Consumer Survey: US Healthcare Costs Rise and Access to Doctors and Drugs Fall

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Dec 01, 2014, 10:00 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped to boost the number of insured Americans to the highest levels since 2008. But a new survey from Radius Global Market Research (Radius GMR) shows that healthcare costs are shifting to the consumer resulting in new behaviors.

"Radius GMR's study shows that as costs shift to consumers, patients are making fewer office visits, switching medicines more often, and using non-traditional offices for care," says Kathleen Relias senior vice president of Radius GMR and head of its Healthcare practice. "These changes are impacting doctors' ability to have high quality relationships with their patients. Patients will need greater transparency to make decisions about their healthcare as they trade off healthcare with other household expenditures."

Increased Costs Pressure Household Budgets
One in three Americans rank rising health care costs among their top-three concerns. Nearly half of all households experienced increased costs compared with the last year and more than half anticipate additional increases in the next six months. More than half of those who experienced increases in health care costs in the past year had increases to their premiums. Most households think they can do better in terms of premiums with two-thirds of Americans covered via the Affordable Care Act (ACA) say they'll change plans in 2015.

Office Visits Occur Less Frequently
About one in four households are visiting their doctor less frequently and/or experiencing longer wait times at the doctor's office. Nearly one-fourth (24%) of respondents indicate that it is getting more difficult to get an appointment with the doctor. In lieu of a timely appointment, most patients are likely to self-medicate either with OTC or herbs/alternative treatments.

Access to Name Brand Drugs Decline
According to those surveyed, one-third of current prescriptions are not covered by healthcare insurance. In addition to having decreased access to name brand drugs, prescriptions are more likely to be switched to generics if they are available. One-fourth of prescriptions overall recently switched to generic. Within the past six months, one-third of chronic condition prescriptions were switched to generic.

Radius GMR surveyed U.S. adults 26 to 24 years of age who have at least joint responsibility for household healthcare decision-making. Research was conducted in August 2014.

About Radius Global Market Research
Radius Global Market Research (www.radius-global.com) is one of the largest independent market research companies. For more than 50 years, the business has partnered with global marketers to develop insights-based strategies that drive brand performance. Radius GMR is based in New York. Global operations include London-based Radius EMEA and Radius Asia in Beijing, China.

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SOURCE Radius Global Market Research