Affordable Health Insurance

Where are people getting their information on health-care reform? MetLife, through the MetLife Study of Employer/Consumer Attitudes on Health Care, states that both consumers and businesses are turning to traditional media outlets. The vast majority of individuals (85%) and more than half of employers (56%) say they look to TV, radio, newspapers and magazines to stay informed about health-care reform.

However, more than half of larger employers—those with 500 or more employees—are also turning to their benefits brokers or consultants for information, more so than they use business (42%) or consumer media (37%) outlets, and much more often than they look to industry publications (32%).

And the survey shows that how satisfied people are with their current medical benefits affects how they view health-care reform: 62% of Americans without any medical insurance feel that reform will be “good for America,” compared with 42% of those with medical insurance. A majority of Gen-Yers (65%) believe that health-care reform will impact them favorably, with only 44% saying are satisfied with their current medical insurance. On the other hand, only a third of Boomers (34%) believe that reform will have a positive impact on them personally, with 63% saying they are satisfied with their current medical coverage.

Attitudes toward reform also correspond to how healthy a person is. According to the MetLife study, 65% of consumers who view their health as “fair” or “poor” say that health-care reform will have a positive impact on them and their families, compared with 28% for those who say their health is “very good” or “excellent.”

Many of today’s employers—41%—aren’t sure what they will do regarding medical benefits if legislation passes. While 36% of employers are unsure about what they will do regarding non-medical benefits like life insurance, disability income protection, and dental benefits should legislation pass, 44% of those who offer these benefits anticipate that they will make no changes to them. Only 5% of employers who offer these benefits say they would consider reducing them.

To sum this all up, business and consumers are confused as to how the proposed legislation will affect them. The solution is to keep in touch with your agent or financial professional. Once reform is final, they will have access to the answers.

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