45% of Consumers Say They Haven't Changed the Way They Manage Their Health--Even Though Their Healthcare Costs Are Higher: HealthMine Survey

90% of Respondents Say Their Health Could Be Better

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Oct 30, 2016, 08:00 ET

DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nine out of ten U.S. adults say their health could be improved, according to an October HealthMine analysis of a survey of 500 insured consumers. But rising healthcare costs may be paralyzing health plan members from doing more to manage their health. Forty percent of respondents say their healthcare costs are higher than they were last year. Despite this, nearly half of those reaching deeper into their pockets report they aren't managing their health any differently.

How do you search for a doctor?

Statement	Percent
I choose from in-network doctors in my health plan.	56%
I ask my primary care physicians for recommendations.	52%
I look online for doctors with expertise that meet my needs.	28%
I ask a friend/relative.	20%
I call my local hospital for a list of affiliated doctors.	17%
I never search for a doctor	2%

What are the three most important factors for you when searching for a doctor?

Answer	Percent
Doctor accepts my insurance	63%
Convenient location	36%
Board certification and years of experience	27%
Specific expertise	27%
Compatibility	27%
Recommendation from person I trust	25%
Ease of scheduling/short wait times	24%
Hospital affiliation	17%
Out of pocket cost	17%
Gender	10%
Technology forward (uses EHRs, patient portal, text messages)	10%

Those who have taken action to improve their health report eating healthier, exercising more and seeing the doctor more often as their biggest modifications. However, 17% are skipping medication doses and 35% are going to the doctor less often, highlighting that more guidance may be needed to make meaningful choices.

If your healthcare costs have risen, what are you doing differently to manage costs?

Action	Percent
Eating healthier	61
Exercising more	53
Going to the doctor more	43
Going to the doctor less	35
Taking prescription medication more frequently	28
Treating myself over the counter	27
Skipping prescription medication when I can	17
Using telemedicine	16

Brennan Collins, Vice President of Product at HealthMine, said, "The most alarming findings of this survey are the 17% of respondents who skip medications and the 35% who are going to the doctor less to save money. Getting those who are ill or struggling with a chronic condition to properly manage their disease is where the big cost savings lie for plan sponsors and members. That's because it is the 20% of members struggling with illness who usually incur about 80% of the total plan costs. It is imperative that they receive timely evaluations of their health and guidance about how to manage their condition and costs. Sophisticated online personal care management programs can automatically deliver much of that analysis and education to avoid huge costs down the road. Skipping meds might save a dollar today, but costs thousands tomorrow," he concluded.

About The Survey

The HealthMine survey queried 500 insured consumers. The survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) in September 2016. Data were collected via an opt-in panel. The margin of error is 4%. Survey Sampling International (SSI) has been the Worldwide Leader in Survey Sampling and Data Collection Solutions, across every mode, for 37 Years.

About HealthMine

HealthMine uses clinical data to close gaps in care, one person at a time. The HealthMine Personal Clinical Engagement solution automatically collects and analyzes clinical and lifestyle data from multiple sources to create a health profile for each member. Serving as an early warning system, our solution identifies health risks and chronic conditions and automatically triggers alerts. The HealthMine solution delivers health recommendations to members' smartphones in near-real time so they can take action immediately. With HealthMine, plan sponsors can engage and sustain all members in personalized health and disease management activities. HealthMine has more than 1 million users and has saved health plan sponsors more than $100 million in healthcare costs. HealthMine is on the web at www.healthmine.com.

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SOURCE HealthMine, Inc.