HCW Benefits Blog

Contributor:
Laura Bibb, JD, GBA, Compliance Officer
Hill, Chesson & Woody

It’s Time to Play... Kaiser Family Foundation Feud! The top 10 answers are on the board — Name Americans’ favorite provision of healthcare reform.

Many employers can quickly name provisions of healthcare reform that cause the most concern or frustration.  There are plenty of provisions that wouldn’t win a popularity contest.

But, can you name which provision of healthcare reform you like the most, if asked?

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently asked that very question in a monthly tracking poll. Americans were asked which provisions of healthcare reform they liked and disliked.

Survey says! — The number one answer on the board is...

1. The Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)!  The SBC provision requires that health plans provide consumers with a short, easy-to-understand description of their benefits and coverage.

That’s right, 60% of respondents viewed the SBC requirement “very favorably” and 84% viewed this provision “favorably.”

Other answers on the board...
The following provisions make up the remaining top 10 answers (with the percentage of respondents who ranked the provision “very favorably” in parenthesis):

2.  Guaranteed issue (47%)

3.  Closing the Medicare “donut hole” (46%)

4.  Small employer tax credits (45%)

5.  Subsidy assistance to individuals (44%)

6.  Health plan decision appeals (37%)

7.  Employer mandate/penalty for large employers – “play or pay” (35%)

8.  Medicaid expansion (34%)

9.  Medical loss ratio (34%)

10.  No cost sharing for preventive services (33%)

Least Favorite...
The KFF survey found that the least favorite provision is the individual mandate requiring individuals to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty in 2014 – 63% of Americans view this provision unfavorably, while 43% have a “very unfavorable” view of this provision.

Now it’s time for you to buzz in...
What’s your favorite reform provision?  What’s your least favorite reform provision?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below.