Medicare Adds to Insurance Data Online

Medicare is posting new information on the Internet about private health plans that enroll elderly and disabled Americans, to help consumers comparison-shop. “This is the kind of information people get from a trusted friend or neighbor. It’s also health plans providing information about themselves,” a Medicare spokeswoman said. Included are results of a consumer satisfaction survey, mailed about a year ago and answered by about 100,000 people who use Medicare health plans nationwide. The plans themselves provided additional, independently audited data, including what percentage of people received certain preventive screenings or treatments for which they were eligible, including mammograms for breast cancer detection and beta blocker drugs for heart attack victims. Previously, Medicare has published only a rundown of health plan benefits and out-of-pocket fees. The new HMO comparisons are available at https:/www.medicare.gov. People who don’t have access to the Internet may be able to get printouts of the information from local agencies on aging, senior citizen groups or state insurance counseling services. Next fall, Medicare will mail it, in new booklets, to all beneficiaries.