Survey: Provider Choice - the Number One Consumer Concern Regarding Healthcare Reform
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Ken Eudy
919 882 1962
Just over a year after President Obama signed healthcare reform into law by way of the Affordable Care Act, a national survey finds Americans still have serious questions about their freedom to choose doctors and hospitals of their own accord.
Nearly half (47 percent) of all respondents in a recent Capstrat survey indicated they fear healthcare reform laws will impact their ability to access care or see doctors and other providers.
The survey results also show that while insurance coverage influences Americans’ current healthcare decisions, it is far from the only factor. In fact, service (36 percent) and insurance coverage (35 percent) were virtually tied for the leading causes of switching from one doctor to another, apart from physical location.
After insurance coverage, service was the number one factor in initially choosing a hospital or physician – even above location or referrals. And, while respondents were concerned about losing their choice of provider as a result of reform, there was little concern (seven percent) over losing their choice of insurer.
“Today, Americans are making healthcare decisions based on a variety of factors, including the level of service they receive,” says Karen Albritton, Capstrat’s president. “This poll indicates that consumers are more concerned about maintaining provider choice than insurance choice under healthcare reform. The challenge becomes creating an environment where people feel they’re still able to make the right choices to meet their health needs, even in the face of reform.”
Insurance is a family affair
The survey revealed a strong positive sentiment toward purchasing healthcare coverage for uninsured family members. More than 70 percent said they would consider buying health insurance for a family member if they didn’t have insurance or couldn’t afford it.
Minorities were particularly supportive of the concept, as 89 percent of Hispanics and 82 percent of African-Americans said they would consider purchasing health insurance for family members.
Millennials challenged by insurance claims
Millennials, those 18- to 29-years-old, were more challenged by insurance files and claims than any other age group. Eighty percent of respondents in this age group identified managing and understanding insurance files or claims as either the most or second-most challenging/dissatisfying aspect of their current medical care. Forty-eight percent indicated it was the most challenging, 32 percent said it was the second-most challenging. In contrast, only 21 percent of respondents aged 66 and older found insurance claims to be challenging.
The national survey on healthcare information, conducted by Public Policy Polling on February 21-22, 2011, polled 843 adults. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. For complete survey results, contact us at 919-828-0806.
About Capstrat
Capstrat, a communications agency based in Raleigh, N.C., solves the complex issues that healthcare, technology, energy/infrastructure and financial organizations face at critical moments. We blend marketing communications, interactive communications, public relations and public affairs to tell stories with power and persuasion.
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