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Health Care Policyholders Less Satisfied with their Insurance Companies in 2009, National Survey Shows

 

One of the variables driving the recent scrutiny over the U.S. health care system is that policyholders are less satisfied with their insurance companies. This has resulted in several national surveys to help gain some insight as to what is specifically driving this dissatisfaction. J.D. Power and Associates recently performed a survey on this very matter and here are the results they found.

 

Criteria Used to Rate Satisfaction of Health Insurance Companies

 

Before getting to the specific results of the study, it is always good to understand how the study was performed and the criteria used. Nearly 34,000 health care policy holders were used in the study that encompassed 17 regions of the U.S. and 133 health insurance plans.

 

The criteria used to rate overall satisfaction included:

 

  • Approval processes
  • Billing
  • Choice of provider
  • Claims processing
  • Communication and information
  • Coverage/benefits
  • Overall customer service

 

How Health Care Policyholders Rate Insurance Companies

 

Satisfaction ratings were down on most of the criteria mentioned above. These results seemed to be driven by two main variables. First, consumers are concerned about the dramatic increases in the cost of health care and thus health insurance. Much of the dismay is directed at health insurance companies regardless of the validity. Health insurance premiums are expected to rise more than 20 percent for 2010 for all types of health insurance. The other variable is the lack of understanding that most consumers have of their plan including benefits, services and how to gain access to them.

 

There Are Health Care Companies That Are Doing Well

 

In most instances, it is not the health insurance company as a whole that is losing the trust of consumers, but the local representation. There are health insurance companies that are doing well in specific locals. The companies that are doing well have a few things in common. These companies focus on building relationships with their health care policyholders. They do this through effective communication that educates their policyholders on their products and services.

 

Review Your Health Care Policy With Online Health Insurance Quotes

 

If you are unsatisfied with your health insurance plan, you do have options. You can shop around to find an insurance company that will offer you the plan, service and possibly the rate that you desire. You can compare plans using online rate quotes to find a plan that suits your needs in terms of both coverage and cost. Also, include in your shopping the research to find the health insurance company that goes the extra mile to communicate with you and keep you informed about your policy services and benefits. You don’t have to be dissatisfied with your health insurance plan.

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