Medicare Supplement Enrollees Could Save More Than $1,000 Per Year By Comparison Shopping, According to eHealth Report

PR Newswire

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) (eHealth.com) released an analysis of Medicare Supplement plan prices showing that beneficiaries can potentially save more than a $1,000 per year by enrolling in the lowest-price Medicare Supplement available to them.

Medicare Supplement plans of the same type (Plan A, for example) offered by different insurers may vary significantly from one another in terms of premium while providing the same basic benefits and levels of coverage.

"Some Medicare beneficiaries assume Medicare Supplement plans that cost more offer superior benefits, which is simply not the case," said Chris Hakim, eHealth's General Manager of Medicare. "The potential savings identified in our Medicare Supplement report shows why it's important for beneficiaries to compare options to make sure they're not unnecessarily spending more than necessary."

This report illustrates the potential savings available to Medicare beneficiaries when they compare their coverage options within a plan type and enroll in the Medicare Supplement plan with the lowest premium available to them. It is focused on three popular Medicare Supplement plan types (Plans F, Plan G and Plan N) and is based on rates quoted through eHealth's online marketplace for 65-year-olds in 67 metropolitan areas.

Highlights:

Medicare Supplement Plan F: Across all surveyed metropolitan areas, Medicare beneficiaries could save an average of 36% ($84.32 per month or $1,011.84 annually) by comparing all their Plan F choices and enrolling in the lowest-cost option.
Medicare Supplement Plan G: Medicare beneficiaries could save an average of 26% ($44.80 per month or $537.60 annually) by comparing all their Plan G choices and enrolling in the lowest-cost option.
Medicare Supplement Plan N: Medicare beneficiaries could save an average of 32% ($47.29 per month or $567.48 annually) by comparing all their Plan N choices and enrolling in the lowest-cost option.

People born after January 1, 1955 will generally no longer be able to buy Medicare Supplement Plans F and C after December 31, 2019. People eligible for Medicare prior to 2020 may still be able to enroll in these plans and beneficiaries already enrolled in these plans may keep them. However, some industry analysts predict that premiums for F and C plans will rise over time following this change.

Read the full report.

Availability of plans offered through eHealth may change over time, and the actual premiums offered to specific individuals vary from the premium averages shown in this report.

About eHealth
eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) owns eHealth.com, a leading private online health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from brand-name insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online and over the phone. eHealth offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by many of the nation's leading health insurance companies. eHealth (through its subsidiaries) is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealth also offers educational resources, exceptional telephonic support, and powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online or over the phone through Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com), eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com), GoMedigap (www.goMedigap.com) and PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com).