Government
Survey: Many are "underinsured"
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 20, 2007
Twenty-four percent of Americans are "underinsured," according to a survey in the September Consumer Reports. The poll defines underinsured people as those who indicated their health plans do not adequately cover two out of six frequent medical expenses: prescription drugs, office visits, tests, surgery and medical procedures, deductibles, and catastrophic medical conditions.
The magazine conducted the survey in May and polled 2,905 adults between 18 and 64 years old.
Eighty-four percent of respondents reported they were at least "fairly well satisfied" with the quality of medical treatment received, and 83% said the same about their access to medical care. But only 51% said they were at least "fairly well prepared" to handle any unexpected major medical costs in the next 12 months.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/08/20/gvbf0820.htm.
