By US Daily Review Staff.
When asked about the current state of healthcare, Americans overwhelmingly expressed feelings of concern and fear. In a new study released today, the majority of Americans expressed concern for health coverage, costs, access to care and the direction of government-outlined plans for the future of healthcare.
The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Medi-Share, a healthcare sharing program, also found:
- Sixty-nine percent of Americans fear politicians will restrict their individual freedoms while making healthcare decisions on their behalf.
- Approximately four out of 10 (37 percent) of Americans do not anticipate they will be able to afford their healthcare insurance premium given expected price increases.
- More than 60 percent of Americans (63 percent) do not like the current government plans for the future of healthcare; 41 percent expressed strong disagreement with the current plans.
- Sixty-nine percent of Americans are concerned employers will drop group health insurance plans due to government regulations and price increases.
“The survey illustrates that many people are confused and fearful of the future of healthcare,” said Tony Meggs, president of Christian Care Ministry, which operates Medi-Share. “And, particularly today in our down economy, many are scrambling for more affordable options.”
Members of healthcare sharing programs such as Medi-Share are exempt from complying with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Poll Your Audience:
- What do you most fear regarding the future of healthcare
- Increase in insurance premiums
- Individual freedoms being restricted
- The risk of employers dropping group coverage
Interview Opportunities:
- President of Christian Care Ministry Tony Meggs
- Medi-Share member to discuss how Medi-Share membership has alleviated healthcare concerns they would have with insurance
Healthcare sharing has been good for chiropractor Michael Hatrak’s wallet. He and his family have been sharing medical bills with Medi-Share members for more than 14 years. Sharing medical bills through Medi-Share has saved individuals an average of 32 percent (or $945 per year) and families an average of 47 percent (or $2,944 per year) when compared to paying an average insurance premium (source: A Comprehensive Survey of Premiums, Availability, and Benefits; AHIP Center for Policy and Research, 2009).
Since it began in 1993, Medi-Share has been successful in facilitating the sharing of medical costs, with more than $465 million in medical costs shared by members. Due to its large network of providers, members have also saved an additional $130 million in discounted medical costs. Medi-Share is not health insurance since its members remain ultimately responsible for their own medical bills and there is no pooling of funds as practiced by insurance groups.
Christian Care Ministry has provided biblical healthcare solutions for 18 years. More than just healthcare, it is a community of people who pray for and encourage one another, and a team of professionals who promote and support living a healthy, biblical lifestyle through programs: Medi-Share, Medi-Share Senior Assist, Restore, Manna and Healthy Church.
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The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive via its QuickQuery omnibus product on behalf of Medi-Share from Nov. 14-16, 2011 among 2,207 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
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