., Vice President of Medicare, Commonwealth Fund * Teresa Keenan, Ph.D., Director, Health and Health Security Research, AARP * Faith Leonard, M.P.H., Program Associate,

Commonwealth Fund The presenters were followed by a discussion moderated by Julie Rovner, Chief Washington Correspondent at KFF Health News. Panelists include: * Rebecca Kinney, Director,

Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling, Administration for Community Living (ACL) * Sarah Murdoch, M.S.W., Director of Client Services, Medicare Rights Center * Maricruz

Rivera-Hernandez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University