Higher premiums and deductibles but lower out-of-pocket maximums were revealed in the exchange giant’s application analysis.
eHealth’s fifth annual Medicare Index Report showed a mix of cost increases and decreases for 2022 private Medicare plans. Just as customer development theories stress the value of what consumers do and actually pay for—not just what they say—eHealth’s analysis is based on submitted applications to its exchange, the first and one of the largest in the U.S. eHealth’s Index Report includes data on Medicare Advantage (MA), Part D standalone (PDP), and Medicare Supplement (Med Supp) plans.
The following are highlights from the more than 260,000 applications submitted via eHealth for plan year 2022:
- 87% of customers chose plans with a $0 premium. This percentage has risen annually as more insurers offer more $0 premium options. In 2018, the first year of eHealth’s annual Index Report, only 63% of the exchange’s customers enrolled in $0 premium plans.
- Despite the prevalence of $0 plans, average monthly premiums rose overall from 2021—although only slightly. This includes: $6 monthly for MA plans (up from $5), $22 monthly for PDP (up from $20), and $178 monthly for Med Supp.
- Med Supp monthly premiums have increased the most. Average monthly premiums from eHealth Med Supp enrollments were $142 in 2018 (a 25% spike). MA and PDP average monthly premiums have decreased over that same period. MA premiums are more than half of what they were in 2018: $6 versus $17.
- 2022 annual deductibles were higher, with Med Supp showing the largest increase over time. Med Supp deductibles were nearly 14% higher ($181 versus $159), PDP 7% higher ($427 compared to $400), and MA 4% higher ($121, up from $116).
- MA enrollees are paying less out of pocket. Plans’ annual maximum out of pocket (MOOP) average was $5,108, down 5% from $5,367 the prior year. MOOPs analyzed from eHealth applications have fallen just over 10% since 2018, when they were $5,694.
Laura Beerman is a contributing writer for HealthLeaders.