A survey found that many consumers are worried about changes to their current health insurance plans and the cost of insurance under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Consumers with employer-sponsored coverage seem to be the most skeptical of health care reform, according to a survey by Deloitte Consulting L.L.P, New York. Deloitte found 61% of these consumers believe their employer will reduce benefits for dependents and retirees. And 32% think employers will stop providing any health coverage for employees.
The survey also found 82% of consumers with employer-sponsored health plans believe that the cost of the health reform act will be higher than expected, and 58% believe the health reform act will not reduce health care costs in the long term.
American consumers will continue to worry about current and future health insurance coverage as the new federal Affordable Care Act goes into effect, says Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.
Many consumers who say they are familiar with provisions in the Affordable Care Act are worried about future access to quality health care. The survey found 72% of them believe that some hospitals and medical practices will close, and 51% believe that their employers may drop their coverage.
