The survey studied Americans’ attitudes and opinions about comparison shopping for healthcare, wellness programs, health literacy and customer service. A sample of 1,011 U.S. adults age 18 and older were interviewed via telephone. Supplemental interviews were conducted with a second sample of 1,009 adults.
Here are seven survey findings.
1. Thirty-two percent of survey respondents use websites and mobile apps to compare healthcare prices, up from 14 percent of Americans in 2012.
2. Seven percent of respondents have a complete understanding of plan premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximums.
3. Workplace wellness programs are gaining popularity among employers, especially those that implement wearable fitness trackers.
4. Twenty-five percent of respondents said they would rather file annual income taxes than choose a health plan.
5. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they prefer speaking with live customer service representatives.
6. When asked to estimate how much a knee MRI costs ($700 on average), 61 percent said the cost would be between $800 and $1,000, while seven percent answered correctly.
7. Fifty-six percent of full-time employees surveyed said they would be interested in wearing a fitness tracker as part of a company wellness program.
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