Poll: Most Older Adults Rush Medicare Choices Despite Major Policy Changes

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A University of Michigan poll found that 60% of surveyed Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older spent less than an hour reviewing coverage during the previous Open Enrollment; 27% said they did not review options at all. Awareness of several 2026 Medicare changes was limited, even as respondents ranked out-of-pocket costs, drug coverage and provider networks among their top decision factors.

Six in 10 older adults spent less than an hour reviewing their Medicare coverage during the previous Open Enrollment, and 27% said they did not review options at all, according to a University of Michigan poll. The findings arrive as the 2027 Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7, with researchers pointing to low awareness of policy changes that can affect drug costs and provider access.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging, based at the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, surveyed Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older shortly after the previous year’s Open Enrollment. The respondents came from a nationally representative sample of older adults, according to the poll report. In total, 80% kept the coverage they had the year before.

Among those who reviewed available information, 26% named an insurance broker as their most important source, while 25% cited a Medicare resource, such as the official plan-finding tool or hotline. Another 21% said a health plan website was their main source, and 5% named a free local counselor, including someone with the federally funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP.

Despite the limited review reported, 92% said they were somewhat or very confident about making Medicare coverage decisions. The poll also found low awareness of several 2026 changes: 38% had heard about lower prices for 10 high-cost drugs, 29% knew about changes to drug deductibles and the annual out-of-pocket cap, and 15% knew the Medicare Plan Finder could show which providers are in a Medicare Advantage plan’s network.

Coverage Choices Affect Costs and Care

The findings matter because Medicare coverage can shape both annual health spending and access to doctors, hospitals and prescription drugs. A plan that suited someone last year may not remain the best fit if their health needs, prescriptions, preferred providers or plan details change. Staying enrolled without checking current options may leave beneficiaries unaware of coverage differences, though the poll does not establish that people who spent less time reviewing their plans experienced worse outcomes.

The survey’s decision priorities underscore the stakes: 69% named out-of-pocket costs among the factors that mattered most, 63% cited medication coverage and 62% cited whether their providers were in network. The reported awareness figures suggest many respondents had not heard of changes relevant to those concerns. They do not show whether people later encountered higher costs or network problems.

For beneficiaries who want help comparing choices, the poll report identifies SHIP counselors as a no-cost local resource without a financial stake in the plan selected. Researchers also point to Medicare’s own website tool and hotline as sources. The findings do not say which source produces better choices; they show how respondents described the sources they relied on.

Poll Tracks Review Habits and Awareness

The poll was conducted just after the previous Medicare Open Enrollment, which gives the findings a snapshot of how older enrollees approached their choices at that time. The report presents the results as relevant to the 2027 enrollment period, which is scheduled for October 15 to December 7, 2026. The survey does not measure how people will behave during the current period.

One change that began in 2026 allowed Medicare to negotiate prices for some prescription drugs, with lower prices applying to 10 high-cost drugs. The report says the effect for an individual depends on the Part D plan they enroll in. It also notes that 15 additional drugs are set to be added to the list for 2027 and included in the Medicare Plan Finder’s drug coverage information.

Other changes described in the report concern the amount beneficiaries may pay before drug coverage begins and the annual limit on their covered drug costs. The report also notes a Plan Finder feature that can show which providers are considered in network for a Medicare Advantage plan. These details are relevant because drug costs and provider networks ranked among respondents’ leading considerations.

““It’s easy to ‘set it and forget it’ with Medicare, especially if you have coverage that you like and assume is the best that’s out there.””

— Geoffrey Hoffman, associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing

What the Poll Cannot Establish

The poll reports respondents’ stated review habits, confidence and awareness; it does not establish why people spent little time, whether their choices were suitable, or whether those choices led to better or worse health or financial outcomes. Confidence is self-reported and does not show how well respondents understood plan terms.

The report also does not provide enough information here to assess how awareness differed by location, income, health status or type of Medicare coverage. Nor does it show how many people will switch plans during the 2027 enrollment period. Drug-price changes apply according to plan coverage, so individual effects vary; the figures should not be read as a guarantee of savings for every enrollee.

The 2027 Enrollment Window

The 2027 Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. During that window, beneficiaries can compare the coverage options available to them, including plan costs, covered medications and provider networks. The poll report recommends taking time to review choices and seeking assistance when needed, but it does not prescribe a particular plan or say that every enrollee should switch.

Researchers’ next point of emphasis is whether older adults make fuller use of available information and assistance. The poll itself offers a baseline from the previous enrollment period; it does not yet show how people will respond to the 2027 choices or policy changes. Any later assessment would need to measure whether review habits, awareness and plan selections change.

Key Questions

What did the University of Michigan poll find about Medicare reviews?

Sixty percent of surveyed Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older spent less than an hour reviewing options during the previous Open Enrollment. That includes 27% who said they did not review their options at all.

When is 2027 Medicare Open Enrollment?

The period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, according to the poll report.

Which Medicare information sources did respondents use most?

Among those who reviewed information, 26% named an insurance broker as their most important source, 25% cited a Medicare resource, 21% a health plan website and 5% a free local counselor such as a SHIP adviser.

How aware were respondents of the reported Medicare changes?

Thirty-eight percent had heard about lower prices for 10 high-cost drugs, 29% knew about changes to drug deductibles and the annual out-of-pocket cap, and 15% knew the Plan Finder could show providers in a Medicare Advantage plan’s network.

Does the poll show that people who did not review plans made poor choices?

No. The poll describes review time and reported confidence, but it does not establish whether respondents’ coverage choices were suitable or what outcomes they experienced.

Source: rss