This policy brief examines the challenges MA enrollees face during annual open enrollment and outlines five policy recommendations based on the experiences of a 17-member MA Enrollee Advisory Group (AG). While participants valued the benefits offered by MA plans, they consistently described the process of selecting and comparing plans as complex and difficult to navigate.
AG members highlighted five core hurdles:
- Overwhelming advertisements and direct-to-consumer sales tactics during open enrollment cause severe informational overload.
- Limited awareness of the official Annual Notice of Change prevents enrollees from effectively tracking yearly cost and benefit modifications.
- Usability challenges and filtering limitations within the Medicare Plan Finder complicate side-by-side plan comparisons.
- Financial transparency gaps and lack of disclosure obscure the neutrality of third-party agent and broker recommendations.
- Low public visibility and capacity constraints restrict access to State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselors, despite them serving as the most trusted source of guidance.
Download the policy brief to learn about the five recommendations MA enrollees have for policymakers to improve transparency, strengthen consumer protections, enhance plan comparison tools, and expand access to independent enrollment assistance.