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Importance of Developing a Digital Strategy to Attract Medicare Members

Importance of Developing a Digital Strategy to Attract Medicare Members

A thoroughly planned digital strategy is essential for healthcare providers looking to attract and retain more Medicare patients and grow their net new patient population over time. Medicare patients represent a significant portion of the patient population for healthcare providers. In fact, according to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Medicare beneficiaries account for over 20% of the total U.S. population. A well-planned digital strategy can attract and retain more Medicare patients and grow your net new patient population over time.

By understanding their Medicare patients' digital behavior, leveraging social media for patient engagement, creating personalized content and targeted advertising, managing their online reputation, and using data analytics and tracking, providers can develop a comprehensive digital strategy that caters to Medicare patients' needs and preferences.

Understanding Medicare patients' digital behavior

Before developing a digital strategy, healthcare providers must first understand their Medicare patients' digital behavior. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, older adults are increasingly embracing technology, with 67% of adults aged 65 and older using the internet, and 42% owning smartphones. Medicare patients are no exception, and many are comfortable with technology and are likely to use digital channels to engage with their healthcare providers. Therefore, healthcare providers must ensure that their digital strategy appeals to Medicare patients' needs and preferences.

 Leveraging social media

Social media is an excellent tool for patient engagement, and healthcare providers can leverage it to attract and retain more Medicare patients. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, older adults are increasingly using social media, with 46% of adults aged 65 and older using Facebook.

Healthcare providers can use social media to created targeted ads that share educational content, promote their services, and engage with potential new patients.

For example, they may want to share information about Medicare coverage and benefits, information about their services, and encourage patients to leave reviews and feedback on their social media pages to attract new patients.

Personalized content and targeted advertising

Personalized content and targeted advertising are essential components of a successful digital strategy for healthcare providers. By tailoring their content and advertising to Medicare patients' needs and preferences, providers can attract and retain more patients and grow their net new patient population over time.

For example, healthcare providers can use data analytics to identify Medicare patients' preferences and interests, and then create targeted advertising campaigns that appeal to these preferences. They may also want to develop personalized content, such as blog posts, infographics, and videos, that address the specific health concerns and needs of Medicare patients.

Reviews & Feedback

Online reviews and reputation management are critical components of a digital strategy for healthcare providers. Medicare patients often rely on online reviews and ratings to choose their healthcare providers, and therefore, providers must maintain a positive online reputation to attract and retain more patients.

Healthcare providers can manage their online reputation by monitoring their online reviews and responding promptly to any negative feedback. They may also want to encourage their satisfied patients to leave positive reviews on their website and social media pages.

Data

Finally, healthcare providers must use data analytics and tracking to measure the success of their digital strategy and make any necessary adjustments. By tracking their website traffic, social media engagement, and patient feedback, providers can identify areas for improvement and optimize their digital strategy to attract and retain more Medicare patients.

Developing a digital strategy is an ongoing process that requires constant adaptation and optimization, and healthcare providers must ensure that their digital channels comply with all applicable laws and regulations.  All of this can be a lot to take on if you are doing it on your own, or can get expensive if you hire a marketing agency, or worse yet pick the wrong one.

Allow EasyHealth to assist you in growing your Medicare patient population. Our GrowthX platform offers a comprehensive, compliant growth service that generates high-quality Medicare prospects through a team of digital specialists. Our approach is data-driven and our expertise is in Search & Social marketing, leveraging touchpoints with over 100,000 Medicare members each month. We can collaborate with you to create a personalized plan for your practice, targeting specific geographies all the way down to zip codes to enhance Medicare prospect generation. Additionally, we customize outreach scripts that highlight the unique value of your practice to drive office visits and tours.

If you are interested in growing your Medicare patient population, please do not hesitate to contact us to learn more and initiate the process.