Private Medicare plan signups probably increased about 17% during the annual election period for 2018, according to Connecture Inc.
Connecture is a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based company that sets up the electronic systems needed to run web-based health insurance shopping malls.
Many insurers, brokers and health insurance exchange managers use Connecture systems to handle enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare supplement insurance plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and other types of Medicare plans.
Overall signup activity was strong, and Medicare drug plan signups increased about 40%, Connecture estimates, based on its clients' election period activity.
The Medicare annual election period for 2018 started Oct. 15, 2017, and ended Dec. 7, 2017.
The Google Trends tool, which reflects general consumer search activity, shows search activity for terms related to Medicare increased about 6% between the election period for 2017 and the election period for 2018.
