SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A March 2011 survey of 333 seniors 65 and older revealed that 81%1 are “very” or “extremely” satisfied with their primary care physicians, yet give the performance of the overall U.S. health care system a weighted average grade of “C.” The survey also revealed that 1 in 4 respondents think that more than 50% of the money spent on health care in America is wasted.
The survey was fielded from March 1-7, 2011 by Extend Health Inc., which operates the nation’s largest private Medicare exchange.
Coincidentally, a similar survey2 of adult Americans of all ages sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health and also fielded in March produced similar results.
“The seniors who responded to our survey are happy with the doctors they see on a regular basis, but don’t think the overall health care system is performing well or that dollars are being used efficiently,” said Bryce Williams, CEO of Extend Health. “These results underscore the need for reform: even though people are satisfied with the quality of their care, they understand that there is plenty of room for improvement in health care and health care spending.”
The questions and detailed results from the Extend Health survey are as follows:
How satisfied are you with the relationship you have with your primary care physician?
| Extremely satisfied | 36.1% | ||||||
| Very satisfied | 44.5% | ||||||
| Somewhat satisfied | 17.2% | ||||||
| Not very satisfied | 1.9% | ||||||
| Not satisfied at all | 0.3% | ||||||
On a report card scale with grades of A, B, C, D and F, how would you grade the overall performance of the health care system in America?
|
Grade |
Percentage |
Number Responding |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A | 5.7% | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B | 36.7% | 136 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C | 38.3% | 140 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | 15.1% | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| F | 4.2% | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In your opinion, what percentage of all dollars spent on health care in America are wasted?
| Less than 10% | 6.2% | ||||||
| 10%-49% | 66.9% | ||||||
| 50%-75% | 25.1% | ||||||
| More than 75% | 1.9% | ||||||
Extend Health has helped more than 300,000 seniors compare and choose the private Medicare plans that best meets their needs and budgets. Extend Health is the only place seniors can compare more than 3,500 plans from 70 carriers side by side and find a plan that best meets their needs. Licensed benefit advisors are available to help seniors evaluate their Medicare coverage and explore new options quickly and easily.
About Extend Health
Extend Health, Inc. operates the largest private Medicare exchange in the country. For more information go to www.ExtendHealth.com.
1 For top line reporting purposes, Extend Health, Inc. rounds percentages up or down as appropriate.
2 “Americans’ Views on the Quality of Health Care,” a telephone poll of 1,034 Americans 18 years and older conducted between March 9-18 by SSRS, an independent research company, http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/files/quality-healthcare-topline.pdf
CONTACT:
For Extend Health, Inc.
Rob Wyse, 212-920-1470
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Seniors Health Consumer General Health
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