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As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) opens up on October 15, our latest HealthInsurance.com Medicare survey indicates that the majority of our Medicare-eligible participants make it a point to review their current Medicare coverage every year. The survey reached 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older, asking them about their perceptions of their current Medicare plans, healthcare costs, technology, social media and retirement. Medicare AEP Survey Findings Key Finding #1: 63% review their Medicare coverage on an annual basis. Still, only 22% plan to make a change to their current Medicare coverage during the 2022 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. Of this percentage, 42% want to change plans because they’re looking for more coverage and benefits, which may be offered through a private plan like a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. Other highlights: 33% are considering switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage. 33% are considering changing from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. 20% are considering changing their Prescription Drug Plans (Medicare Part D). Medicare Fact: Original Medicare (Parts A and B) provides hospital and medical coverage to Medicare beneficiaries. Meanwhile, a Medicare Advantage plan can be an alternative to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans may be appealing because many offer extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing), while giving you an annual cap on your spending. It’s no secret that understanding Medicare and the various Medicare plans can be overwhelming and confusing to Medicare beneficiaries. But our Medicare survey honed in on what - exactly - is more confusing to our participants. Key Finding #2: 41% say understanding benefits is the most challenging part of finding the right Medicare plan for their needs. Other highlights: 26% feel there are too many Medicare plans to understand and choose from. 17% say understanding the plan costs can be confusing. 16% worry about scams or misleading information. Researching & Shopping For Medicare Plans We also asked our Medicare-eligible survey participants about who they turn to as a trusted source to research their Medicare plan options. Key Finding #1: 58% research Medicare plans online to understand their options. Meanwhile, 37% call their licensed insurance agents for guidance, and 22% seek out a family member or friend for Medicare advice. Key Finding #2: 62% shop for Medicare plans online. Whether it’s insurance company sites, government websites, or online marketplaces, the majority of our survey respondents also turn to the internet when shopping for Medicare plans. Full Survey Results View the full Medicare survey results. Survey Methodology The above survey results were gathered through a national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults ages 65 and older from September 13-16, 2021. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, race, education, and political party to reasonably reflect the 65+ population. (Margin of Sampling Error: +/- 3.1 percentage points) More 2021 HealthInsurance.com Surveys July 2021: Medicare Enrollment & Satisfaction Survey June 2021: Coronavirus Survey: Pandemic Health Checkup May 2021: Coronavirus Survey Captures Work & Life In The New Normal April 2021: Survey: Healthcare Habits And COVID-19 Vaccine Views March 2021: Coronavirus Anniversary Survey: One Year Later February 2021: Coronavirus Survey Findings: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 (Part 2): Consumer Survey: The 2021 Super Bowl & Coronavirus Concerns January 2021 (Part 1): January Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19

With the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) just around the corner this fall, our latest HealthInsurance.com survey honed in on Medicare-eligible consumer sentiments and behavior, including actions they might take during AEP and their growing concerns over healthcare costs. The Medicare survey reached more than 1,000 Americans ages 64 and up. Let’s walk through some survey topics and highlights. An Eye On Medicare Enrollment Statistics Key finding: 49% think the age to be eligible for Medicare should be lowered to 60. Of our total survey participants, 85% have some type of Medicare plan. Here’s the breakdown by plan type: 65% have Original Medicare, which is Part A and Part B 31% have a Medicare Advantage plan. 27% have a Medicare Supplement aka Medigap plan. Meanwhile, 12% either delayed or plan to delay their retirement to keep their employer-sponsored health insurance. Lastly, our Medicare survey also uncovered that 15% of our survey participants used the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) during COVID-19 to enroll in Medicare. Survey Spotlight: The Medicare Open Enrollment Period & Choosing A Medicare Plan Key finding: 59% of our participants feel it’s overwhelming or confusing to pick a Medicare plan. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), also called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, happens each year from October 15 to December 7. During this time, eligible Medicare beneficiaries can: Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan. Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. Disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare. Change from one prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D) to another. Enroll in a prescription drug plan. Cancel your prescription drug coverage. And our Medicare survey revealed that 53% plan to switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan. On the other hand, 42% are currently unsure about changing their Medicare plans during this year’s AEP. Of this percentage: 33% are considering changing from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage. 33% are considering changing from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. 20% are considering changing their Part D prescription plans. As stated above, our survey revealed how 59% of our participants feel it’s overwhelming or confusing to pick a Medicare plan. This Medicare consumer confusion about how to pick the right Medicare plans for their specific needs and budgets can stem from a number of places, including understanding plan coverage and costs coupled with an overwhelming amount of Medicare Advantage and Medigap plan choices. So how are Medicare consumers trying to combat this confusion and find the right Medicare plan? According to our survey participants, 56% research online to compare Medicare plans. And 38% use their insurance agents to help understand their Medicare options. Another finding that stood out is that 54% of our Medicare survey participants don’t trust online services to help them shop for Medicare plans. Yet, 40% claimed that they enrolled into their respective Medicare Advantage plans online. Healthcare Cost Concerns Among Older Americans Key finding: 59% are worried that the Medicare program will run out of money. It’s no secret that the rising costs of healthcare remain a top concern, especially among older Americans. According to our survey, 64% are worried about out-of-pocket medical costs. Costly prescription drugs are keeping people up at night, too. Our survey indicated that 89% think prescription drug costs are too high. Adding to that, 39% had not filled a prescription because it was too expensive. Hearing aids were also on the minds of our survey respondents, with 44% who have avoided or known someone who has avoided purchasing a hearing aid due to its cost. Survey Resources View the full survey results. Survey Methodology The above survey results were gathered through a national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults ages 64 and older from July 10, 2021 to July 13, 2021. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, race, education, and political party to reasonably reflect the 65+ population. More Healthinsurance.com Surveys June 2021: June 2021 Coronavirus Survey: Pandemic Health Checkup May 2021: Coronavirus Survey Captures Work & Life In The New Normal April 2021: April 2021 Survey: Healthcare Habits And COVID-19 Vaccine Views March 2021: Coronavirus Anniversary Survey: One Year Later February 2021: Coronavirus Survey Findings: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 (Part 1): January Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19 January 2021 (Part 2): Consumer Survey: The 2021 Super Bowl & Coronavirus Concerns December 2020: December Survey: Latest Coronavirus Impacts & Findings November 2020: The 2021 Open Enrollment Periods, Health Insurance & The Holidays October 2020: Medicare Survey Gathers Insights on Medical Costs, Technology & More September 2020: U.S. Healthcare, 2020 Election and More August 2020: Multigenerational Perspectives on COVID-19 July 2020: Medicare Eligible Seniors Survey Findings: Technology, COVID-19, the 2020 Election and More

As many U.S. businesses continue to open back up and lift mask restrictions, our latest HealthInsurance.com survey - which reached 1,000 adult Americans - measured topics like healthcare, self-care and returning to normalcy. Let’s walk through the highlights and top takeaways. Coronavirus and Views On Healthcare Top Takeaway: Healthcare usage is changing. One year ago, our June 2020 survey uncovered that 48% of our respondents said that COVID-19 has changed the way they use healthcare. Now, 62% are saying that the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way they use healthcare, signifying a 25% increase. We also learned that 67% believe our healthcare system has gotten better since the pandemic began - a stark contrast to the 78% who felt that the U.S. healthcare system was either worse or unchanged due to the pandemic as of November 2020. Catching Up On Self Care Top Takeaway: The pandemic has caused people to focus on their health and self care now more than ever. The pandemic has given many of us more free time to focus on health, fitness and self-care. In fact, 73% of our respondents say that their self-care has improved since the start of the pandemic, which is a 81% increase since June 2020. Adding to that, 80% have paid more attention to their health since the pandemic began. This could be why we saw a notable increase in using wearables Apple Watches or FitBits during our June 2021 survey. Now, 52% of our respondents are using these types of wearables to monitor their health and movement. But despite the emphasis on health and wellness, 51% are feeling like they need time off from work, revealing a 22% increase from our June 2020 survey. And 78% plan to travel this summer (which is likely the reason why 49% of respondents are dieting ahead of the summer season). Returning Back To Normalcy Top Takeaway: We’re “kind of” ready to resume normal life. Returning back to normalcy was perhaps the most interesting topic we covered during our latest survey. For example, 59% are hesitant to re-enter social routines, and 48% are still worried about contracting COVID-19. Yet, their behaviors don’t necessarily match their hesitant mindsets: 60% feel comfortable resuming travel for work. 59% have resumed going to restaurants and or bars. 58% have started going to other peoples’ houses 38% have resumed leisurely travel. But protection and prevention are still on the minds of our respondents, with 80% saying they have received the COVID-19 vaccine and 77% still wearing masks in public. Survey Resources View the full survey results. Survey Methodology The above survey results were gathered through a national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults from June, 2, 2021 to June 6, 2021. Certain quotas were applied to the overall sample and lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population. More Healthinsurance.com Surveys April 2021: April 2021 Survey: Healthcare Habits And COVID-19 Vaccine Views March 2021: Coronavirus Anniversary Survey: One Year Later February 2021: Coronavirus Survey Findings: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 (Part 1): January Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19 January 2021 (Part 2): Consumer Survey: The 2021 Super Bowl & Coronavirus Concerns December 2020: December Survey: Latest Coronavirus Impacts & Findings November 2020: The 2021 Open Enrollment Periods, Health Insurance & The Holidays October 2020: Medicare Survey Gathers Insights on Medical Costs, Technology & More September 2020: U.S. Healthcare, 2020 Election and More August 2020: Multigenerational Perspectives on COVID-19 July 2020: Medicare Eligible Seniors Survey Findings: Technology, COVID-19, the 2020 Election and More June 2020: Healthcare Technology, Self-Care and More

HealthInsurance.com recently launched a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults to check in on a number of topics including at-home health, working remotely, and current views on the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s take a look at some of the survey highlights. Latest On Coronavirus Consumer Sentiment Top takeaway: Declining beliefs in COVID-19 vaccines and treatment. Back in May 2020, 64% of our survey respondents felt that a COVID-19 vaccine should be required. Now that we have vaccine options here in the U.S., 49% are feeling that the vaccine should be required, signaling a 23% decrease in belief. Adding to that: In May 2020, 45% thought that there will be a cure for COVID-19. Today, just 21% feel that there will be a cure - a significant decrease of 53%. Other highlights: 64% think that COVID-19 restrictions, like masks and social distancing, are still necessary 54% say COVID-19 has changed the way they look at healthcare. 51% feel the worst of the pandemic is over. A Look at Consumer Health During the Pandemic Top takeaway: A rise in unhealthy behaviors during COVID-19. While some people see the pandemic as an opportunity for embracing health habits and self-care, others feel that it’s taken its toll. In fact, 49% have not resumed normal life, which gives them more time for mindless snacking and binge drinking. Our survey indicates that 55% of our respondents have gained weight during the pandemic, with ages 18-34 being impacted the most. Additionally, 31% of respondents of all ages admit that they are consuming more alcohol than usual, which marks a 29% increase in drinking since our May 2020 survey. Ages 35-44 represented the majority of the growth in alcohol consumption. Meanwhile, seniors on Medicare are practicing healthy habits at home: 43% of our survey participants know someone on Medicare who has used telemedicine during the pandemic. Monitoring Work-At-Home Moods Top takeaway: Continued challenges when working from home. Last year, Americans had to adjust to working remotely in the wake of the pandemic. Our latest survey indicates that 36% of our respondents are still working at home. Now that we’re a bit more settled: 34% are still struggling to work full time while caring for their children. 28% are feeling more stressed working at home. (But there’s a silver lining to this finding: A 24% decrease in stress since our May 2020 survey). It’s also worth noting that 45% of our respondents plan to take a summer vacation despite the freedom of working remotely. Survey Resources View our full survey results. View a snapshot of our survey results. View our May 2020 vs. May 2021 survey results. Survey Methodology The above survey results were gathered through a national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults from May 6, 2021 to May 10, 2021. Certain quotas were applied to the overall sample and lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population. More Healthinsurance.com Surveys April 2021: April 2021 Survey: Healthcare Habits And COVID-19 Vaccine Views March 2021: Coronavirus Anniversary Survey: One Year Later February 2021: Coronavirus Survey Findings: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 (Part 1): January Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19 January 2021 (Part 2): Consumer Survey: The 2021 Super Bowl & Coronavirus Concerns December 2020: December Survey: Latest Coronavirus Impacts & Findings November 2020: The 2021 Open Enrollment Periods, Health Insurance & The Holidays October 2020: Medicare Survey Gathers Insights on Medical Costs, Technology & More September 2020: U.S. Healthcare, 2020 Election and More August 2020: Multigenerational Perspectives on COVID-19 July 2020: Medicare Eligible Seniors Survey Findings: Technology, COVID-19, the 2020 Election and More June 2020: Healthcare Technology, Self-Care and More May 2020: Testing, Mental Health, and More

Now that we've passed the Coronavirus one year anniversary, we surveyed 1,000 American adults to gain new insights into topics like pandemic life, the COVID-19 vaccine, and telemedicine during our April 2021 survey. And dealing with “life in the new normal” still persists. Let's walk through some news coverage highlights. April Survey: Updates on Pandemic Life With COVID-19 cases rising in many parts of the country, it looks like “pandemic life” is here to stay - at least for now. In fact, 56% of our April survey participants feel like COVID-19 will never go away. And this has spawned some fears among our respondents. For example, 62% said they’re afraid to cough or sneeze in public despite not having COVID-19. What’s also interesting is that 9 in 10 of our survey respondents said they’ll miss certain things about pandemic life, such as being able to spend more time at home with family. This percentage is a massive jump from the 4 in 10 respondents who shared the same sentiment in our March 2021 survey. News Spotlight: Latest Insights On The COVID-19 Vaccine COVID-19 Vaccine Fears Unfortunately, coughing and sneezing in public aren’t the only fears among our survey participants. Among the 24% of participants who don’t plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine, more than half say it’s because they’re afraid - a finding that was also covered by LifeHealth.com. So we dug deeper to find out why our respondents are afraid of getting vaccinated. And we ncovered some interesting results. According to LiveTradingNews.com, which featured our survey: 50% of our respondents say they’re afraid of the side effects. 20% say it’s because of how fast the vaccine was created. Vaccine Passports Another standout topic that’s making headlines is vaccine passports. According to Amsterdam News, which covered our survey, roughly 6 in 10 respondents are in favor of some kind of vaccine passport. Updates On Health Insurance & Telemedicine Health Insurance & The Cost Of Care Amidst all the fear surrounding the pandemic, one piece of good news is that 94% of our April 2021 survey respondents have some kind of health insurance. This indicates a 4% increase compared to our April 2020 survey. But despite how more of our respondents have health insurance, more than 40% said they would think twice about seeking care for COVID-19 due to costs - a finding that was also featured in this Newsmax article. Telemedicine Insights When it comes to insurance carriers sending their members information about telemedicine, we discovered that nearly 60% of our survey participants received these communications. This reflects a whopping 111% increase from April 2020. It’s no wonder why half of our survey respondents this month reported using virtual doctors during COVID-19. Plus, three-quarters say they will continue to use telemedicine even after the pandemic is over. More Coronavirus Surveys Press Release: Survey: 56% Say COVID-19 Is Never Going Away April 2021 Survey: Healthcare Habits And COVID-19 Vaccine Views March 2021 Survey: Coronavirus Anniversary Survey: One Year Later February 2021 Survey: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19 December 2020 Survey: Latest Coronavirus Impacts & Findings November 2020 Survey: The 2021 Open Enrollment Periods, Health Insurance & The Holidays October 2020 Survey: Medicare Survey Gathers Insights on Medical Costs, Technology & More September 2020 Survey: U.S. Healthcare, 2020 Election, And More August 2020 Survey: Multigenerational Perspectives On COVID-19 July 2020 Survey #1: COVID-19 Political, Healthcare, Economic, Social, and Workplace Landscapes July 2020 Survey #2: Medicare-Eligible Seniors: Technology, COVID-19, The 2020 Election, and More June 2020 Survey: COVID-19 Healthcare Technology, Self-Care and More May 2020 Survey: Coronavirus Testing, Mental Health, and More April 2020 Survey: Coronavirus Economic Impacts March 2020 Survey: Telemedicine Use During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Here we are - more than a year after the Coronavirus hit the United States. And a real fear that COVID-19 will never go away still remains. At least that’s how 56% of our latest survey respondents feel. Our April 2021 survey covered a range of topics, including health and life insurance, telemedicine, and finances. But one major theme that emerged from the survey is how American adults are feeling about life in the new normal. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights. Health & Life Insurance Utilization Amidst COVID-19 If anything, the Coronavirus pandemic has caused people to value their health and wellness. So it’s no wonder why our respondents are taking precautions to ensure they’re protected now and in the future through health insurance coverage and life insurance policies. Our survey indicates that: 94% have some kind of health insurance, a 4% increase since our April 2020 survey covering COVID-19 economic impacts. 54% know their health insurance options if they were to lose their coverage. 20% added more coverage to their life insurance policy because of COVID-19 18% purchased a life insurance policy because of COVID-19. Continued Medical Expense Concerns Though our respondents are putting their health front and center, they’re still concerned about healthcare costs. Two findings that stood out to us: 49% would think twice about seeking medical care because of cost; up 7% since April 2020. 46% don’t have enough money saved to cover medical costs should they come down with an illness like COVID-19. Telemedicine: An Evolving Alternative To In-Person Care Healthcare providers, insurance companies and consumers alike are turning to telehealth services now more than ever. And the proof is in our survey results: 59% have received information about telemedicine from their insurance carrier, signifying a 111% increase since our April 2020 survey. Adding to that: 50% of our respondents have used telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic, while 75% will continue to use them post-pandemic. The Latest On Pandemic Life Our March 2021 Coronavirus Anniversary Survey: One Year Later revealed that 39% of our respondents said they will miss certain aspects of pandemic life. Interestingly enough, many more of our survey participants admitted the same thing in our April survey: try 91% now saying they will miss some aspect of pandemic life - quite the increase. In terms of pandemic life at home, 49% will miss all of the family time once life gets back to normal. Meanwhile, 62% are afraid to cough or sneeze out in public even though they don’t have COVID-19. And 67% feel that it’s too soon to drop mask mandates. COVID-19 Vaccine Skepticism On April 12, the CDC paused the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to reported cases of blod clotting after receiving the vaccine. And this news may cause more reluctance to get the coronavirus vaccine. Though 46% have already received the COVID-19 vaccine (through any of the current manufacturers), 11% still aren’t sure if they’ll get the vaccine. Of this 11% who are unsure: 59% say it’s because they’re simply afraid to get the vaccine. 50% say it’s because of the side effects. 28% say it’s because of how fast it was created Vaccine passports are also continuing to make headlines, so we asked our participants to weigh in with their thoughts. 59% are in favor of a “vaccine passport.” 33% oppose a “vaccine passport.” Deeper Dive: Full Survey Results View a snapshot of our survey results. View the full survey results. Our Survey Methodology The above survey results were gathered through a national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults from April 11, 2021 to April 13, 2021. Certain quotas were applied to the overall sample and lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population. More Healthinsurance.com Surveys March 2021: Coronavirus Anniversary Survey: One Year Later February 2021: Coronavirus Survey Findings: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 (Part 1): January Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19 January 2021 (Part 2): Consumer Survey: The 2021 Super Bowl & Coronavirus Concerns December 2020: December Survey: Latest Coronavirus Impacts & Findings November 2020: The 2021 Open Enrollment Periods, Health Insurance & The Holidays October 2020: Medicare Survey Gathers Insights on Medical Costs, Technology & More September 2020: U.S. Healthcare, 2020 Election and More August 2020: Multigenerational Perspectives on COVID-19 July 2020: Medicare Eligible Seniors Survey Findings: Technology, COVID-19, the 2020 Election and More June 2020: Healthcare Technology, Self-Care and More May 2020: Testing, Mental Health, and More April 2020: Economic Impacts and Health Insurance Trends March 2020: Telemedicine Usage During COVID-19

It’s been one year since the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed the Coronavirus as a pandemic across the world. And March 2021 marked the perfect time to survey Americans to see how their Coronavirus behaviors and perceptions have changed. Let’s take a look. Top Survey Finding: Growth In Telemedicine Telemedicine has been a hot topic throughout our surveys, so it’s only fitting that we check back in to gauge telemedicine trust and usage. And our Coronavirus anniversary survey revealed an astounding 422% increase in telemedicine usage among our respondents. Meanwhile, 40% felt that getting care through telemedicine is just as good as in-person doctor visits - a 35% increase from our March 2020 survey one year ago. News Spotlight: COVID-19 Concerns & Life After The Pandemic Contracting COVID-19 While our nation has made many strides to combat COVID-19, concerns about contracting the virus still looms. According to our March 2021 survey results reported by Consumer Affairs, 62% of our respondents still worry about getting COVID-19. Back during our June 2020 survey, 58% of our respondents said they would stop worrying about contracting COVID-19 once there’s a vaccine. So it’s interesting to see that even more of our respondents are still worried, despite the fact that vaccines are now available. Post-COVID-19 Life After one year of lockdowns, restrictions and fear, many may assume that people are anxious to get back to their regular lives. Yet, 62% of our participants are still apprehensive about life returning to normal - so much so that 2 in 5 respondents will miss certain things about pandemic life, as reported in a Post Online Media news story. But an AZ Big Media story covered the flip side of things: Our survey responses from those who are ready and excited to get back to a sense of normalcy. Here are 3 highlights: 29% look forward to hanging out with friends and family the most. 22% are most excited about not having to wear a mask. 19% are most excited about going on vacation. COVID-19 Updates For ACA Health Insurance Coronavirus Special Enrollment Period Our survey also covered the Coronavirus Special Enrollment Period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, which now gives eligible Americans until May 15 to enroll in an ACA plan instead of the typical December 15 deadline - something that may be particularly beneficial for those who lost coverage during the pandemic. To that end, MorningConsult.com highlighted how one-third of our respondents have taken advantage of this new Coronavirus Special Enrollment Period or know someone who has taken advantage of it. Stimulus Bill Along with the Coronavirus Special Enrollment Period, the Biden administration passed a stimulus bill that includes measures to help lower the costs of ACA plans. As reported in our Newsmax feature article, more people will now be able to receive ACA plan subsidies starting April 1, 2021. More Coronavirus Survey Findings Press Release: 62% Have Apprehensions About Life "Returning To Normal" Post COVID-19 Pandemic March 2021 Survey: Coronavirus Anniversary Survey: One Year Later February 2021 Survey: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19 December 2020 Survey: Latest Coronavirus Impacts & Findings November 2020 Survey: The 2021 Open Enrollment Periods, Health Insurance & The Holidays October 2020 Survey: Medicare Survey Gathers Insights on Medical Costs, Technology & More September 2020 Survey: U.S. Healthcare, 2020 Election, And More August 2020 Survey: Multigenerational Perspectives On COVID-19 July 2020 Survey #1: COVID-19 Political, Healthcare, Economic, Social, and Workplace Landscapes July 2020 Survey #2: Medicare-Eligible Seniors: Technology, COVID-19, The 2020 Election, and More June 2020 Survey: COVID-19 Healthcare Technology, Self-Care and More May 2020 Survey: Coronavirus Testing, Mental Health, and More April 2020 Survey: Coronavirus Economic Impacts March 2020 Survey: Telemedicine Use During the Coronavirus Pandemic

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus a pandemic. A few days later, nearly every sport shut down, borders closed, and plywood covered the windows of small businesses. Here are are one year later: March 2021 marks one year of consumer surveys at healthinsurance.com. Since then, we've asked about everything from telemedicine services and economic impacts to the 2020 Presidential election and how seniors are handling the pandemic. And through measuring public sentiments over time, we’ve learned a lot in one short year. All of this in mind, our most recent March 2021 survey was the prime opportunity to compare certain 2020 vs. 2021 survey responses, beginning with telemedicine usage. Telemedicine During COVID-19 The Coronavirus pandemic truly tested our nation’s healthcare system. And we had to adjust the way we delivered care to keep up with the high demand of COVID-19 patients. This marked the rise of telemedicine, also known as telehealth. Telemedicine gives us a way to receive virtual care for non-emergency conditions like the common cold, skin rashes, or allergies. The following three findings from our most recent survey alone tell us how much telemedicine has evolved throughout the pandemic. Are you familiar with telemedicine? March 2020: 61% said yes. March 2021: 77% said yes. This is a 26% increase in telehealth awareness. Have you used telemedicine during the Coronavirus pandemic? March 2020: 9% said yes. March 2021: 47% said yes. This is a 422% increase in telemedicine usage. Do you feel that telemedicine visits are as good as in-person visits to the doctor? March 2020: 35% said yes. March 2021: 40% said yes. This is a 14% increase in confidence that telemedicine visits are just as good as in-person visits. Polling the Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout well underway across the country, our survey also closely monitored our respondents’ reactions to the vaccine. Here are our top 3 takeaways: 54% will get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they’re eligible to do so. 54% would still get tested for COVID-19 even after getting the vaccine. 39% would jump the line and get the Coronavirus vaccine sooner if they had the opportunity to do so. We also asked our survey participants if they had a preference of which vaccine they’d get: Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. 36% said they’d take whatever vaccine they could get. But 28% chose the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, while 21% leaned towards the Pfizer vaccine. Post-Pandemic Perceptions: What Are People Looking Forward To? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coronavirus cases in the U.S. have declined with a 11.2% decrease in the 7-day average number of daily cases compared to the previous week (data as of March 10, 2021). This promising trend prompted us to ask people what they’re looking forward to the most once returning back to “normalcy.” Here’s the breakdown: 29% say hanging out with friends and family. 22% look forward to not wearing a mask. 19% say going on vacation. 10% want to go to a live performance (i.e. concert or play). 10% look forward to eating at a restaurant. 7% want to go to a movie. 2% say getting pampered with services like a massage. Still, 62% of our respondents said they have apprehensions about returning to normal. And 39% indicated there are certain things they will actually miss about “pandemic life.” Full Survey Results Click here to download the full survey results. Our Survey Methodology The above survey results were gathered through a national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults from March 12, 2021 to March 14, 2021. Certain quotas were applied to the overall sample and lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population. More Healthinsurance.com Surveys February 2021: Coronavirus Survey Findings: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 (Part 1): January Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19 January 2021 (Part 2): Consumer Survey: The 2021 Super Bowl & Coronavirus Concerns December 2020: December Survey: Latest Coronavirus Impacts & Findings November 2020: The 2021 Open Enrollment Periods, Health Insurance & The Holidays October 2020: Medicare Survey Gathers Insights on Medical Costs, Technology & More September 2020: U.S. Healthcare, 2020 Election and More August 2020: Multigenerational Perspectives on COVID-19 July 2020: Medicare Eligible Seniors Survey Findings: Technology, COVID-19, the 2020 Election and More June 2020: Healthcare Technology, Self-Care and More May 2020: Testing, Mental Health, and More April 2020: Economic Impacts and Health Insurance Trends March 2020: Telemedicine Usage During COVID-19

As we settle into 2021, the rollout for the Coronavirus vaccine continues to take shape across the country. Still, many people are experiencing burnout from the pandemic. So for February, we surveyed 1,000 adults to gain insight into the vaccine, pandemic perceptions, and other hot topics. Survey Spotlight: COVID-19 Vaccination & Prevention Insights Nearly 70% of our February survey participants plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they can. What struck us most is that 86% of our respondents think that those who get vaccinated should still wear masks and practice social distancing. And, 4 in 10 participants believe we will need to wear masks for one more year. News Spotlight: Access To COVID-19 Testing & Vaccination COVID-19 Testing Though the coronavirus vaccine is currently at the forefront, COVID-19 testing is still an important issue. As highlighted in this HealthLeaders article, which covered our survey, 64% of our respondents would opt for more frequent testing if they could do so from home. COVID-19 Vaccination & Seniors While many states are rolling out mass vaccination sites, some seniors are finding it difficult to access the coronavirus vaccine. According to our survey findings reported by Newsmax, 48% of our survey participants say they know someone over 65 who has had challenges signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine. Quick tip: Visit our Guide to Medicare Vaccine Coverage to see updated information on how Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 Work-Life Balance Pandemic Fatigue With all the challenges the pandemic has caused over the past year, 54% of our February survey respondents say they’re currently experiencing pandemic fatigue. Among this percentage, 53% say the frustration is driving them to return to regular activities despite the risks. Working Remotely Working from home has also played a role in how our survey participants view pandemic fatigue. According to our survey findings covered by ValuePenguin: 79% say working from home has been better for their overall mental health - a pretty big increase from the 37% of respondents who felt stressed working from home back in May 2020. 52% would be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for working from home indefinitely. Explore Our Coronavirus Surveys Press Release: Survey: 48% Know Someone Aged 65+ Who Has Had Difficulty Getting COVID-19 Vaccine February 2021 Survey: Coronavirus Vaccines & Prevention Amidst Pandemic Fatigue January 2021 Survey: A Look At 2021 & Healthcare Habits During COVID-19 December 2020 Survey: Latest Coronavirus Impacts & Findings November 2020 Survey: The 2021 Open Enrollment Periods, Health Insurance & The Holidays October 2020 Survey: Medicare Survey Gathers Insights on Medical Costs, Technology & More September 2020 Survey: U.S. Healthcare, 2020 Election, And More August 2020 Survey: Multigenerational Perspectives On COVID-19 July 2020 Survey #1: COVID-19 Political, Healthcare, Economic, Social, and Workplace Landscapes July 2020 Survey #2: Medicare-Eligible Seniors: Technology, COVID-19, The 2020 Election, and More June 2020 Survey: COVID-19 Healthcare Technology, Self-Care and More May 2020 Survey: Coronavirus Testing, Mental Health, and More April 2020 Survey: Coronavirus Economic Impacts March 2020 Survey: Telemedicine Use During the Coronavirus Pandemic