As another open enrollment season comes to a close, millions of consumers are finalizing their benefits packages for 2012. Unfortunately, more than half of insured adults are confused with several important aspects related to choosing a health insurance plan, reveals a survey released Monday.
According to the Aetna survey of more than 1,000 plan participants, many had trouble understanding:
— The cost of a health insurance plan as a whole, including the premiums and out-of-pocket expenses (32%)
— The differences between Preferred Provider Organizations and Health Maintenance Organizations (30%)
— Which providers are actually in network (26%)
— If referrals are needed (24%)
Aetna has redesigned its Plan for Your Health
The site includes information that can help consumers make decisions during open enrollment, such as information on the health care reform law and tips on how to maximize health benefits in an unstable economy.
“We know that health insurance can be confusing,” says Wendy A. Richards, a national medical director for Aetna and co-author of Navigating Your Health Benefits For Dummies. “The site has information and tools that can help everybody better understand their health benefits, no matter their age or how much they already know about health insurance.”
Other improvements to the site include:
— A wide range of health-related articles from Aetna InteliHealth
— Updated information on options for Medicare beneficiaries
The telephone survey was conducted by ORC International October 20-24.
