7 key notes on comparison shopping for healthcare: ⅓ of Americans are doing it

Practice Management

More Americans, nearly one-third, are now shopping around for healthcare, according to the UnitedHealthcare Consumer Sentiment Survey.

Here are seven things to know:

 

1. In 2012, only 14 percent of people reported using websites and mobile apps to comparison shop for healthcare; now 32 percent of people do.

 

2. There were only 7 percent of the survey takers who had a full understanding of all four basic insurance concepts: plan premium, deductible, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximum.

 

3. Almost half, 47 percent, of the respondents age 18 to 24 report using online or mobile resources to comparison shop for healthcare treatments or services.

 

4. Among the comparison shoppers, 81 percent reported the process as at least "somewhat helpful."

 

5. People aren't aware of healthcare costs in general; the survey asked the average cost of knee replacements, and only 11 percent answered correctly, at $35,000. The majority, 63 percent, thought it was $25,000 or lower; 14 percent thought the cost was $5,000.

 

6. More than half, 56 percent, of the respondents who were employed full time expressed interest in wearable fitness trackers as part of a workplace wellness program.

 

7. Around 37 percent reported being at least "somewhat likely" to use a smartphone, tablet or computer to access healthcare services.

 

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