79% of Americans with Employer Insurance Back Provider Price Regulation; 89% support Price Transparency Requirements
61% Are Very Concerned About Prices Health Care Providers Charge For Services
81% Want Their Employers to Speak Up About Rising Provider Prices
October 7th, 2024 – More than three-quarters of Americans with Employer-Sponsored Insurance (ESI) support price transparency requirements and limits on health care provider prices, according to a new report by Public Agenda, a non-profit research-to-action organization dedicated to creating a democracy that works for everyone.
The report features findings from a national survey, supported by Arnold Ventures, that explored the views of Americans with ESI on rising insurance premiums, the impact of provider prices on health care costs, and price regulation. The report builds on previous Public Agenda research on the lived realities of insurance networks for patients.
“Access to high-quality health care for ourselves and our families is a core element of a good life,” said Andrew J. Seligsohn, President at Public Agenda. “In a democracy, it’s crucial for all of us to understand how members of the public view the systems and policies that should be serving their interests. Our new research gives voice to Americans’ concerns about health care prices and shines a light on measures they support to help remove cost barriers.”
Key highlights:
Most people with ESI are very concerned about the prices providers charge for health care services. A plurality attribute rising prices to more expensive medication and supplies, increased administrative cost, and bigger hospital profits.
- 85% of people with ESI are concerned about the prices providers charge. Far fewer are concerned about the amount employers pay for their employees’ health insurance.
To address increasing health care provider prices, over three-quarters of people with ESI support requiring price transparency and limits on health care provider prices. Slightly fewer support government regulation of prices in general.
- 89% of people with ESI support requiring price transparency and most (79%) support limiting health care provider prices. Just over half support (55%) insurance plans covering only high-value providers.
- 63% of people with ESI support general government regulation of provider prices, including three-quarters of Democrats, almost half of Republicans, and just over half of independents.
A plurality think higher provider prices explain rising employee premiums. A majority are not aware employers pay the largest share of premiums, and a majority believe ESI is in need of improvement.
- 47% of people with ESI think that premiums for employer-sponsored insurance are increasing due to providers charging higher prices.
- Just 39% of people with ESI know that employers pay most of the premiums for employee health insurance, and half think health insurance companies keep most of the money they receive in premiums for themselves.
- Only 30% of people with ESI think employer-based insurance works pretty well. Conversely, 65% believe it needs improvement.
A plurality of people with ESI believe that the government should be primarily responsible for addressing providers’ prices. Most want employers to advocate for price regulation.
- 80% of people with ESI support employer pressure on providers to charge reasonable prices. 68% support employer advocacy for price regulation.
For complete findings, as well as detailed charts and methodology, click here.
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About Public Agenda
Public Agenda is a national research-to-action organization that digs deep into the key challenges facing our democracy to uncover insights and solutions. Founded in 1975 by the social scientist and public opinion research pioneer Dan Yankelovich and former secretary of state Cyrus Vance, we engage with advocates, journalists, policymakers, and the philanthropic community to ensure public voice is heard in conversations that shape our shared future.
About Arnold Ventures
Founded in 2010 by Laura and John Arnold, Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. They believe philanthropy is uniquely positioned to take risks and make big bets in ways the public and private sectors are often unable or unwilling to do. Arnold Ventures approaches philanthropy as an engine for innovation that can help catalyze new solutions and advocate for public policies that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice for all.