Poll Shows Access to Care Strong; Insurance Out-of-Pocket Expenses Growing in Pennsylvania

Newswise — A poll of 700 Pennsylvanians age 21 and older suggests patients are able to schedule appointments with doctors easily, but their out-of-pocket expenses appear to be growing compared to one year earlier.

The Pennsylvania Patient Poll, conducted March 6 through 12 by Susquehanna Polling and commissioned by the Pennsylvania Medical Society, asked residents across the state questions about access to care and the cost for that access. The poll consisted of live and automated interviews and has a 3.7 percent margin of error. Of those participating, 97 percent indicated they had health insurance.

“We are doing fairly well at the current time in meeting consumer demand for care,” said Dennis Olmstead, chief medical economist at the Pennsylvania Medical Society, noting that rising out-of-pocket expenses have been a deterrent in seeking a usual source of care with Pennsylvania physicians.

When asked about how long it took the respondent to see a doctor from the time they made the appointment, 75 percent indicated within a week with 51 percent saying less than three days.

In a separate question, only 14 percent indicated it was more difficult to get an appointment this year compared to one year earlier. The majority, 71 percent suggested it is about the same, while 11 percent believe it’s easier.

When it comes to out-of-pocket expenses, 37 percent noticed an increase, while 53 percent believe it’s about the same. Eight percent saw a reduction in costs.

“Most people purchase a Bronze or Silver plan in the Marketplace where there is a 40 or 30 percent out-of-pocket expense,” says Olmstead while offering a possible explanation why 37 percent say they’re paying more out-of-pocket today than a year earlier. “Collecting these huge out-of-pocket expenses has also increased physician administrative expenses, so it can be a double whammy.”

The Pennsylvania Patient PollStatewide Attitude SurveyConducted March 6-12, 2015

Q: Thinking back to the last time you made an appointment to see a doctor, how long did it take you to finally see your doctor from the time you made the appointment – less than 3 days later, between 3 and 7 days later, between 8 and 14 days later, between 15 and 30 days later, or more than 30 days later?

Q: Compared to this time last year, has getting in to see a doctor gotten easier, has it gotten more difficult, or is it about the same?

Q: In comparison to 12 months ago, did your out-of-pocket costs to see a doctor on your last visit increase, decrease or stay about the same?

Survey Demographics

Gender Male 50% Female 50%

Age 21 to 25 10% 26 to 34 16% 35 to 44 14% 45 to 54 19% 55 to 64 19% 65 and older 22%

Party Affiliation Republican 40% Democrat 48% Independent/Other 12%

Health Insurance Status Yes 97% No 02% Refuse 01%

Which of the following statements best describes your current health? 52% I consider myself to be a very healthy person, and/or see the doctor only on a limited basis34% I consider myself to be a fairly healthy person, but have medical conditions that require on-going treatments or care 12% I am someone who has one or more serious health-related issues or medical conditions that require constant medical treatments, procedures or surgeries 02% Refuse

Main racial heritage White 78% Non-white 20% Refuse 02%

Areas breaks (from record) 03% Northwest [Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Forest] 11% Southwest [Lawrence, Beaver, Washington, Greene, Fayette, Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, Butler] 10% The “T”/Central [Jefferson, Elk, McKean, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Centre, Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Huntingdon, Blair, Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Sullivan, Lycoming, Clinton, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Mifflin, Juniata] 13% Northeast/Lehigh Valley [Luzerne, Carbon, Monroe, Schuylkill, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Northampton, Pike, Wayne] 16% South Central [Perry, Cumberland, Adams, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Berks] 20% Southeast [Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks] 11% Allegheny County 15% Philadelphia

Data collection mode Live Agent Interviews 39% Automated/IVR Interviews 61%

Methodology: This poll was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Medical Society and conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research. Completed interviews were conducted March 6-12, 2015 with 700 Pennsylvania residents. In order to be eligible to complete the survey, respondents had to confirm they are a resident of Pennsylvania at least 21 years of age or older.

Interviews are conducted with respondents who use a landline telephone as their primary means of contact through our IVR/automated polling software, in which survey respondents score their answers to a pre-recorded set of questions using their telephone key pads. An augmentation of live agent interviews is simultaneously conducted with harder-to-reach segments of the population (e.g., younger age groups, households using cellular telephone exchanges as their primary means of contact, etc.) using the professionally-trained survey research staff from SP&R’s main telephone call center. Results to both live agent interviews and automated/IVR surveys are then combined into a single data set. Surveys are carefully monitored to ensure a representative sample of Pennsylvania’s population is achieved based on geography, age, gender and other demographics; results are sometimes statistically weighted.

The margin of error for a sample size of 700 interviews is +/- 3.7% at the 95% confidence level.

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To learn more about the Pennsylvania Medical Society, visit its web site at www.pamedsoc.org. Or follow the organization on Twitter @PAMEDSociety. The president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society can be followed via @PAMEDPrez. Members of the media are encouraged to also follow @ChuckMoran7.