COVID-19, vaccines and surprise bills

• Most respondents (54%) say COVID vaccination should not be required by law, but a similar percentage say proof of vaccination should be required for all domestic and international air travel.
• Seven in 10 say they have had a surprise medical bill, but among these, 67% say the bill was a surprise because they didn't understand how their coverage worked. Among Medicare beneficiaries, 54% report having a surprise medical bill in the past.
• After the pandemic is over, half are less likely to go on a cruise, while about a third are less likely to attend a concert, go to a movie theater, travel by plane or eat at a restaurant.

Intersection of technology and health care

• 54% say they would opt to share their personal medical claims history with a licensed agent if it helped them find a better health plan for their personal needs and budget. Fifty-nine percent of Medicare beneficiaries feel the same.
• Half say private enterprise does a better job than government when it comes to health- care innovation, while 20% say the government is better. These figures are 53% and 14%, respectively, among Medicare beneficiaries.

Public policy issues

• Six in 10 favor expanding access to Medicare in some form, whether that means making it available to all Americans (28%), lowering the eligibility age to 60 (18%) or allowing adults aged 50-plus to buy in early (14%).
• Half say Medicare should continue to be run through public/private cooperation between government and insurers. Only 16% believe government alone should run the Medicare program.
• Three-fourths say the federal government should directly negotiate with drugmakers to lower costs. Among Medicare beneficiaries, 86% agree.

Insurer insights

• More than half of insurers say they do not anticipate raising rates because of the COVID pandemic. Four in 10 do anticipate raising rates but by no more than 5%.
• One-third are likely to make changes to plan benefits as a result of the pandemic, with 86% of those saying changes are likely to their telehealth and mental health benefits.
• 55% report a 50% or greater increase in use of telehealth benefits over the period before the pandemic, and many report an increase in use of mental health benefits as well.

Read more: 

• COVID pandemic: A death knell for Colorado's public option?
• White House touts employer tax credit to encourage vaccinations
• Medicare for All gets a renewed push