Survey of Over-65 Population by Erickson Health(SM) Shows Top Fears Are Rising Health Care Costs and Changes in Medicare

Erickson Health, whose care model enables retirees to thrive by reducing the amount of time they spend in the most restrictive and expensive health care settings - assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospitals, recently commissioned a telephone survey of the over-65 population in five cities: Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Denver, and Phoenix. The purpose of the study was to 1) assess interviewees' understanding of their overall health; 2) find out what they fear most; and 3) measure their satisfaction with their doctors and health systems.
A total of 2,007 people were interviewed. Their results gave data that are 95 percent accurate, although results may be subject to sampling error. Findings of the study include:
• Health status: Those interviewed said they are generally in good overall health (83%). Specifically, the majority of those interviewed (80%) say their health has remained about the same over the past six months. Only 15% say they are in fair or poor health; this was mostly in the over age 75 group who were also the most likely to say their health is worse now than it was six months ago. One-third of those interviewed say they have one chronic condition for which they are currently being treated, while another 22% say they have two conditions; and approximately a fourth of those interviewed are not being treated for any chronic conditions.
• Responsibility for health care: When asked about who is most responsible for "your health," there were geographical variances. Those in Denver (84%), Phoenix (84%), and Charlotte (81%) are more likely to be responsible for their own health than those living in Boston where 74% take responsibility for their own health. Also, as age increases, the number of those interviewed who said they are responsible for their own health decreases: 88% of 65-69 year-olds; 82% of those 70-74 years old; and 72% of those 75 years of age or older.
• Terms: When those interviewed hear the term "wellness," more than one-half (54%) associate this with being healthy or in good health. Nearly 37% of those interviewed say they associate doctors or hospital care with the term "medical care," while 28% associate it with insurance coverage.
• What's important: At this stage in their lives, the vast majority of those interviewed say being independent (92%), financially stable (91%), and keeping active (90%) are most important to them. Meanwhile, just more than 80% gave similar importance ratings for staying physically fit (85%); being with family (83%); having easy access to health care (83%); and being able to get health care appointments when they need them (83%).
• Concerns: Those interviewed appear to be most worried about the cost of health care (49%). Also, just over one-third of those interviewed say they are worried about losing their independence (41%), future changes in Medicare (38%), their wellness (36%), as well as having to go to a nursing home (33%). Geographical differences can also be found: those interviewed in Boston are more likely to say they are worried about the above than those interviewed in Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, or Phoenix. People in Boston are also more worried about getting chronic diseases and becoming hospitalized.
• Interference with day-to-day living: Those interviewed were asked to rate a series of factors on the extent to which each interferes with their ability to accomplish the things they wish to do on a daily basis. Roughly one in ten of those interviewed say their health, age, and/or financial situation interferes with their ability to accomplish the things they wish to do.
• Physician satisfaction: The majority of those interviewed are satisfied with their current primary care doctor, with 82% giving their doctor positive ratings overall. Furthermore, the vast majority of those interviewed (94%) consult their primary care doctor when they have questions about a personal health problem. On average, those interviewed have been with their current primary care doctor for approximately 11.5 years. While the vast majority of those interviewed (88%) currently travel less than 30 minutes to see their doctor, about three-fourths (73%) say they would still be likely to travel to their doctor's office if it moved 30 minutes farther away. The vast majority of those interviewed appear to be satisfied with their doctor's appointments, with 96% saying their doctor always or usually explains things in a way they can understand; 91% saying they always or usually get enough face-to-face time with the doctor; and 90% saying they always or usually see their doctor as opposed to a nurse practitioner.
• Information sources: Doctors are the number one source for getting health information for those interviewed. Family members and the Internet are close seconds, with more than one third of those interviewed using these sources.
About Erickson Health: Erickson Health's integrated network of physicians, programs, services, information, and research empower people to enjoy themselves despite the multiple chronic conditions that are symptomatic of aging. These multi-simultaneous chronic conditions require close coordination among a wide variety of health care providers. Without well coordinated treatment and management strategies, people with multiple chronic conditions often suffer unnecessary severe debilitation. Erickson Health utilizes a fully implemented electronic medical record system as well as a health portal for patients. Also available for residents is a unique residents-only health (Medicare Advantage plan) insurance plan with lower premiums and co-pays that avoids unnecessary hospitalizations.