California Employers and Consumers Respond to Changing Health Benefits Harris Interactive As health care costs continue a pattern of double-digit annual increases, employers and consumers alike are feeling the effects, according to recent surveys conducted by Harris Interactive of California employers, consumers, and those with chronic illness. Employers say they feel that costs are more under control today than they were two years ago, but increasingly are concerned about the negative consequences of employee cost-sharing measures. Not surprisingly, consumers are less satisfied with their health benefits than they were two years ago and are particularly worried about not being able to pay for the portion of health care services that must come out of their own pocket. Also, a significant percentage of people with chronic illnesses, particularly those with lower incomes and poorer health, report having problems paying their medical bills, and some are skipping recommended care as a way of controlling costs. In an examination of the effects of changing health care benefits and cost control strategies on these groups, the reports include insights on: Actions taken by employers to control costs; Anticipated changes to retiree health benefits; Responses by consumers to increased costs; Health benefit changes experienced by those with chronic conditions; Response of the chronically ill to higher out of pocket costs; and Consumer attitudes toward and use of quality of care ratings. The chart packs are available in PDF format via the first two links below. Note: In addition to the new surveys, two issue briefs published in 2003 provide additional perspective on these issues. http://www.chcf.org/topics/healthinsurance/index.cfm?itemID=20939&subsection=reports Bob Pyke Jr. [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] "The best journeys are the ones that answer questions that at the outset you never even thought to ask." Rick Ridgeway "There are certain spots in the world where you can stand that will change the way that you look at things forever." Pete Whitaker Co administrator Telehealth List Serve and roving editor at large. http://www.telehealth.net/interviews/pykebio.html Editor, Johns Hopkins Pediatric Point of Interest http://derm.med.jhmi.edu/poi/ Co moderator EurasiaHealth Medical Informatics Knowledge Network http://www.eurasiahealth.org