Only about 10% of seniors on Medicare are on the plan that fits their needs best.
Posted by The MeidasTouch Podcast, Checked
- Sources
- 1 contradict1 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 50%
The MeidasTouch PodcastSep 15, 2026
The only source giving a current-style figure is an unrated NCOA article (published 2026-07-08) citing an economist study that about 10% of seniors chose the optimal Medicare Advantage plan, which matches the claim.
Our two reads of who says this, and how, disagree, so it counts as the post's own claim.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… According to the National Council on Aging, the average senior on Medicare is overpaying by more than $1000 a year for their coverage, and it gets worse. One in ten is overpaying by $2000 or more, and only about 10% are on the plan that actually fits their needs best. It's easy to see why the system is so confusing, and that confusion allows unscrupulous brokers and insurance companies to rob you blind. …
The MeidasTouch Podcast · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. A 2018 NCOA/Clear Choices report on Part D says only 11% chose the best plan in 2006, falling to 8-9% in 2007-2008 and 2% in 2009, so the 10% figure does not hold for Part D across years.[1]
Supports. An NCOA article reports that a team of economists found only about 10% of seniors chose the optimal Medicare Advantage plan, with more than 10% overspending by over $2,000 per year.[2]
Context. A 2026 University of Michigan poll finds 80% of seniors stuck with the previous year's coverage and 60% spent under an hour choosing, which describes behavior but does not measure how many are on the best-fitting plan.[3]
Sources
3 sources: 3 not rated
- 1CLEAR CHOICES CAMPAIGN AND NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGINGassets.ncoa.org · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 2Choice Error: How Choosing A Medicare Plan Could Impact Your ...ncoa.org · not rated · cited for: supports
- 3Most Seniors Don't Bother Researching Their Medicare ...usnews.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post