Most Americans can't answer basic Medicare questions

Many Older Adults Can' t Answer Basics on Medicare

Survey finds that those nearing eligibility have much to learn before they turn 65

Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Bob Daemmrich Photography/Alamy Stock Photo A majority of Americans who are about to become eligible for cannot answer most questions correctly in a quiz about the basics of the program. A survey conducted by MassMutual found that although the vast majority of people 65 and over are dependent on the program for health care coverage, those who are nearing that age remain uninformed. Almost two-thirds of participants in the survey, who were 60 to 64 years old, could not correctly answer a majority of four basic questions about the program. For more information, . Among the data from the survey: 42 percent believe that are both free. (Part A, which covers hospital expenses, generally has no premium, but there is a deductible if you are hospitalized. Part B covers regular medical services; there is a monthly premium.) 37 percent think that filing for Medicare and Social Security must be done together. The programs are interrelated but have different filing requirements. You sign up for Medicare at age 65, but you can sign up for reduced Social Security benefits as early as age 62. The age at which you can sign up for “full” Social Security benefits has risen — it's 66 for those born between 1943 and 1954, but will rise in two-month increments until it reaches 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. You can also defer taking Social Security until you reach age 70 to maximize your payments. A third of respondents do not know that Medicare outside the United States. A full explanation of .

Also of Interest

Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.