A new study from Rice University demonstrates how little Americans understand about the nation's health care system, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Well, to be precise, it demonstrates how little Texans know about health care, but whatever information Texans lack is worth examining. Not only is the the Lone Star State the second most populous in the country, but it has the highest rate of uninsured residents.
The survey, which polled adults aged 18 to 64, found that more than a quarter could not define a premium or a deductible. Thirty percent weren't familiar with the terms "provider network" or "covered services," and nearly half couldn't define co-insurance.
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Those who are uninsured were far more likely to not understand common health care terms. Half of the uninsured didn't understand premiums or co-payments, and 70 percent weren't familiar with co-insurance.
Similarly, people with lower incomes had less understanding of the health care system. The poll compared those above 138 percent of the federal poverty line with those below it. In states that expanded Medicaid as part of the PPACA, those below that level are eligible for Medicaid. Texas, however, has not expanded.
Whites were more likely to report familiarity with health insurance concepts than African Americans and both groups were significantly more likely to be familiar with such terms than Latinos. For instance, only 15 percent of whites said they weren't sure what a premium was, compared to 22 percent of blacks and 44 percent of Latinos.
"Even amongst those with insurance, a sizable portion of respondents lack confidence in aspects of employer-provided insurance that have changed dramatically over the past several years," concluded the report. "Employers and policy makers should also take steps to educate those with insurance coverage about these changes, and how they can influence a consumer's out-of-pocket spending on health care."
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