Senior's Misconceptions About Medicare and Exchanges

According to a national survey from Express Scripts, of those age 65 and older, one-in-five seniors mistakenly thinks they can enroll in a medical and prescription drug plan through a health insurance exchange, even though the eligibility age ends at 65. Another 17 percent believe health exchanges could replace their Medicare plan altogether. Eighty-six percent of survey respondents reported confusion about how healthcare reform will affect their Medicare prescription drug coverage. Among the notable misconceptions: -Nearly one-third of seniors (29 percent) believe the ACA raises the Medicare eligibility age, with 68 being the average age cited; -52 percent falsely believe they're paying more for their prescription drugs in the Coverage Gap under healthcare reform; and -65 percent do not know that Medicare enrollment begins in October. Source: Express Scripts