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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Oct;52(5):1749-1771.
doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12582. Epub 2016 Oct 7.

Can a More User-Friendly Medicare Plan Finder Improve Consumers' Selection of Medicare Plans?

Steven C Martino  1 , David E Kanouse  2 , David J Miranda  3 , Marc N Elliott  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Can a More User-Friendly Medicare Plan Finder Improve Consumers' Selection of Medicare Plans?

Steven C Martino et al. Health Serv Res. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy for consumers of two potential enhancements to the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF)-a simplified data display and a "quick links" home page designed to match the specific tasks that users seek to accomplish on the MPF.

Data sources/study setting: Participants (N = 641) were seniors and adult caregivers of seniors who were recruited from a national online panel. Participants browsed a simulated version of the MPF, made a hypothetical plan choice, and reported on their experience.

Study design: Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight conditions in a fully factorial design: 2 home pages (quick links, current MPF home page) × 2 data displays (simplified, current MPF display) × 2 plan types (stand-alone prescription drug plan [PDP], Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage [MA-PD]).

Principal findings: The quick links page resulted in more favorable perceptions of the MPF, improved users' understanding of the information, and increased the probability of choosing the objectively best plan. The simplified data display resulted in a more favorable evaluation of the website, better comprehension of the displayed information, and, among those choosing a PDP only, an increased probability of choosing the best plan.

Conclusions: Design enhancements could markedly improve average website users' understanding, ability to use, and experience of using the MPF.

Keywords: Cognitive burden; Medicare Plan Finder; Medicare plan choice; decision tools; medical consumerism.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percent of Participants Choosing the Best (Highest Quality and Lowest Cost) Plan as a Function of Type of Data Display and Type of Plan Considered

  1. Note. MAPD, Medicare Advantage plan offering prescription drug coverage; MPF, Medicare Plan Finder; PDP, stand‐alone prescription drug plan.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. AQA Reporting Workgroup . 2014. “The Health Care Quality Reporting Landscape” [accessed on October 10, 2014]. Available at http://www.aqaalliance.org/files/AQA_ReportingWGReport100314.pdf
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    1. Booth, J. 2016. Personal communication with the Director of the Web and New Media group in the Office of Communications at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
    1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . 2013. Medicare Plan Finder: A Look Back at 2012. CMS National Medicare Training Program (NMTP) Call/Webinar, Woodlawn, MD.
    1. Czaja, S. J. , Sharit J., and Nair S. N.. 2008. “Usability of the Medicare Health Web Site.” Journal of the American Medical Association 300 (7): 790–2. - PMC - PubMed

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