When traditional care becomes too cost-prohibitive, consumers are exploring a variety of alternative options.
- Fifteen percent of consumers reported visiting a retail clinic and 34 percent said they would do so if it cost 50 percent or less than the cost of a doctor's appointment.
- More consumers are seeking alternative or natural remedies before seeing a physician (17 percent chose this option in 2010, compared with 12 percent in 2009).
- More consumers are supplementing their current regimes with alternative remedies (20 percent have pursued this route in 2010, compared with 16 percent in 2009).
- Consumers are also receptive to medical tourism, but only 7 percent sought health care services outside their local community in the last 12 months.
In recent quarterly earnings reports, some health care organizations have reported a decline in the use of health care services. Reasons include fewer admissions at certain hospitals, fewer doctor's visits, less prescription volume, and, in some cases, a fewer medical tests ordered.
Is there anything you can do to help clients who may have be struggling with their medical bills? Here are some tips in case a client approaches you looking for help:
- Make sure your client is aware of the government assistance options in their area, such as Medicaid, COBRA, or the new state health insurance exchanges.
- Consider discussing a voluntary insurance policy, high-deductible health plan, or short-term major medical plan. Analyze the client's specific needs, health issues, and financial concerns, and create a plan to cover only the absolute necessities so that they have some support in place in case of an emergency.
- Urge them to set aside an emergency fund, or help them create a savings plan in the event that they absolutely need to self-insure.
Remember, pointing a client in the direction of free help may not get you a commission now, but it might bring you referrals or help down the road when the client gets back on their feet. remembers how helpful you were.
Heather Trese is the associate editor of the Agent's Sales Journal. She can be reached at 800-933-9449 ext. 225 or [email protected].
