Approximately two in five insured Americans (38%) do not have a good understanding of which healthcare services are covered under their current plan, according to an online survey by Harris Poll on behalf of SCIO Health Analytics.
One in five insured Americans, or roughly 44 million people, have avoided visiting a doctor for a general health concern within the past 12 months because of cost concerns.
The online poll surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older about their general sentiments around the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare, healthcare costs and their overall understanding of the healthcare system, as well as services covered under their plan.
Approximately half the U.S. adults (117 million) have at least one chronic condition, of which 14% of (or 16.4 million) have avoided a doctor’s visit in the past 12 months because of cost concerns. While chronic conditions such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes are generally incurable, they can be managed through early detection, improved lifestyle and treatment.
“These findings are particularly relevant at this time as millions of Americans are once again deciding their annual healthcare 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.”
Namasivayam warned that the implications of these findings are even more staggering when you consider treatment costs for Americans with chronic conditions are already around $277 billion annually.
Avoiding medical treatment for these conditions can lead to an increased risk of complications, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, readmissions, work absenteeism and disability that could potentially drive healthcare costs even higher and cripple an already over- burdened system.
When asked how their healthcare situation has changed since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act:
- 41% of Americans say they have spent more time researching what is covered by insurance plans (either in their own plan or other plans);
- 60% of Americans say they do not have a better understanding of the healthcare system despite the media coverage and public/political discourse around Obamacare; and
- Among those insured, 44% did not know the out of pocket costs/co-pay for prescription drugs, and 61% did not know the costs for urgent care/walk-in clinic visits.
The survey also discovered that age and gender play a role in understanding healthcare costs and services.
Among insured adults, 48% of those aged 18-34 say they lack a good understanding of what healthcare services are covered under their plan, compared to 27% of those aged 65 and older.
Younger insurance holders, especially men, are also much more likely to be cost-conscious when visiting the doctor.
When asked if they avoided visiting the doctor for a general health concern in the past 12 months because of cost concerns, 40% of insured men aged 18-34 answered yes, compared to 27% of insured women in the same age group responded the same (compared to an overall average of 20% for all adults age 18+).
How do Americans want to receive health plan information? According to the survey:
- 62% (the majority) say they would likely be better able to understand their health plan information using the websites offered by their healthcare plan provider;
- 41% would be likely to better understand their health plan information using member phone support offered by their healthcare plan provider;
- 37% of U.S. adults say they get information about healthcare costs and services from their insurance company; and
- 31% get information about healthcare costs and services from their doctor.