52% of Medicare Beneficiaries Say More Should Be Done to Protect Vulnerable Groups from COVID-19, eHealth Survey Finds

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new survey of nearly 3,000 Medicare beneficiaries released today by eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) (eHealth.com), more than half (52%) say that not enough is being done to protect those at greater risk from the COVID-19 coronavirus and 25% say they know someone who has come down with the virus.

eHealth's survey also found that more than a third (37%) of Medicare beneficiaries have experienced a loss of income as a direct or indirect results of the coronavirus.

"Medicare beneficiaries are by definition among those at greater risk from the COVID-19 coronavirus, and their concerns deserve special attention," said eHealth CEO Scott Flanders. "Our survey shows they're taking social distancing seriously and finding new ways to keep in touch with loved ones, but a majority feel that more should be done to protect the vulnerable, and a surprising number are also suffering from loss of income as a result of the crisis."

Additional highlights from eHealth's survey:

    --  Many cannot afford the cost of coronavirus hospitalization: 46% say they
        could not afford the out-of-pocket costs they would face if hospitalized
        for coronavirus.(1)
    --  Nearly all Medicare beneficiaries are socially isolating: 98% say they
        are socially isolating, with 81% leaving their homes fewer than 3 times
        per week; 68% say they are using new technologies to stay in touch with
        family and friends.
    --  Political differences lead to different judgments of the government's
        response: 58% of likely Republican voters say they have "high
        confidence" in the government's response to the coronavirus crisis,
        compared to 7% of likely Democratic voters.

Read the full report.

eHealth's findings are based on a voluntary survey of Medicare beneficiaries who purchased Medicare health insurance products through eHealth. The survey was conducted between April 9 and 10, 2020, and a total of 2,913 responses were collected.

Notes

(1) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has ruled that people enrolled in private individual and group health insurance plans will face no out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 testing and certain other related items and services. Under Original Medicare, deductibles may still apply to hospitalization, including hospitalization for COVID-19. Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans may not face out-of-pocket costs for hospitalization for COVID-19.

About eHealth
eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) owns eHealth.com, a leading private online health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from brand-name insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online and over the phone. eHealth offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by many of the nation's leading health insurance companies. eHealth (through its subsidiaries) is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealth also offers educational resources, exceptional telephonic support, and powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online or over the phone through Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com), eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com), GoMedigap (www.goMedigap.com) and PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com).

For media inquiries, please contact:

Sande Drew
DMA Communications for eHealth, Inc.
(916) 207-7674
sande.drew@gmail.com

James Chisum
Media Consultant
(562) 493-6023
JamesC@millergeer.com

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SOURCE eHealth, Inc.