[November 13, 2014]

HealthPlans.com Survey Reveals Americans' Health Care Misconceptions and Opportunities

HealthPlans.com, one of the most visited independent consumer health insurance sites, according to comScore (News - Alert), today announced the results of a national survey designed to identify key issues pertinent to consumers' health insurance choices and Obamacare. The survey gives a unique perspective on consumers' priorities when searching for health insurance, what they understand about their plan, and where opportunities exist for improvement. This is the first in a series of surveys that will be released from HealthPlans.com.

Completed in October 2014, the American Sentiments on Obamacare gathered responses from more than 1,150 people with questions related to the attributes they look for in a health insurance provider and what affects their search. Some key survey findings highlighted the fact that:

• 60 percent of consumers who said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their current coverage plan to shop around before deciding on a plan for 2015
• Subsidies and tax penalties did not influence health insurance purchase decisions for the majority (74 percent) of respondents
• Respondents were less than satisfied with the information provided to them about prescription drug coverage under their plans, despite the fact that 70 percent thought it was an important factor in their decision
• Political allegiance continues to dominate respondents' perspectives on the subject of the Affordable Care Act with Republicans almost 3 times as likely as Democrats to agree that Obamacare should be appealed

"We were surprised to learn how many respondents still plan to shop around even if they were satisfied with their plan." says Martin M. Quigley, M.D., Senior Advisor and Health Care Expert for HealthPlans.com. "It's good to see that consumers are taking the open enrollment process seriously and using this time to identify their needs, compare prices, and ultimately decide on the best coverage for the coming year. We've constructed HealthPlans.com as a simplified resource hub where consumers can learn, easily track, and compare plans for themselves and their families."

The survey also asked questions about the Affordable Care Act, specifically zeroing in on how influential the subsidy was for consumers. For those who qualified for a subsidy, 60 percent agreed that it influenced their decision on whether or not to move forward with Obamacare, but 40 percent of people still remained uninfluenced by the subsidy even though they received it.

To learn more about HealthPlans.com please visit: http://www.healthplans.com/about-us/ or visit http://www.healthplans.com/american-sentiments-obamacare/ for a full report on the survey.

About HealthPlans.com

HealthPlans.com is one of the most visited independent consumer Health Insurance sites, according to comScore. With relevant news, expert advice, and interactive tools, HealthPlans.com helps consumers make sense of all things health insurance - from complicated health acronyms to the newest industry policies. Above all, HealthPlans.com matches consumers to a health insurance plan that meets their needs and budget by using a fast, free, and consumer-friendly platform.

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