CHICAGO, IL, May 13, 2021 — The dichotomy between rural and urban healthcare isn’t going anywhere, but the contrast of Medicare beneficiaries based on geography may be less glaring than expected. A recent study examined access to health care, Medicare satisfaction, and healthcare utilization. The data revealed more resemblance than variance between older adults living in urban and rural locations. GoHealth, Inc. (GoHealth) (NASDAQ:GOCO), a leading health insurance marketplace and Medicare-focused digital health company, commissioned a survey across a nationally representative sample of 4,992 older adults from March 18 to April 5, 2021. The respondents were age 65 and older, U.S. residents, and currently enrolled in Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage.
The entirety of data was segmented by rural and urban beneficiaries, classified by zip code, and defined by using the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy criteria. Fewer rural beneficiaries (33%) have Medicare Advantage plans than urban respondents (42%). Still, 84% of rural and 93% of urban beneficiaries are satisfied with the distance to their doctor or provider.
We examined what we presumed would be distinct differences between rural and urban groups, both in how they receive care with Medicare coverage and their opinions on it.
“What we found, however, is that there were a striking number of similarities across all groups we surveyed,” said GoHealth’s Chief Medical Officer, Paul Hain, M.D. “But perhaps an even more valuable theme we found throughout is that small changes in Medicare literacy and shared decision making can produce significant improvements for large groups of older adults, regardless of where they live.”
