SelectQuote Research Highlights Critical Gaps in Medicare Care, Underlining the Urgent Need for Personalized Healthcare Solutions
SelectQuote, Inc. (NYSE: SLQT), a leading distributor of Medicare insurance policies and a rapidly expanding provider of healthcare services, today released a comprehensive research brief from its Healthcare Select division, shedding new light on the complex medical and social needs of the populations it serves. Drawing insights from tens of thousands of patient health needs assessments, the report reveals significant challenges in chronic care management, medication access, financial stability, and overall health outcomes, emphasizing the urgent need for personalized, integrated solutions across the healthcare ecosystem.
The research underscores how conventional healthcare delivery models often fall short for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those living in underserved regions or facing financial and social obstacles that hinder access to care. By examining the data collected from Healthcare Select’s telephonic outreach and patient assessments, SelectQuote provides a nuanced understanding of the barriers faced by Medicare-eligible populations, offering actionable insights for providers, policymakers, and innovators in healthcare services.
Key Findings from Healthcare Select Research
1. Underserved Populations Concentrated in Rural and Urban Areas
The study found that a large portion of Healthcare Select members reside in areas historically underserved by traditional healthcare providers. Specifically, 45% of members live in rural zip codes, while 36% live in urban areas, leaving only 11% in suburban regions. These numbers indicate that the populations most reliant on SelectQuote’s telephonic engagement model are often geographically isolated, lacking convenient access to brick-and-mortar healthcare facilities, pharmacies, and specialized medical services.
This geographic distribution presents unique challenges, as residents of rural and certain urban communities may face longer travel distances to clinics, fewer healthcare professionals, and limited options for specialty care. Healthcare Select’s model, which leverages telephonic outreach combined with remote diagnostics and therapeutics, is designed to bridge this gap by providing timely guidance and personalized interventions, reducing the reliance on in-person visits that are often logistically or financially prohibitive for these populations.
2. High Prevalence of Chronic Conditions
Chronic disease management remains a major challenge for Medicare beneficiaries. The research revealed that 74% of Healthcare Select members report dealing with two or more chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illnesses. Managing multiple chronic conditions often requires coordinated care across several specialists, regular monitoring, and adherence to complex medication regimens, placing significant strain on both patients and caregivers.
SelectQuote’s research highlights the urgent need for personalized care strategies that account for these overlapping health conditions, particularly for patients whose access to routine care is constrained by geographic, financial, or social factors.
3. Medication Use and Prescription Burden
The study also found that 75% of members regularly take five or more prescription medications. High prescription use, while often necessary for effective disease management, can contribute to difficulties in medication adherence, potential drug interactions, and increased risk of adverse events.
Healthcare Select and the SelectRx pharmacy model are specifically designed to address these challenges by providing direct-to-patient prescription delivery, personalized packaging, and adherence support. This approach reduces the logistical and cognitive burden on patients, ensuring they receive the medications they need in a timely and manageable manner.
4. Financial Barriers and Social Determinants of Health
Social and economic factors play a critical role in shaping health outcomes. According to the research, 77% of SelectRx patients report annual household incomes below $20,000. These financial constraints create additional barriers to effective healthcare management. For example, 19% of members report difficulty accessing sufficient food on a regular basis, while 36% express concerns about covering basic bills if faced with a serious illness.
Financial stress and limited access to essential resources often exacerbate existing health conditions, making it harder for patients to adhere to treatment plans, attend medical appointments, or manage chronic illnesses effectively. Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) is therefore a core focus of Healthcare Select’s patient-centric model.
5. Medication Delays and Adherence Challenges
The research identified significant adherence challenges among members. Approximately 16% of Healthcare Select members reported delaying medications due to financial constraints, while 40% admitted to forgetting to take medications or failing to pick up prescriptions from a pharmacy. Non-adherence to prescribed therapies is a well-documented contributor to poor disease control, higher rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and increased morbidity and mortality.
SelectQuote emphasizes that adherence is not solely a behavioral issue but is heavily influenced by systemic barriers, including cost, access, and patient education. By combining telephonic engagement with personalized support and direct prescription delivery, Healthcare Select seeks to remove these obstacles and improve medication adherence among vulnerable populations.
6. Limited Access to Pharmacies
The research further highlighted that approximately two-thirds of the population served by SelectRx pharmacies reside in “pharmacy deserts,” where local pharmacy options are limited or non-existent. This geographic barrier, compounded by transportation challenges, limits patients’ ability to obtain medications consistently, placing them at higher risk for treatment interruptions and disease complications.
Transportation barriers are also significant: 31% of Healthcare Select members report lacking reliable means to travel to a pharmacy. By delivering medications directly to members’ homes and providing supportive services, SelectRx effectively mitigates these structural barriers, improving access, adherence, and ultimately health outcomes.
SelectQuote’s Approach to Addressing Care Gaps
Bob Grant, President of SelectQuote, stated, “This research provides a clear, data-driven look at the barriers to care faced by a large segment of the Medicare-eligible population. The high prevalence of chronic conditions, coupled with geographic and financial obstacles, illustrates why traditional one-size-fits-all healthcare is insufficient. We are committed to using this data to drive personalized solutions that effectively address these gaps.”
Healthcare Select and SelectRx are purpose-built to serve underserved Medicare beneficiaries through a combination of telephonic outreach, personalized care coordination, direct prescription delivery, and adherence-enhancing packaging. By addressing structural barriers such as transportation and limited pharmacy access, SelectQuote enables patients to manage complex medication regimens more effectively. The program aims to improve adherence, enhance health outcomes, and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, ultimately lowering costs for both patients and the broader healthcare system.
Opportunities for Partnerships and Innovation
SelectQuote recognizes that bridging these care gaps requires collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem. As Healthcare Select works to address pressing challenges in medication adherence, chronic condition management, Social Determinants of Health, and remote diagnostics, the Company is actively seeking partnerships with innovative organizations and solution providers.
By collaborating with external partners, SelectQuote aims to expand the reach and effectiveness of its personalized care solutions, bringing new tools, technologies, and services to the populations most in need. Potential areas of partnership include digital health platforms, telemedicine providers, home delivery solutions, chronic disease management programs, and organizations focused on addressing social and economic barriers to care.
Implications for the Broader Healthcare Industry
The insights from SelectQuote’s research carry important implications for the healthcare industry as a whole. The findings underscore the limitations of traditional care delivery models, particularly for populations facing geographic, financial, and social barriers. They highlight the necessity of integrating telehealth, remote monitoring, personalized outreach, and home-based pharmacy services into comprehensive care strategies for Medicare beneficiaries.
Moreover, the research demonstrates the importance of considering Social Determinants of Health in care planning. Healthcare organizations that fail to account for factors such as income, transportation, food security, and geographic isolation risk exacerbating health disparities and limiting the effectiveness of clinical interventions.
