Millions of ACA customers cut back on their healthcare utilization to reduce costs, according to new research from Germany-based market research organization GfK.
GfK's study — conducted last August before this week's announcement of 25 percent average ACA premium hikes — found 50 percent of ACA exchange customers cut back on care to help manage their health costs. This compares to 33 percent among the general insured population.
For the study, GfK surveyed 921 insured U.S. consumers, age 18 and older, including 301 people who use the ACA for insurance.
The study found ACA customers were more likely to save money by skipping physician visits when sick (36 percent), according to GfK. And women (43 percent) were more likely to skip physician visits than men (28 percent).
Additionally, a significant number of ACA exchange users with lower incomes (below $25,000 a year) are turning to urgent care facilities and "minute clinics," researchers said. In fact, according to GfK, 27 percent of these lower income ACA exchange users have done so in the past year, compared to just 12 percent of the overall ACA customer population.
Researchers said visiting outlets such as urgent care facilities and "minute clinics" is often an attractive option to people who may not have formed lasting relationships with providers, especially as visiting these outlets may be less expensive.
GfK's study also looked at price shopping among ACA exchange customers. Researchers found only 6 percent of ACA exchange customers have shopped around among providers to find the best price, and only 5 percent have negotiated a cash discount with a provider to avoid using insurance.
Rather, insurance "shopping" appears to be a more popular strategy, with 24 percent of ACA exchange users saying they have changed to a lower-cost insurance plan, according to GfK. Also, researchers said 18 percent of ACA exchange users have used a pharmacy rewards program.
"Lower-income populations are still the most likely to stick with the ACA exchanges, and should be able to ride out the new premium increases thanks to the subsidies," Liz Reyer, vice president of consulting and health insurance practice lead at GfK, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, too many are unaware of these subsidies and may either drop coverage or — if their deductibles and co-pays rise — forego more doctor visits and possibly medication. To maintain the ideals as well as the cost models behind the ACA, consumer training in self-advocacy and educating consumers about care and coverage options, including subsidies, may be just as important as, say, promoting wellness visits."
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