Improving Medicare beneficiary recall and comprehension of Medicare information

Abstract

The Health Care Finance Administration is challenged with improving enrollment into the alternative managed health care system called Medicare+Choice. The current Medicare cohort is knowledgeable about where to obtain information about Medicare+Choice, but they cannot recall the terminology or comprehend the concepts of the program. This study attempts to improve older adult recall and comprehension of Medicare managed care written text, with the goal of improving their attitude toward Medicare managed care. Older adults (n = 49) from a community located in the Southwest were randomly assigned to one of three study conditions. Analysis of Variance, Tukey HSD, and correlation analysis were conducted on questionnaire responses measuring for recall, comprehension and attitude. An "Elderspeak Process" improved older adult recall of specific terms, words, and phrases about Medicare and Medicare managed care. Medicare managed care organizations can use the process to simplify information about their managed care programs to knowledgeable older adults.