Candace

Talmadge

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May 22, 2009

Public Satisfaction: Medicare Beats Private Health Insurance . . . By a Lot

Americans on Medicare are far more satisfied with their health care than those with employer-sponsored private insurance, new research reveals.

The study, “Meeting Enrollees’ Needs,” was published in the online edition of Health Affairs.

The authors are Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund; Stuart Guterman, the fund’s assistant vice president of the program on Medicare’s future; Michelle Doty, director survey research; and Kristof Stremikis, research associate. The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation that supports independent research on health care policy and other issues.

The latest findings arise out of a 2007 survey of 3,501 U.S. adults 19 and older. Compared to a similar study conducted in 2001, the gap between Medicare and private insurance satisfaction has only widened.

The researchers found that 37 percent of Medicare enrollees rate their coverage as excellent compared with 20 percent of those with private employer-sponsored insurance. And only 8 percent of Medicare enrollees regard their insurance as “fair” or “poor” versus 18 percent of those with private employer insurance.

“There is a lot of attachment to the public plan,” Guterman said in an interview. “The Medicare brand is a strong one and engenders a lot of confidence.”

In addition, 44 percent of those with private employer-sponsored health insurance reported at least one negative health insurance experience, such as expensive bills for non-covered services, being charged a lot more than insurance would pay or physicians not taking their insurance. Only 32 percent of Medicare enrollees reported at least one such negative experience.

Looking at these results, keep in mind that Medicare enrollees are older and far more likely to be lower in income and/or in worse health than those with employer-sponsored private health insurance. This means they are at far greater risk of having all manner of problems with their health care coverage. Even so, as a group Medicare enrollees are happier with their health care experiences than those with health insurance as an employment benefit.

They have better access, too. Only 20 percent of Medicare enrollees reported cost problems limiting access, such as not filling a prescription, skipping a recommended medical test, forgoing needed specialist care or having a medical problem but not visiting a doctor or clinic. Of those with employer health insurance, 37 percent cited at least one of these problems.

Despite being older, poorer and sicker, only 15 percent of Medicare enrollees reported not being able to pay their medical bills, being contacted by a collection agency or having to change their way of life to pay medical costs. Twenty-six percent of those with employer coverage reported at least one problem related to not being able to pay health care costs.

There are more numbers, but the bottom line should be clear by now. Medicare works better than private health insurance sponsored by employers. This message should be repeated long and loudly while the U.S. Senate develops specifics for its health care reform legislation.

The prognosis is bleak, however. The insurance and drug industries pumped more than $75 million into Capitol Hill campaign coffers during the 07- 08 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Montana Democrat Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is a major recipient of this largesse, and it appears to be paying handsome dividends for its donors.

Baucus had single-payer advocates arrested when they tried to take a seat at one of the committee’s meetings to discuss health care reform, and then closed a subsequent meeting to the media and the public. Any legislation that comes out of the Finance Committee is likely to be a total sellout to the chorus spouting pious tones about cost reduction while blocking any real change.

Medicare for all? If not that, at least a public health insurance option for all ages that gives private health insurance real competition. Even better, how about the same health care coverage enjoyed by the U.S. Congress? After, we the people shell out major bucks for it. We should enjoy its benefits, too.

© 2009 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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