The Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald Research Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey found that certain aspects of health plans are more important. Those factors include the network of health care providers, low out-of-pocket costs, low premiums, prescription drug coverage, simple to understand, and specific coverage included in the plan. This Fast Fact provides a brief analysis of this evaluation of health plan choice.
Figure 2 The 2023 Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey is an online survey of 2,020 Americans ages 21–64 Top Six Aspects of a Health Plan That Are Very Important in Choice of Current Plan with private health insurance coverage. It was fielded between October and December 2023. The survey is Traditional Plan Very Important High-Deductible Health Plan Very Important made possible with funding support from the following organizations: Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, HealthEquity, Inspira Financial, Segal, TIAA, and Voya Financial. Good network of physicians and hospitals 79% Good network of physicians and hospitals 81% May 23, 2024, #504 Low out-of-pocket costs when you see 74% Lower cost of premium 72% The Emp the doctorloyee Benefit Research Institute is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit research institute based in Prescription drug coverage 71% Prescription drug coverage 68% Washington, DC, that focuses on health, savings, retirement, and economic security issues. EBRI does not lobby Low out-of-pocket costs when you see the Network of Health Care Providers Is the and does not take policy positions. The work of EBRI is made possible by funding from its members and Lower cost of premium 71% 66% doctor sponsors, which include a broad range of public, private, for-profit and nonprofit organizations. For more Simple to understand 67% Simple to understand 62% Most Important Aspect of Plan Choice information go to www.ebri.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Specific coverage included in the plan 65% Specific coverage included in the plan 61% The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research Consumer Engagement in Health Care Greenwald Research is a leading independent custom research firm and consulting partner to the health and Source: EBRI/Greenwald Research Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, 2023. Survey found that certain aspects of health plans are more important than others. wealth industries that applies creative quantitative and qualitative methods to help companies stay competitive and navigate industry change. Leveraging deep subject matter expertise and a consultative approach, Greenwald When it comes to their health plan, most people thought that the following aspects were very or somewhat offers comprehensive services to answer strategic business questions. For more information, go to important: the network of health care providers, low out-of-pocket costs, low premiums, prescription drug About two-thirds of individuals reported that they have a choice of health plan. HDHP enrollees were slightly www.greenwaldresearch.com coverage, simple to understand, and specific coverage included in the plan. more likely than traditional plan enrollees to report that they had a choice. Forty-five percent of HDHP enrollees reported that they had three or more health plans to choose from, compared with 39 percent among traditional plan enrollees. Figure 1 Network Adequacy Is Slightly More Important Than Figure 3 Low Cost Sharing and Low Premiums HDHP Enrollees are Slightly More Likely than Traditional Plan Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important Enrollees to Have a Choice of At Least 3 Plans 35% Good Network of Physicians and Hospitals Traditional Plan High-Deductibl78% e Health Plan 20% 2% 31% 30% 29% Low Out-of-Pocket Costs When You See the Doctor 73% 25% 3% 28% 27% 25% 25% 25% Lower Cost of Premium 72% 26% 2% 20% Prescription Drug Coverage 70% 26% 4% 15% 13% Simple to Understand 65% 32% 2% 11% 10% Specific Coverage Included in the Plan 63% 34% 3% 5% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 4% 90% 100% 2% Source: EBRI/Greenwald Research Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, 2023. 0% Have No Choice Choice of 2 Plans Choice of 3 Plans Choice of 4 or More Plans Have a Choice, but Don't Know How Many Plans Generally, traditional plan enrollees and high-deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollees ranked these aspects of Source: EBRI/Greenwald Research Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, 2023. health care in the same order, with one exception: Traditional plan enrollees reported that low out-of-pocket costs for doctor’s visits were more important. Of lesser importance was low cost of premiums when selecting a plan. However, HDHP enrollees reported that low premiums were more important than low out-of-pocket costs when selecting a plan. More information about the EBRI/Greenwald Research Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey can be found online. ### EBRI on Twitter @EBRI or twitter.com/EBRI LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/employee-benefit-research-institute E EB BR RI I on on T Twitt witte er r: : @ @E EB BR RI I o or r twit twitte ter r..c com/ om/E EB BR RI I L LinkedI inkedIn: n: li linke nkedin. din.c com om/compa /company ny/e /empl mploye oyee e- -be bene nef fit it- -r re es se ea ar rc ch h- -ins insti titu tute te © 2024, Employee Benefit Research Institute, 901 D St. SW, Suite 802, Washington, DC 20024, 202/659-0670 | ebri.org 2 3