Insider's Insurance Guide

Most Arizonans think the U.S. health-care system needs revamping even though the majority are satisfied with the health insurance they have, according to a Cronkite/Eight Poll.

Fifty percent of those surveyed said the health-care system needs major changes and 31 percent said minor changes would do, while 12 percent said the system is fine as is.
Bruce Merrill, a retired Arizona State University professor who directs the poll, said the response mirrors what people are saying about health-care reform across the country.
“Most people know the system is broken and needs changes,” he said.
State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, said the results show that people want Congress to act.
“The biggest problem is we don’t have enough people with health care,” said Sinema, who serves on a group of state lawmakers advising the Obama administration on the issue.
Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they are very satisfied or generally satisfied with their health insurance, while 15 percent were somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. Seven percent had no opinion.
The president has made overhauling health care his administration’s chief focus. However, the Senate Finance Committee rejected a key part of that plan: having the government offer health insurance.
Asked about that proposal, often referred to as a public option, 57 percent of poll respondents said they don’t have enough information to form an opinion. Twenty-five percent said they favor a public option, and 18 percent said they oppose it.
Jon Ford, associate director of communication for St. Luke’s Health Initiatives, said many people feel disconnected from the health-care system and don’t understand it. Without a strong understanding of the issues, it’s difficult to have an informed discussion, he said.
“One of the major issues we deal with is how to engage people constructively without it turning into ‘pulling the plug on grandma,’” he said.
Fifty-three percent of respondents said they disapprove of Obama’s handling of health-care reform, while 38 percent said they approve. Nine percent didn’t have an opinion.
The poll, conducted by ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Eight/KAET, involved 724 registered Arizona voters. It has a sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
The Cronkite School operates the Cronkite News Service.The poll also found that:
– Fewer Arizonans now support Gov. Jan Brewer’s push for a temporary sales tax increase to help bridge the state’s budget deficit. Fifty-one percent favored the plan and 41 percent opposed it, while 8 percent didn’t have an opinion. In April, the poll found 60 percent in favor and 35 percent opposed.
– Thirty-seven percent said they approve and 37 percent said they disapprove of the job Brewer is doing as governor. Twenty-six percent didn’t have an opinion.

Some results from the Cronkite/Eight Poll
Some questions and results from the Cronkite/Eight Poll:
Q. Which of these positions about our current health-care system comes closest to your own?
– I am basically happy with our current system and don’t think it needs to be changed: 12 percent
– I think we could make some minor changes to the system: 31 percent
– I think the health-care system needs major changes: 50 percent
– I don’t have an opinion at this time about what needs to be done: 7 percent

Q. (For those with insurance): How satisfied are you with the health insurance you have?
– Very satisfied: 45 percent
– Generally satisfied: 33 percent
– Somewhat dissatisfied: 10 percent
– Very dissatisfied: 5 percent
– Don’t know/no opinion: 7 percent

Q. Do you favor or oppose inwcluding a public option in a health-care reform bill?
– Favor: 25 percent
– Oppose: 18 percent
– Don’t have enough information to have an opinion: 57 percent

Aetna has introduced a new online resource designed to help members who have enrolled or are considering enrolling in an Aetna Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) get the most out of their plan. Through a new page on Aetna.com, visitors can learn more about the plans, get tips on how to use these plans effectively, and view informational videos on the two most common types of plans — Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) and Health       Savings Accounts (HSA). The site was developed using feedback from Aetna’s own CDHP members, as well as an independent survey conducted earlier this year, indicating that an overwhelming majority of consumers would benefit from tools and information to help them better understand their coverage levels, find doctors in their network, and estimate the cost of an office visit before scheduling.

“The downturn in the economy has prompted many employers and consumers to consider CDHPs as a way to better manage their health and health care costs,” said Aetna President Mark Bertolini. “Switching to one of these plans can be a big change. But by providing people with the information and tools they need we can help them make more informed health care decisions and get the most out of their health care benefits.”

Helping Consumers Get the Information They Need

Aetna’s CDHP educational resources are part of a broader Maximize Your Benefits campaign. This campaign provides consumers and Aetna members with information and tools designed to help them get the most out of their health care benefits. The Consumer-Directed Health Care page provides an “At a Glance” overview of the plans; “the basics” on how to use the plans, as well as informational videos and other educational materials.

A survey of CDHP enrollees conducted earlier this year showed that tools like DocFind, Aetna’s online provider directory, and Aetna’s secure member self-service website, which provides access to benefits information and the company’s cost of care tools, are ideally suited to meet the needs of survey participants. Specifically, the survey found that:

– The majority of consumers surveyed would have been highly likely to use resources such as DocFind (89%), Benefits Used/Remaining (87%) and Cost of Care Tools (84%) when they first enrolled in a CDHP.

– Consumers would have found access to resources such as DocFind (96%), Benefits Used/Remaining (92%) and Cost of Care Tools (91%) as highly valuable when they first enrolled in a CDHP.

Lower Costs and Positive Impact on Health & Wellness

Recent reports have highlighted the fact that more employers are selecting CDHPs as a way to reduce costs as a result of the economy. An analysis of Aetna members earlier this year showed that employers who offer Aetna HealthFund plans as an option experienced a savings of $7 million per 10,000 members over a five year period.

Aetna’s research also demonstrates that Consumer-Directed Health Plans can have a positive impact on health and wellness. Aetna’s study found that Consumer-Directed Health Plan members:

– Sought increased levels of chronic and preventive care

– Used generic drugs more often

– Accessed online tools and information at higher rates than PPO members.

Importantly, this year’s results also show that Aetna HealthFund members spent 5 to 10 percent more on preventive care and had 5 to 10 percent lower emergency room use than PPO members, suggesting that Consumer-Directed Health Plan members are becoming more informed consumers of health care.

“It is clear that Consumer-Directed Health Plans can have a positive impact on both health and overall cost,” said Bertolini. “As the first national health insurer to launch a consumer-directed plan, we believe it is our responsibility to provide the information, educational tools, and online resources people need to manage their health.”

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