Healthcare Consumer Confidence Dips, According to Thomson Reuters Monthly Index

News provided by

Dec 08, 2010, 01:07 ET

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Americans' confidence in their ability to obtain and afford healthcare declined by 3 percent in October, according to a consumer sentiment index produced by Thomson Reuters.

The Thomson Reuters Consumer Healthcare Sentiment Index was launched in December with its baseline measurement set at 100. It declined to 95 by July and then rebounded to 100 by September. In October, the index fell to 97, a statistically significant change.

The index, which is based on the Thomson Reuters PULSE™ Healthcare Survey, has two parts:

A retrospective component gauges respondents' experiences during the past three months. It tracks whether they postponed, delayed or cancelled healthcare services and whether they had difficulty paying for medical care or health insurance. In October, retrospective consumer sentiment fell to 97 on the index scale, down from 100 in September.

A prospective component gauges respondents' expectations for the next three months. It assesses whether respondents believed they would be more or less likely to delay, cancel, or be unable to pay for healthcare services or insurance in the next three months. In October, prospective consumer sentiment fell to 98, down from 100 in September.

The Thomson Reuters Consumer Healthcare Sentiment Index is updated monthly. A full report on the October results is available here: http://healthcarescience.thomsonreuters.com/Indexes/assets/Oct2010Index_CHSI-FINAL.pdf

The Thomson Reuters PULSE Healthcare Survey collects information about healthcare behaviors, attitudes and utilization from more than 100,000 U.S. households annually. It is representative of all U.S. adults and households. The Consumer Healthcare Sentiment Index is based on responses from a survey subset of 3,000 respondents each month. Its baseline measurement of 100 was set in December 2009.

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs 55,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

SOURCE Thomson Reuters