Nathan D. West, MPA¹, Jennifer Uhrig, PhD¹, Lauren Harris-Kojetin, PhD², Carla Bann, PHD³, and May Kuo, PhD¹. (1) Health, Social and Economics Research, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-541-6816, nathanwest@rti.org, (2) AAHSA, 2519 Connecticutt Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 200008, (3) Research Triangle Institute, 3040 Cornwallis Rd., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

We conducted an experiment with employees/early retirees ages 58-64. We manipulated the presentation of printed health plan choice materials. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions—integrated, alternate and control. The integrated group received cost, benefit and quality information organized by substantive themes. The alternate group received the same information, but each was presented in a separate section. The control group received an intervention that had both the content and format of Medicare’s print on demand comparative health plan information. Participants were told to imagine that they were about to turn 65, and their task was to choose a health plan for themselves. After the participants reviewed the information, they completed a questionnaire.

We hypothesize that education and presentation will interact resulting in a greater positive effect on awareness and understanding of Medicare and health plan choices and perceptions among less educated participants who receive the integrated materials than among the more educated. Data collection is complete and the analysis files are being constructed. We will compute descriptive statistics, and then use Chi-square and t-tests to explore relationships among different groups. Finally, we will estimate multivariate models to test our hypothesis. The analysis will be completed in time for this presentation, should this abstract be accepted. Findings can inform the development of health plan choice materials for older adults.

Learning Objectives:

• To investigate whether older consumers’ education level interacts with the presentation of health plan information to affect comprehension, perceptions, or use of quality information in health plan decision-making.

Keywords: Health Communications, Decision-Making

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.