Many Americans are really struggling to understand the shifting landscape of the U.S. health care system. Millions don't know or don't understand basic components of their health insurance, which may be a factor in the high number who avoid seeing a physician because they think they won't be able to afford the care.
These were among the results of a Harris poll of more than 2,000 adults in the U.S., 1,872 of whom had health insurance at the time of the survey. The survey was commissioned by SCIO Health Analytics.
"Approximately two in five insured Americans (38 percent) do not have a good understanding of which health care services are covered under their current plan," the report said. "One in five insured Americans, or approximately 44 million people, have avoided visiting a doctor for a general health concern within the past 12 months because of cost concerns."
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The survey asked how the respondents would like to receive information about their health insurance. Here's what they said:
- 62 percent said they would be likely to better understand their health plan information using the websites offered by their health care plan provider;
- 41 percent would be likely to better understand their health plan information using member phone support offered by their health care plan provider;
- 37 percent of U.S. adults say they get information about health care costs and services from their insurance company;
- 31 percent get information about health care costs and services from their doctor.
The survey turned up some rather alarming knowledge gaps in the respondents. For instance:
- 41 percent of Americans say they have spent more time researching what is covered by insurance plans (either in their own plan or other plans).
- 60 percent of Americans say they do not have a better understanding of the health care system despite the media coverage and public/political discourse around Obamacare.
- 44 percent of those with insurance did not know the out-of-pocket costs/co-pay for prescription drugs, and 61 percent did not know the costs for urgent care/walk-in clinic visits.
The survey results were analyzed by age and gender, and revealed an interesting phenomenon: Young men are the most likely to postpone a clinic visit due to concern about the cost of the exam.
"When asked if they avoided visiting the doctor for a general health concern in the past 12 months because of cost concerns, 40 percent of insured men aged 18-34 said yes, whereas 27 percent of insured women in the same age group responded the same (compared to an overall average of 20 percent for all adults age 18+)," the report said.
"These findings are particularly relevant at this time as millions of Americans are once again deciding their annual health care benefit options through open enrollment," said Siva Namasivayam, CEO, SCIO Health Analytics. "While Americans are spending more time researching health plans, the survey reveals a significant knowledge gap in the specifics of their health care options that may eventually lead to unnecessary risks and costs."
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
