Most not familiar with health insurance
Published: Jan. 3, 2008 at 5:47 PM
A survey commissioned by eHealth, Inc. found most consumers lack a basic understanding common health insurance terms and particulars of their own health insurance coverage.
Only half were certain how much they paid for their monthly health insurance premiums and 45 percent knew their annual deductibles.
Thirty-six percent said they knew that HMO stood for health maintenance organization -- a type of managed care that follows a set of care guidelines provided through the HMO's network of providers -- while 20 percent knew PPO refers to preferred provider organization which allows a patient to see any doctor or specialist without referral often within a network. Eleven percent said they knew a HSA is a health savings account, a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers.
The telephone survey of 1,010 U.S. adults conducted by Opinion Research Corporation found women tend to be the healthcare decision makers for their families.
The survey has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
» Next in Health:
Younger adults quit smoking more
Latest Headlines
Most Popular
- Tesco focus of battle on Isle of Skye
- Court transcribers can't handle Scottish
- Poll: Everyday civility declining in Utah
- Elderly blind man bowls perfect 300
- Dog owners flock to Fashion Island
- Alaska officials blow up old fireworks
- Parking ticket paid 31 years late
- Fla. woman hurt in collision with pelican