HealthMine Survey: Health Plan Members Do Not Get Enough Information on How to Lower Health Care Costs

DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthMine survey data underscores that both Medicare health plan members and health plan members 64-years-old and under want more guidance on how to lower health care costs.  Eleven percent (11%) of Medicare plan members are currently informed about how to lower health care costs, versus 47% who desire the information.  For members 64-years-old and under, 29% receive cost guidance today, versus 54% who want it.  Survey results also reveal that all health plan members want more guidance about management of chronic conditions, fees and coverage after service, recommended health screenings, and information from digital health tools.

These data are relevant to the increased use of account-based health plans (ABHPs), which include health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs).  ABHPs can help increase plan member responsibility in cost management.  With more plan members responsible for first-dollar coverage, more guidance from health plans on cost management is likely to be welcomed by plan members.

The surveys also revealed preferred methods of communication by members.  Seventy percent (70%) of those under 64 prefer communication digitally with their plan (email, text, website, or mobile app), versus 31% of Medicare members.  Conversely, 48% of Medicare plan members prefer to get answers via telephone, versus 10% of those 64-years-old and under. For Medicare plan members, 47% say that their online digital portal never (33%) or rarely 14% answers their questions, versus 19% of non-Medicare plan members (14%/rarely, 5%/never). 

According to Bryce Williams, president and CEO of HealthMine, "With the growth of account based health plans, health insurers and employers are stepping up to give plan members guidance in cost management.  However, these data indicate that our entire industry can improve.  Communication and guidance to help members manage costs and health will be a cornerstone issue as health savings accounts and health reimbursement accounts move toward ubiquity."  

About the Surveys
The HealthMine Medicare Plan Health Intelligence Survey queried 500 insured age 65+ consumers who are enrolled in a Medicare program. The survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) in June/July 2017. The HealthMine Digital Healthcare Tools Survey queried 750 consumers age 64-years or younger enrolled in a sponsored insurance plan in the first quarter of 2017. Data for both surveys were collected via an opt-in panel. The margin of error was 4%. Survey Sampling International (SSI) has been the Worldwide Leader in Survey Sampling and Data Collection Solutions, across every mode, for 40 years.

About HealthMine
HealthMine is a leading healthcare technology company that delivers Health Intelligence for plan members and plan sponsors. HealthMine's cloud-based Health Intelligence Solution facilitates better health outcomes and lowers healthcare costs by providing: 1) insight into health status and risk, 2) clinical guidance on necessary health actions, 3) personalized motivation to close gaps in care and 4) measurement of outcomes. The Health Intelligence Solution derives business value from all clinical and lifestyle health data including data from existing wellness programs. HealthMine has more than 1 million users and has saved health plan sponsors more than $100 million in healthcare costs. HealthMine is on the web at www.healthmine.com.

* Total percentages may exceed 100% because respondents were able to choose multiple responses.

SOURCE HealthMine

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