Confidence and confusion: the health care system in the United States

Results from the latest "Health Confidence Survey" show that Americans generally appear to be happy with their health care system experiences. Satisfaction with the care received over the past two years and with current health insurance plans remains high and virtually unchanged since the 1998 survey. Close to nine out of 10 respondents were satisfied with their health plan in 1999 as well as the quality of care received. Confidence in many aspects of the health care system is high--94 percent of Americans report being confident that their pharmacist will fill their prescription correctly, 90 percent are confident they will be able to see a health care specialist, as needed, and 89 percent have confidence in the quality of care that hospitals deliver. Confidence is not as high, however, for belief in the confidentiality of medical records or that a fair review will be be received if health insurance coverage is denied. While Americans are highly confident in most aspects of the health care system today, they continue to be less so for the next 10 years and even less so once they become Medicare eligible. Confidence in the future of health care may be low because Americans appear to be uncertain about managed care and what constitutes a managed care plan. While 71 percent of those enrolled in a managed care plan label it as a PPO or HMO, only 21 percent reported that they are currently enrolled ina managed care plan. The fact that so many Americans do not know that their health plan is a managed care plan lends support to our contention that these plans, benefits managers, employers, policymakers and the media have failed to educate enrollees and the general public about the features and potential advantages of such plans.