Medicare beneficiary knowledge: measurement implications from a qualitative study
Teal, C.R.; Paterniti, D.A.; Murphy, C.L.; John, D.A.; Morgan, R.O.
Health Care Financing Review 27(4): 13-23
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0195-8631 PMID: 17290655 Document Number: 601248
Medicare beneficiary knowledge about fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare versus managed care alternatives (MCA) has been studied extensively. However, these efforts might be compromised by lack of familiarity with common Medicare terminology. We used qualitative methods to examine beneficiaries' familiarity with Medicare Programs (FFS and MCA) and terminology. Twenty-one indepth, semi-structured beneficiary interview transcripts were analyzed through iterative review. Across sex, race/ethnicity, and benefits programs, participants found interview questions with Medicare terminology difficult to answer, potentially causing missing, incorrect, and inaccurate responses to interview questions. Assessment of beneficiary knowledge may be fundamentally impacted by absence of basic familiarity with Medicare Programs terminology.