8 in 10 Older Americans Believe They Are Prepared to Age Well, But Need Help Understanding Their Benefits and Navigating the Healthcare System

A Harris Poll survey commissioned by Anthem and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging estimated that although 79 percent of older Americans are prepared to age well, 68 percent are at least somewhat worried about their health as they get older and 46 percent need help understanding health insurance benefits once they have selected a plan, reports Business Wire . Sixty-five percent of respondents said they had some form of Medicare insurance coverage, while 42 percent think a better understanding of insurance benefits leads to better health management. Fifty-nine percent still find at least one aspect of the healthcare system difficult, like understanding their benefits or diagnoses and deciding on treatment, or communicating effectively with healthcare providers. Resources they are searching for include dialogue with doctors, health insurance providers, and navigators to help them manage the logistics of their care and the healthcare system. Meanwhile, over half of non-retired older adults agree on a certain level that they need help understanding their benefits once they have chosen a plan, versus two in five retired adults. The poll also found women are more likely than men to report at least one challenge with navigating the healthcare system, and less likely than men to be confident in having all the information they require to make informed health insurance decisions. Men are more likely to agree than women that talking to their health insurance provider would help improve their healthcare system navigation.