Respondents to a recent survey were given 15 true/false and multiple-choice questions about health care. The average score? Just 10 out of 15.
Americans may think they're getting better at understanding the health care system, but the facts say otherwise. Bend Financial recently put 2,000 consumers to the test–literally. Respondents to a recent survey were given 15 true/false and multiple-choice questions about health care. The average score? Just 10 out of 15.
While this shouldn't surprise advocates for consumer-driven health care, what may come as a surprise is the number of respondents who thought they did well on the quiz–46% through they got "all or most" correct. Gen Z and millennials were more likely to be confident in their answers, but also more likely to be wrong.
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Confusion–and false confidence–are costing consumers when it comes to health care, not only by delaying care, which can lead to more expensive problems down the road, but also in the health benefits choices they make. Sixty-five percent of respondents thoughts HSAs and FSAs were the same, and only 20% recognized all of the qualifying life events that would allow them to enroll in a plan outside of open enrollment.
Check out the infographic below for more insights into consumers' health care confusion.
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Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
