Life Insurance Quote Overview

A survey finds only 64 percent of respondents were "completely satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their managed-care health plan. The survey was conducted by Consumer Reports magazine for a September story, "Weighing your health plan choices," which helps consumers choose a plan that's right for them.

Consumers' choice of managed-care plan can make a big difference in the quality of medical treatment they receive. CR rates 35 HMOs and 41 PPOs, based on a survey of roughly 35,000 readers, to help consumers make this difficult and important decision.

HMOs, which pay almost all expenses for patients who stick to providers within a network, scored slightly higher in overall satisfaction than PPOs, which cost more, but allow more choice of doctors. Respondents were happier with their plan if they paid less for their coverage, which is one reason why less-expensive HMOs scored slightly higher in overall satisfaction than PPOs.

People in HMOs had more trouble getting care than members of PPOs. Among those who suffered serious medical problems in the last year, 29 percent of survey respondents and their family members in HMOs and 23 percent in PPOs said they had difficulty obtaining the care they needed.

Seventeen percent of HMO members said they had difficulty seeing doctors but only 12 percent of PPO members reported such a problem.

Among those who had a serious illness, satisfaction varied widely between those enrolled in the top third and bottom third of the plans CR rated. In the top-rated HMOs, 25 percent said they had trouble getting care. In the lower-rated plans, the share of people complaining jumped to 37 percent.

Nearly one-third of all PPO members reported billing problems, nearly three times the rate for people in HMOs.

The report also discusses various problems in the health-care industry, including:

• Prices continue to increase. Since 2000, annual premiums for family coverage have risen 59 percent, six times the rate of inflation.

• Employers continue to pass more of those higher costs on to consumers.

• The health care system remains plagued by enormous quality gaps.

• Managed care companies are not feeling the pain: They are poised for another year of gains in 2005, with total revenues projected to increase 10 percent.

• Increasingly, Americans are willing to limit their choice of physicians and hospitals to reduce their medical costs.

Some tips to help consumers choose a plan include:

• Start by learning the basic differences between HMOs and PPOs.

• Search out the news: Business news about providers you are considering can be telling.

• Ask to see the plan's list of doctors to make sure your current doctors are plan providers.

• Call your state department of insurance to see whether it has received complaints about the plan. Once you have signed up with a plan, don't hesitate to report problems to your employer. Sometimes a call from the folks who are carrying most of the freight can solve the problem.

 Referred from: (http://www.consumeraffairs.com)