KFF Focus Groups: Key Takeaways for Agents

KFF has published data on Medicare spending and how the aging population contributes to the federal budget and to the overall healthcare spending in the United States.

This interactive data reflects the importance of the role licensed agents will play in the future as the share of U.S population by age group increases. According to a KFF analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2020, 5.52% of Americans were between the ages of 65 and 69. That percent is expected to increase to 5.59% by 2060. This segment of the population is expected to grow from 56 million to 89 million by 2060.

Results of focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries conducted by KFF in conjunction with PerryUndem showed that focus group participants valued the expertise of their brokers in assisting them with coverage options. The majority of those polled were not offended by plan specific financial incentives paid to brokers. 

Focus group participants who used government resources, such as Medicare Handbook or 1-800 Medicare found them helpful, but most were not aware of the availability of federal or local assistance, such as State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs).

To find out what factors were important to Medicare enrollees when choosing coverage, visit the KFF website and review the Key Takeaways.