[Health-care reforms and insurees' preferences: a cluster analysis with data from the representative KBV survey 2010]

This study examines insurees' knowledge of and attitudes towards a number of recent reforms of the German healthcare system (electronic health insurance card, reimbursement tariff, etc.). It further examines whether it is possible to identify groups of respondents with similar patterns of preferences and knowledge. The analysis draws on a representative survey conducted by the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, KBV, 2010), in which 6 065 respondents aged between 18 and 79 years were interviewed. 4 groups of respondents can be distinguished: the "quality oriented," the "uninformed," the "internet savvy," and the "informed." The most striking finding is that members of the "uninformed" group, who knew the least about recent reforms, tended to be employed middle-aged men with a high level of formal education. To foster the successful implementation of reforms in the health-care system and their communication to specific target groups, it is recommended to take into account not only specific social determinants, but the full personal circumstances and situation of insurees.