How have consumers' opinions on key health care issues changed as the pandemic winds down?
Consumers have had a lot of time over the past year to rethink their stance on our health care system.
As the pandemic winds down, the health care market approaches a turning point in its digital transformation and is entering a promising new era: health care delivery is expanding online, new technologies are unleashing innovation and there is a fresh vitality in the Medicare and Affordable Care Act markets that could lead to significant expansions.
Related: 4 non-COVID health issues addressed in the last spending bill
eHealth recently took the pulse of U.S. health care by analyzing survey responses and interviewing more than 4,700 consumers and two dozen insurer representatives. It reported its findings in several key categories in its May Health Insurance Trends.
COVID-19, vaccines and surprise bills
- Most respondents (54%) say COVID vaccination should not be required by law, but a similar percentage say proof of vaccination should be required for all domestic and international air travel.
- Seven in 10 say they have had a surprise medical bill, but among these, 67% say the bill was a surprise because they didn’t understand how their coverage worked. Among Medicare beneficiaries, 54% report having a surprise medical bill in the past.
- After the pandemic is over, half are less likely to go on a cruise, while about a third are less likely to attend a concert, go to a movie theater, travel by plane or eat at a restaurant.
Intersection of technology and health care
- 54% say they would opt to share their personal medical claims history with a licensed agent if it helped them find a better health plan for their personal needs and budget. Fifty-nine percent of Medicare beneficiaries feel the same.
- Half say private enterprise does a better job than government when it comes to health- care innovation, while 20% say the government is better. These figures are 53% and 14%, respectively, among Medicare beneficiaries.
Public policy issues
- Six in 10 favor expanding access to Medicare in some form, whether that means making it available to all Americans (28%), lowering the eligibility age to 60 (18%) or allowing adults aged 50-plus to buy in early (14%).
- Half say Medicare should continue to be run through public/private cooperation between government and insurers. Only 16% believe government alone should run the Medicare program.
- Three-fourths say the federal government should directly negotiate with drugmakers to lower costs. Among Medicare beneficiaries, 86% agree.
Insurer insights
- More than half of insurers say they do not anticipate raising rates because of the COVID pandemic. Four in 10 do anticipate raising rates but by no more than 5%.
- One-third are likely to make changes to plan benefits as a result of the pandemic, with 86% of those saying changes are likely to their telehealth and mental health benefits.
- 55% report a 50% or greater increase in use of telehealth benefits over the period before the pandemic, and many report an increase in use of mental health benefits as well.
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