02/09/2015 | Press release | Archived content
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/09/15 -- eHealth, Inc.(NASDAQ: EHTH)(eHealth.com), the nation's first and largest private online health insurance exchange, today released a report showing that while most consumers who purchase coverage on their own are financially optimistic and generally satisfied with their plans, more than six-in-ten (61%) believe they would have difficulty paying for their deductible in case of a medical emergency.
The report is the latest installment of eHealth's Coverage Satisfaction Index, an ongoing study tracking national consumer sentiment on health insurance correlated with Americans' feelings about their health and financial standing.
"Consumers who get their coverage through an employer may feel unaffected by health reform, but people who buy coverage on their own tend to feel profoundly affected by the new market," said Gary Lauer, Chairman and CEO of eHealth, Inc. "Now that they've spent a year with Obamacare and the reforms introduced to the individually-purchased health insurance market, eHealth is providing first-hand insight into how consumers are balancing the costs and benefits of coverage. While they are generally satisfied with their coverage, it is clear that concerns over medical costs prevail, especially for those purchasing their own coverage without any financial assistance from the government."
eHealth's Coverage Satisfaction Index report issued today is based on a voluntary online survey of eHealth customers conducted between January 16 and January 20, 2015. When compared to the results of a Coverage Satisfaction Index survey of the general population conducted on behalf of eHealth by Wakefield Research and published by eHealth on January 22, 20151, today's report sheds new light on the attitudes and challenges of individuals and families that purchase their own coverage in compliance with the Affordable Care Act.
In addition to the results described below, the full report released today highlights divergences between different population groups, such as: government subsidy recipients vs. unsubsidized health insurance consumers; women vs. men; married persons vs. single persons; and persons living in rural areas vs. suburbanites or urbanites.
Highlights: eHealth Coverage Satisfaction Index Survey
of Health Insurance Self-Purchasers
Self-purchasers are more financially secure:
Health-related expenses dominate financial fears:
Most are satisfied with coverage but cost is a major concern:
High deductibles are a major burden:
Many unaware of improved preventive benefits:
Self-purchasers think more about the cost of coverage:
Self-purchasers are wary of Obamacare:
For more information, refer to the complete report, available through the eHealth Media Center.
Methodology
eHealth's Coverage Satisfaction Index report is based on a voluntary online survey of eHealth customers. It was conducted between January 16 and January 20, 2015. Responses from a total of 1,562 individual were collected. Subsidy-eligible customers were not specifically targeted in the survey. Data in this report, including data about subsidy-eligible individuals, was based entirely on voluntary self-reporting in the survey and was not independently corroborated by eHealth with data from any source other than the survey responses.
Notes:
1Where general population data is referenced in this release, it is drawn from the eHealth/Wakefield Research Coverage Satisfaction Index survey of the general population, results of which were published by eHealth on January 22, 2015.
2eHealth Price Index data from the first half of the 2015 open enrollment period, with comparisons to the first half of the 2014 open enrollment period, can be found ineHealth's January 15, 2015 press release.
About eHealth
eHealth, Inc.(NASDAQ: EHTH)operates eHealth.com, the Nation's first and largest private health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from leading insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online. eHealth offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by more than 200 of the nation's leading health insurance companies. eHealth is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealth, Inc. also provides powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online through PlanPrescriber.com (www.planprescriber.com/) and eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com).
For more health insurance news and information, visit the eHealth consumer blog: Get Smart - Get Covered or visit eHealth's Affordable Care Act Resource Center at www.eHealth.com/affordable-care-act.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Sande Drew
DMA Communications for eHealth, Inc.
(916) 207-7674
[email protected]
Brian Mast
eHealth, Inc.
(650) 210-3149
[email protected]
Source: eHealth, Inc.