People Are Not Very Satisfied with Their Health Plans
The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has just released a survey of beneficiaries in traditional health plans, high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), and consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs). EBRI defines a CDHP as a HDHP with a Health Savings Account or Health Reimbursement Arrangement. What is interesting about the results is that satisfaction in traditional plans dropped significantly in 2010 and has never recovered. Although satisfaction with HDHPs and CDHPs is worse than with traditional plans (because of higher out-of-pocket payments), they have not suffered the same drop. However, having an HSA or HRA really improves satisfaction: Last year, 47 percent of CDHP beneficiaries were satisfied, versus only 40 percent of HDHP beneficiaries. On the other hand, only 58 percent of beneficiaries in traditional plans were satisfied.
These numbers are very poor — reflective of a government-dominated system. Nevertheless, I expect they will go down a few points after a year or two of Obamacare.
As low as these numbers are, they do not fluctuate as radically as you would think. I am sure the mean average for each plan from each year would be indicative of overall satisfaction rates.
“Nevertheless, I expect they will go down a few points after a year or two of Obamacare.”
I’d say that if these look bad, the rates will plummet when we look at the next few years.
“However, having an HSA or HRA really improves satisfaction: Last year, 47 percent of CDHP beneficiaries were satisfied, versus only 40 percent of HDHP beneficiaries.”
How is satisfaction really that improved if these satisfaction rates are much lower than the rates for traditional plans?
I wonder how this compares to the health coverage that is provided throughout the world, and to see how we rank.