More on COVID-19 and Healthcare Consumerism

Something is awakening in patients that access, cost and quality challenges couldn’t but the threat of a deadly virus with uncontrolled community spread could. That something is healthcare consumerism.

We suspected as much and first reported our hunch in an earlier blog post, “COVID-19 Fans Flames of Consumerism in Patients,” which you can read here. 

Now, the evidence is building that our hunch was correct. 

On Nov. 30, Accenture released the results of its COVID-19 Consumer Health Experience Survey 2020. Accenture surveyed 4,639 adults in June, asking them how the pandemic is affecting their experience with the healthcare system. You can download a copy of the 17-page report with Accenture’s survey results here.

Here are some of the interesting results: 

• 64 percent of the respondents said they are “likely” or “highly likely” to switch providers if their current provider doesn’t meet their expectations for handling COVID-19 
• 24 percent of the respondents who said their current healthcare provider handled the COVID-19 crisis poorly said they wouldn’t go back to that provider for at least a year or possibly ever

“The pandemic has led to new standards for consumer needs that may remain long after the crisis has passed,” Accenture said.

On Dec. 3, Cedar, the New York-based patient financial engagement technology vendor, published its 2020 Healthcare Consumer Experience Study. Cedar surveyed 1,502 adults in October, asking them how the pandemic is affecting their experience with the healthcare system. You can download a copy of the 19-page report with Cedar’s survey results here. 

Here are some of the interesting results:

• 53 percent of the respondents said they would consider switching providers if their current provider didn’t follow the appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols
• 44 percent of the respondents said they want a telemedicine options to see their current provider to avoid in-person visits that put them at risk of COVID-29 exposure

“Despite the advances in virtual care brought on by COVID-19, providers still have a long way to go to meet consumer expectations and preferences,” Cedar said.

Also last week, the Medicare Plans Patient Resource Center published the results of its survey of 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries. The Washington-based advocacy group did its survey in November, asking the beneficiaries about their enrollment plans for 2021 and how COVID-19 may affect their plans. You can download a copy of the survey results here. 

Here are some of the interesting results:

• 58 percent of the respondents said they are changing Medicare plans in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic
• Of those changing plans because of the pandemic, 60 percent said they want more coverage in case they get sickened by COVID, and 11 percent said they want more telemedicine benefits because of COVID

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused beneficiaries to think more about their health insurance to make sure they have the coverage they need if something were to happen to them,” the group said.

If the Accenture, Cedar and Medicare Plans Patient Resource Center surveys are correct, something is happening that limited access, high costs and poor quality struggled to move the needle on for years, and that’s patients behaving like informed and empowered consumers. Nearly 300,000 preventable deaths will do that to you, I guess. 

Thanks for reading. 

Stay home. Stay safe. Stay alive.