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Selected Findings |
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A third of Americans have experience with the individual insurance market.
As Figure One shows, a full third of Americans (34%) report they have bought or attempted to buy insurance on their own in the individual market. Almost a quarter (22%) have actually purchased individual insurance at some time. Almost one in ten (7%) are currently covered by individual insurance they purchased on their own.
Americans have difficulty entering the individual insurance market.
As Figure Two shows, two-thirds (65%) of those who have attempted to buy insurance on their own in the individual market say it was difficult to find insurance they could afford, including 44% who say this was very difficult. Even the majority (59%) of those with annual incomes over $75,000 report that finding an affordable plan was challenging. Over half (56%) of those who have tried to buy individual insurance say it was difficult to find a plan that had the mix of benefits they were seeking; a third (34%) say this was very difficult.
Vulnerable individuals are often unsuccessful in obtaining individual insurance. Among those who have attempted to buy individual insurance, only 53 percent of those with annual household incomes under $50,000 purchased a plan, compared to 81 percent of those with incomes of $50,000 or more. Similarly, only four in ten (38%) of those in poor health say they purchased insurance, compared with almost three-quarters (72%) of those who rated their health good or excellent. One in five (20%) of those who have tried to buy health insurance on their own in the individual market have been turned down due to their health or the health of a family member.
Of those Americans who purchased insurance individually, four in ten say the insurance they purchased was catastrophic coverage. Of those, two-thirds (67%) say they would have preferred comprehensive coverage, but could not afford it. Only three in ten (31%) actually wanted to purchase catastrophic coverage only.
Americans with experience in the individual insurance market give their plans mixed reviews, and substantial minorities had uncovered medical expenses.
Those who have experience with individual market insurance give the insurance they had mixed reviews. Half (49%) rated their insurance good or excellent in terms of "what was covered, the care they got and what they paid." Forty-six percent rated the insurance fair or poor.
A third (33%) of those currently covered by individual market insurance report that in the past year they have had expensive medical bills that were not covered compared with only a quarter (23%) of those with employer-sponsored coverage and even fewer of those on Medicare (16%) or Medicaid (20%). Those currently covered by individual market insurance were also twice as likely as those with employer coverage to report reaching their coverage limit (20% vs. 10%).
Americans support Regence's ideas for reforming the individual insurance market.
Majorities of Americans support Regence's reform ideas, as Figure Three shows.
The strongest support is for the elimination of medical underwriting. Almost nine-in-ten (87%) support ensuring that individuals will not be denied coverage or forced to pay excessive premiums because of preexisting conditions or poor health status. Sixty-four percent strongly support this measure. Support is strong across the political spectrum; large majorities of Democrats (92%), Independents (89%) and Republicans (79%) support this measure. Those in good or excellent health (87%) and those in fair or poor health (86%) are equally likely to support the elimination of underwriting.
Minimum standard benefits. Eight in ten (83%) support establishing a standard minimum benefit package. Women (86%) feel especially strongly about the need for minimum standard benefits. Majorities of Democrats (89%), Independents (82%) and Republicans (75%) support this measure.
Public-private partnership. Eight in ten (81%) Americans also support the establishment of the public-private partnership to cover those with extraordinary medical needs. Democrats (90%) are especially supportive of this measure, though large majorities of Independents (80%) and Republicans (72%) also support the creation of such a partnership. Those in good health (82%) are as supportive of this measure as those facing health problems (82%).
Tax credits. Majorities of Democrats (79%), Independents (73%) and Republicans (69%) support providing tax credits to help cover the costs of individual insurance for those who cannot afford it on their own. Not surprisingly, those who have tried in the past to purchase individual insurance but been unable to do so are particularly supportive of this measure (82%).
Unified standards. Six in ten (62%) support uniform national standards. Majorities of Democrats (76%) and Independents (64%) support having national standards. But less than half of Republicans (40%) support uniform national rules and regulations.
When survey respondents were asked about their support for reform ideas for the individual health insurance market that included all the above elements, over eight in ten (84%) said they would support such an idea, including over half (53%) who would support it strongly (see Figure Four). Women (87%) and Americans with annual incomes under $50,000 (89%) are especially supportive of the idea. Democrats are most enthusiastic about the idea – 93% support it – but large majorities of Independents (88%) and Republicans (69%) also support the Regence reform agenda.
Another finding shows that most Americans believe health care reform is a high priority issue that should not be put on the back burner. By a larger than two-to-one margin (65% vs. 30%) Americans believe that, given the economic challenges the nation faces, it is more important than ever to take on health care reform as opposed to delaying tackling the issue (see Figure Five).
