Only about a third of consumers can correctly define all three of the most common health care expenses — premiums, copays and deductibles. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Knowledge is power, and ignorance is definitely not bliss.
Just ask the people who responded to this year's Policygenius Health Insurance Literacy Survey —many don't know what's covered in their health plans, many can't correctly define premiums, copays and deductibles, and because of their uncertainty, more than a few have skipped out on going to the doctor.
"It's almost like speaking a foreign language," says Christine Wilson, spokeswoman for the National Patient Advocate Foundation "We tell everybody you need to take the time to understand what you're buying, what your health insurance covers."
Policygenius polled 1,500 U.S. adults through Google Consumer Surveys, and found that more than a quarter (27.2 percent) have avoided care or treatment because they were unsure of what their health insurance covered. Even among among respondents making at least $100,000, nearly 20 percent said they had skipped treatment.
Only 29.3 percent of respondents were able to correctly define all three of the most common health care expenses — premiums, copays and deductibles. Even among people with health insurance, only 36.1 percent knew all three terms.
"It's important to read the details in your health insurance policy to get a better understanding of your coverage," says Myles Ma, health care expert at Policygenius. "You can also call your provider to ask any specific questions you have about your policy."
The respondents were also asked about their knowledge of the plans on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. More than 85 percent don't know the basic benefits that ACA-compliant plans must cover; only 11.9 percent knew the correct dates for 2019 federal open enrollment; only 21.9 percent knew people could get subsidies to buy a plan on the exchanges; and about 80 percent of people falsely believed there is still a tax penalty for forgoing health insurance.
Moreover, 13.2 percent of people were unsure if they had health insurance.
"There are many places to turn if you need help understanding health insurance," Ma says. "If you have an employer plan, the best place to start might be your human resources department or benefits provider. If you have or want an Obamacare plan, Healthcare.gov can point you toward local organizations and brokers that can help you shop."
Other resources include Health Literacy Media, which provides short videos that explain various health insurance concepts, from how to enroll to how to use coverage, as well as Policygenius' Health Insurance Learn Center.
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Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
