A Record Number of Americans Surveyed Say They Are Prepared to Select a Health Plan During Open Enrollment
November 10 2021 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
- Sixth-annual UnitedHealthcare Consumer Sentiment Survey
provides insights into the health care knowledge, opinions and
preferences of Americans during open enrollment
- A survey-record 82% of respondents said they are prepared
for the fall’s open enrollment season
- More than half (53%) of respondents said it is likely they
would use virtual care for medical services in the future, while
51% said they would be interested in using a digital fitness app as
part of an employer-sponsored well-being program
Most Americans said they are prepared to select a health plan
during this year’s open enrollment season, while the COVID-19
pandemic continues to spur interest in virtual care for medical
services and digital fitness apps to help people pursue at-home
fitness routines.
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A record number of Americans surveyed
said they are prepared for this year’s open enrollment season for
health care benefits, while the use of technology to evaluate and
access medical services continues to grow amid the COVID-19
pandemic. Source: UnitedHealthcare
These are some of the findings from the sixth-annual
UnitedHealthcare Consumer Sentiment Survey, which examines
Americans’ opinions about various areas of health care, including
open enrollment, technology trends, wellness programs and health
plan preferences. Key findings this year include:
- Majority of Americans surveyed said they are prepared to
select a health plan during the fall’s open enrollment period.
A survey-record 82% of insured Americans said they are prepared to
select a health plan during open enrollment, with baby boomers
(86%) and Gen Xers (85%) the most confident; compared to
millennials (79%) and Gen Z (71%).
- COVID-19 has influenced the health plan some people intend
to choose. Many respondents with a health plan (44%) said
COVID-19 influenced, or will influence, their preferred health
plan, with 16% interested in an option with lower out-of-pocket
costs; 13% looking for more well-being programs or resources; 8%
seeking more comprehensive or richer benefits; and 8% wanting a
national health plan instead of a regional one. Members of Gen Z
were the most likely to be influenced (60%), while baby boomers
(31%) were the least.
- Many Americans are interested in using virtual resources for
medical services, as well as turning to technology to comparison
shop for care. More than half (53%) said they are interested in
using digital devices, such as smartphones, tablets or laptops, to
access care, reflecting the surging interest in telehealth due to
the persistent spread of COVID-19. When it comes to comparison
shopping, 50% of respondents said they had used the internet or
mobile apps to comparison shop for health care during the past
year.
- Many employees say wellness programs have improved their
health. Nearly three-quarters (71%) of survey respondents who
are employed and have access to wellness programs said the
initiatives have made a positive impact on their health. If offered
as part of an employer-sponsored wellness program, more than half
(51%) said they would be interested in using a digital fitness
resource, such as the Peloton App.
“With access to health benefits and care more important than
ever amid COVID-19, this year’s survey indicates growing confidence
among some Americans in making more informed benefit decisions
during open enrollment, as well as continued interest in using
technology to evaluate and access health care,” said Rebecca
Madsen, chief consumer officer of UnitedHealthcare. “We hope this
year’s survey results can contribute to keeping people better
informed about their health care benefits and choices.”
Open Enrollment Preparedness and Preferences
When it comes to time spent researching health benefits by
people with health insurance during open enrollment, 28% said they
each year devote less than one hour to the process; nearly
one-third (31%) usually spend between one and three hours; and
fewer respondents (21%) said they typically allocate more than
three hours. Among respondents who actively research health plan
options, more than one-quarter (29%) said they expect to spend more
time evaluating their benefits this year due to COVID-19.
Many respondents (81%) with health benefits affirmed the
importance of specialty benefits, agreeing that having vision and
dental coverage options is “important” during open enrollment.
Technology and Transparency Trends
Technology continues to help play an increasingly important role
in how people access health information and care. More than half
(53%) of survey respondents said they are interested in using
virtual care in the future to access medical services, underscoring
the greater than 2,800% increase in the use of telehealth amid the
COVID-19 pandemic1. Even after the pandemic ends, 20% of
respondents said they would prefer a virtual relationship with a
primary care physician rather than in person.
With recent efforts to encourage greater transparency related to
health care quality and cost information, 50% of respondents said
they have used the internet or mobile apps during the last year to
comparison shop for medical services. Millennials (64%) and members
of Gen Z (54%) were the most likely to use comparison shopping
resources, compared to Gen X (50%) and baby boomers (38%). Among
all comparison shoppers, 56% said the experience influenced their
decision-making process, with an equal number (28%) saying the
process prompted them to change either the health care provider or
facility they selected for the treatment.
Fitness Trends and Wellness Programs
Since the emergence of COVID-19, 40% of survey respondents said
their exercise habits have changed, including 24% who say they
exercise less now and 16% indicating they work out more. Most
survey respondents who work out said walking (61%) has been their
preferred method of exercise, followed by running (27%) and weight
training (26%). Nearly one-third (30%) of respondents said they use
a digital fitness app as part of their exercise routine, half of
whom added this resource for the first time after the emergence of
COVID-19. Due also to the pandemic, among people who previously
exercised at public gyms, 12% said they have no intention of ever
returning.
Among people who said having access to an employer-sponsored
well-being program enhanced their health, 35% said the initiative
helped them improve their nutrition; 34% said it helped improve
their mental health; 34% said it motivated them to pay more
attention to their health; and 33% reported improved sleep.
For complete survey results, click here.
About the Survey
The 2021 UnitedHealthcare Consumer Sentiment Survey was
conducted Sept. 10-12, 2021, using Engine INSIGHTS CARAVAN® online
survey of 1,013 U.S. adults 18 and older. The margin of error was
plus or minus 3% at the 95% confidence level.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier
lives and making the health system work better for everyone by
simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and
wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care
providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full
spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and
Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with
more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,500
hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also
provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned
and operated health care facilities in South America.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group
(NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more
information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC
on Twitter.
1 UnitedHealthcare internal analysis, 2021.
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Will Shanley UnitedHealthcare (714) 204-8005
will.shanley@uhc.com
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