This paper examines satisfaction with various aspects of health care by type of health plan among three groups of health-plan enrollees: those with a consumer-driven health plan (CDHP), those with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), and those with traditional coverage. The findings presented in this paper are derived from the 2012 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, an online survey that examines issues surrounding consumer-directed health care, including the cost of insurance, the cost of care, satisfaction with health care, satisfaction with health care plans, reasons for choosing a plan, and sources of health information. This paper also presents health care satisfaction trends using findings from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Surveys, and the 2008-2011 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Surveys. While the overall satisfaction rates for CDHP enrollees increased in most years of the Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, satisfaction rates among traditional-plan enrollees decreased in most years of the survey. While high-deductible and CDHP enrollees were much more likely to report that they were not too or not at all satisfied with their health plan, their dissatisfaction levels appeared to be trending downward in most years of the survey. Differences in out-of-pocket costs may explain some of the difference in overall satisfaction rates. In 2012, 44 percent of traditional-plan participants were extremely or very satisfied with out-of-pocket costs (for health care services other than for prescription drugs), while 18 percent of HDHP enrollees and 27 percent of CDHP participants were extremely or very satisfied. Satisfaction levels with getting doctor appointments were high relative to other aspects of health care, regardless of plan type. As in previous years of the survey, in 2012, individuals in a CDHP or an HDHP were found to be less likely than those in a traditional plan both to recommend their health plan to friends or co-workers and to stay with their current plan if they had the opportunity to switch plans. The PDF for the above title, published in the August 2013 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the full text of another August 2013 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Retirement Plan Participation: Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) Data, 2012.”
