Most Medicare members say they aren't getting recommendations about chronic conditions
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that three out of four Americans 65 and older have multiple chronic conditions. Engaging people with co-morbidities is often a way to improve health conditions, but the HealthMine survey found that’s not the case for many in the Medicare population.

Dive Brief:

Although most Medicare members have at least one chronic disease, only 10% of those recently surveyed said they received reminders or recommendations about their conditions, according to a new HealthMine Survey.

The survey found 44% of survey respondents said their health plan never communicates with them about their chronic condition.

The most frequently reported chronic conditions among those surveyed were high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, asthma and symptoms of depression.

Dive Insight:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that three out of four Americans 65 and older have multiple chronic conditions. Engaging people with co-morbidities is often a way to improve health conditions, but the HealthMine survey found that’s not the case for many in the Medicare population.

Research shows that engaging patients, especially those with chronic diseases, can improve health. The industry can also cut costs by figuring out how best to engage patients with chronic conditions. The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease recently reported that chronic disease will cost the U.S. $42 trillion between 2016 and 2030, including $2 trillion in medical costs. The report predicted that 83 million Americans will have three or more chronic diseases by 2030 unless there are health improvements. That's more than twice the number of Americans with three or more chronic diseases now.

The issue of chronic illness and engagement isn’t just a Medicare population issue either. About 59% of Americans have at least one chronic disease, and those patients are driving healthcare costs, especially if they have co-morbidities. Only 5% of people account for 50% of healthcare spending.

Bryce Williams, president and CEO of HealthMine, a healthcare technology company that communicates health information to members in hopes of creating better outcomes and lowering costs, said corresponding with Medicare members is “imperative.” He added that health plans “have the data to connect with meaningful, timely help for reminders to members — and learn member’s communication preferences.” However, HealthMine's study found the Medicare population isn't benefiting from those communications.