How Much Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Could Have Saved in 2013 on Prescription Drugs

According to data released by eHealth, Inc., only fourteen percent (14%) of people who used eHealth's online Medicare plan comparison tools were in the Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan (MAPD) with the lowest total out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs available to them. The research also revealed that less than six percent (6%) of people who used eHealth's comparison tools to compare prices in stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug plans (PDPs) were in the PDP with the lowest total out-of-pocket costs available to them. Users who switched to the plan with the lowest total out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs in 2013 could have saved an average of $649 over their existing PDP and an average of $634 over their existing MAPD, according to the study. eHealth's analysis also found that in 2013 the average Medicare beneficiary without any Part D coverage could save an average of $1,266 on prescription drug costs by enrolling in a PDP, and an average of $1,402 on prescription drug costs by enrolling in a MAPD plan. Source: eHealth