title: An overview and study of beneficiaries' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the medicare part d benefit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Medicare beneficiaries' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit have been under evaluation since the 2006 inception of the Part D benefit.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to examine beneficiaries' satisfaction with their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, knowledge of the coverage gap, attitudes about the relative importance of certain insurance parameters, and overall perceptions of the Part D benefit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, descriptive study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen outreach events targeting Medicare beneficiaries in northern California during the 2012 open-enrollment period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 576 Medicare beneficiaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Beneficiaries were asked questions related to their KAP of the Part D benefit as part of a plan to evaluate their need for assistance. Sociodemographic data were collected via a standardized survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Identify variances in KAP related to beneficiary sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven percent of beneficiaries claimed to be "very" or "extremely" satisfied with Part D, yet only 40.3% of those with a prescription drug plan (PDP) rated their plan as "very good" or "excellent." Those automatically enrolled into their plan by Medicare were significantly less satisfied with their plan (P = 0.048). Almost three in four recipients not receiving Medicare subsidies have heard of the gap in prescription drug coverage, i.e., the "donut hole." Additionally, there were significant racial disparities in knowledge of the gap. Only 62.7% of beneficiaries indicated that "total out-of-pocket cost during the year" was the most important plan characteristic for them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An understanding of beneficiaries' attitudes may help explain suboptimal Part D plan selection. Moreover, evaluating beneficiaries' knowledge of the Part D benefit can assist advocacy groups in creating educational materials to better assist this vulnerable population in choosing an appropriate plan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Woelfel
authors.forename: Rajul A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ranson
authors.forename: Binita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Urvishkumar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Italia
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Walberg
authors.forename: Sian M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Carr-Lopez
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Galal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054524:Medicare Part D; D014481:United States