Insurance Illiteracy Rampant Among Obamacare Target Demographic

Well not surprisingly, it seems quite a few people simply don't know or even understand the way health insurance works and what the standard terms mean.

Apparently many don't quite "get" the following:

premiums

deductibles

co-payments

co-insurance

Slightly more than one out of five young Americans actually understand important insurance terms such as "premiums," "deductibles," "co-payments," and "co-insurance."

The list of unknown terms also includes "maximum annual out-of-pocket spending limits," "provider networks," "covered services," "annual limits on services" and "non-covered or excluded services."

According to the findings published in the journal Health Affairs, 27 percent of non-white or Hispanic respondents expressed confidence in understanding these key insurance terms. Americans with a lack of information about insurance tend not to enroll at the exchanges, both at the federal exchange and the state exchanges.

Article 1

As the Obama administration scrambles to corral individuals into Obamacare before today’s deadline, experts worry that first-time health insurance buyers may be in for a rude awakening once they understand the conditions and terminology contained in their policies.

A recent academic study published in the Journal of Health Economics found that just 14% of individuals who have health coverage could correctly answer all four of four basic questions about health insurance, including understanding what a “deductible” and “copay” are. If comprehension figures are that low for the insured, analysts worry what that portends for the uninsured, especially for a program as complex as Obamacare.

Article 2

W-o-W

WHY is this ?

reply to post by xuenchen


Because no one has taught them. I don't like how it's phrased as the "targeted" demographic. Most american's have no damn idea what most of this means. They were never taught. You can't teach what you don't know.

reply to post by xuenchen


Two years down the road I bet a lot of Americans will understand what those terms means.

You're screwed!

But it will be too late by that time.

keep the daily obamacare doom porn coming

Don't parents teach their kids anything anymore? Aside from the birds and the bees, this was another talk my parents gave me growing up.


What kind of kid is going to like this cereal?


Back to your regular programming.


See what happens when you let crazy Uncle Sam babysit your kids?

reply to post by xuenchen


Shouldn't it just be Illiteracy???? hahahaha

antonia
reply to post by xuenchen

 

Because no one has taught them. I don't like how it's phrased as the "targeted" demographic. Most american's have no damn idea what most of this means. They were never taught. You can't teach what you don't know.

I can sit around all day and hope that my teacher will make a connection but eventually I will focus on something that interests me more. The government shot itself in the foot. In one instance, they are glad that people do not understand healthcare and government. The negative side is that people become withdrawn and won't be led to drink anymore.

I mean, have you turned on C-Span lately? It's like watching two sloths trying to battle it out over a piece of meat.

Maybe they need one of these...really connect with the kids! Hooray for healthcare!


Sorry, I like illustrations.

rupertg
keep the daily obamacare doom porn coming

So you're a fan of this illegal crap they're forcing down our throat?

rupertg
keep the daily obamacare doom porn coming

As long as you keep calling people out as fear mongers...

You can't win unless you show your positive experience with the King's plan.


\peace

As for me and my house ... we will pay the fine. That is if it's still in place by April 15th.

eisegesis


I can sit around all day and hope that my teacher will make a connection but eventually I will focus on something that interests me more.

Then whose fault is that? If the information is offered to you and you have the ability to understand it then you can't blame someone because you were disinterested.

That's not even the problem though. You live in a country where almost 25% of the population is illiterate. The average American reads at the 7th to 8th grade level. Interest isn't the problem. They can't understand the material.

reply to post by antonia

You live in a country where almost 25% of the population is illiterate. The average American reads at the 7th to 8th grade level. Interest isn't the problem. They can't understand the material.

Sounds like a real problem.

Who's at fault and who fixes it and how ?

Many will say this is a planned result.

That's not even the problem though. You live in a country where almost 25% of the population is illiterate. The average American reads at the 7th to 8th grade level. Interest isn't the problem. They can't understand the material.

reply to post by antonia


Really? That's BS. The USA is not 25% illiterate nor are we mostly 7th and 8th grade reading level. Prejudice much? I was on an 12th grade reading level by 6th grade. I only got better (there is no possible way to decline in literacy) Maybe you're illiterate.

Most people didn't know any of these things because most people weren't afforded healthcare because of their financial standing or lack thereof.

reply to post by xuenchen


How is it planned? All insurance policies are written in formal, legal English. Why would the government deviate from that?

It's not difficult to learn how to read at high level: You just have to read. The more you read the better you get at it. Is the government obligated to come to your house and whoop your ass if you don't read? Come on now, not everything is a conspiracy. The U.S. has always been an anti-intellectual society. Is it shocking a society which doesn't value education is filled with people who can't read?

reply to post by antonia


Most people can learn in our education system perfectly fine, it is not lacking; those who do not learn it's because they squandered their education.

antonia

eisegesis


I can sit around all day and hope that my teacher will make a connection but eventually I will focus on something that interests me more.

Then whose fault is that? If the information is offered to you and you have the ability to understand it then you can't blame someone because you were disinterested.

That's not even the problem though. You live in a country where almost 25% of the population is illiterate. The average American reads at the 7th to 8th grade level. Interest isn't the problem. They can't understand the material.

Because if something for the people is not created in the interest of the people there will be no understanding.

For example, I understand the law, though I do not believe it is designed for our best interests. Its is often over complicated and created with backdoors and tightwad lingo. I will be more inclined to stare out of the window in class and let nature take over. I still turned out to be a healthy, self-sufficient, taxpayer!

Healthcare is a farce, a perceived necessary evil. If you can see through the veil and keep yourself healthy, there is no need to learn that crap. I have felt that if I ask politely for help from the right people, I will learn as needed or when I am forced to actually call upon my health insurance.

Just so you know we are at 14% illiteracy in America...

The facts are there and they aren't what others would have you believe:
USA Illiteracy Facts

ldyserenity

Really? That's BS. The USA is not 25% illiterate nor are we mostly 7th and 8th grade reading level. Prejudice much? I was on an 12th grade reading level by 6th grade. I only got better (there is no possible way to decline in literacy) Maybe you're illiterate.

Most people didn't know any of these things because most people weren't afforded healthcare because of their financial standing or lack thereof.

Honestly, this was just embarrassing to read. You refute the facts based on your own life experience. You aren't the entire country.

nces.ed.gov...

The NCES puts the figure at 21 to 23% as functionally illiterate.

The 15% figure for full literacy, equivalent to a university undergraduate level, is consistent with the notion that the "average" American reads at a 7th or 8th grade level which is also consistent with recommendations, guidelines, and norms of readability for medication directions, product information, and popular fiction.

en.wikipedia.org...

I pulled my figures from the Adult Literacy Councils literature which is not online.

You figure is for absolute illiteracy as in "can't read at all". Most organizations involved in achieving a fully literate population define illiteracy as being unable to read simple stories, understand and interpret text, read and understand traffic signs, and read and understand warning labels and dates as well as being absolutely illiterate.

ldyserenity
reply to post by antonia

 

Most people can learn in our education system perfectly fine, it is not lacking; those who do not learn it's because they squandered their education.

edit on 2013/12/23 by ldyserenity because: sentence structure.

I didn't say people couldn't learn how to read in our education system. I said most people can't understand the material being presented to them.

www.forbes.com...

And most people who sell insurance would agree with me.

Other person:

If you can see through the veil and keep yourself healthy, there is no need to learn that crap

So, you'll patch yourself up if you get hit by a car I take it?

reply to post by ldyserenity


Your link substantially makes the point that about 25% are illiterate. The stats you quote report 21% read at a 4th grade level. I doubt that a person reading at a 4th grade level understands the terms: premiums, deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance. I also highly doubt that they could understand the standard language of the insurance policy.