Consumers' knowledge about their health insurance coverage / M. Susan Marquis.

By:

Marquis, M. Susan [author.]

Contributor(s):

Series: Publisher: Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 1981Description: xii, 49 pages ; 23 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

computer
unmediated

Carrier type:

online resource
volume

ISBN:

0833003429

Subject(s):

LOC classification:

HG9396 .M27 1981

Online resources:

Online Access

Available additional physical forms:

Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format.

Summary: This report describes how much families know about their health insurance coverage and investigates whether consumer education and simplified benefit structures would improve knowledge. Families' perceptions about their insurance benefits were measured in two household surveys administered in six sites. Knowledge was assessed by comparing families' responses with policy data collected from the carrier. The vast majority of families understand insurance policies that specify one or two parameters in their benefit provisions. However, more complex payment structures are not well understood. Increased exposure to the plans' information leads to increased knowledge, suggesting that education programs could improve the general level of knowledge. The author concludes that if market strategies for allocating medical resources are pursued, simplifying insurance benefit structures and consumer education would aid consumers in making more informed economic choices about medical care.

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"July 1981."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 49).

This report describes how much families know about their health insurance coverage and investigates whether consumer education and simplified benefit structures would improve knowledge. Families' perceptions about their insurance benefits were measured in two household surveys administered in six sites. Knowledge was assessed by comparing families' responses with policy data collected from the carrier. The vast majority of families understand insurance policies that specify one or two parameters in their benefit provisions. However, more complex payment structures are not well understood. Increased exposure to the plans' information leads to increased knowledge, suggesting that education programs could improve the general level of knowledge. The author concludes that if market strategies for allocating medical resources are pursued, simplifying insurance benefit structures and consumer education would aid consumers in making more informed economic choices about medical care.

Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format.

Description based on print version record.