Consumers Want More Accessible, Affordable Blood Testing for Wellness, HealthMine Survey Finds

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AHIP Institute 2015 -- As innovation in lab testing technology combines with advances in health policy to empower healthcare consumerism, HealthMine queried 1,200 consumers with self- and employer-sponsored health insurance about blood testing for preventive care and wellness monitoring.  More than three quarters---76%---of insured consumers say they should be able to get their blood tested anytime, without a doctor's orders. Further, results show that 68% of people would get their blood tested for wellness or preventive care every 6 months or more frequently if it was convenient, less painful and more affordable.

Rarely used for wellness, prevention

Blood testing can provide valuable information about an individual's health, and in many cases, can lead to early detection and prevention of chronic disease. Although accustomed to getting blood drawn after the presence of symptoms or illness, more than half of consumers---58%---say their doctor does not order blood tests for them as part of wellness monitoring. Another 42% say that they do not get blood tests for preventive care.

Perceived as inconvenient and uncomfortable

Until recently, blood testing has been inaccessible, painful or cost prohibitive for many consumers; 43% of people say they feel fear, anxiety or stress when a doctor orders a blood test for them. Another 27% report that they or a family member have had trouble getting blood drawn due to physiology, issues with collapsed veins or other problems.

Low awareness of new lower cost, less-invasive choices

While promising alternatives to the traditional blood draw exist today, including Theranos, consumer awareness is low; only 19% of people are aware of new blood tests that require only a few drops of blood from a finger prick. What's more, just 30% of people know that there is a certified medical testing lab that performs any lab test on samples as small as a few drops of blood, not requiring tubes of blood drawn from your veins. Although half or more of consumers recognize traditional lab testing vendors like LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, only 6% of people have heard of Theranos.

Bryce Williams, CEO and President of HealthMine said: "Meaningful health data gives people power to better manage their health. We can make it easier to get meaningful data into people's hands with blood tests that are dramatically more convenient, less invasive and less expensive than traditional methods." He continued, "This is an important space for insurers and employers to watch carefully, because accessible and affordable lab testing can revolutionize wellness programs—by helping lead to early detection and prevention for many."

About the Survey

The HealthMine Health Plan Member Survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) on May 15-27, 2015. 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, a leading consumer health engagement company, has developed the wellness industry's first and only Personal Clinical Engagement technology platform. HealthMine empowers individuals to make meaning of their health information by automatically collecting clinical data, identifying risk for chronic disease, and setting health goals. Making it easy for consumers to manage their own health, HealthMine provides a personalized health portal available on any device, and delivers tailored recommendations, resources and incentives.  HealthMine has more than one million users, and has saved employers and payers more than $100 million in healthcare costs. The company, founded in 2008, is based in Dallas, Texas with offices in San Francisco, New York and Minneapolis.

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SOURCE HealthMine