"A good time" and "shopping for health insurance" are rarely found in the same sentence, according to the latest Bankrate Health Insurance Pulse survey. About two-thirds of Americans think shopping for health insurance is about as enjoyable as getting a cavity filled.
Bankrate conducted the survey Nov. 20 through 23 across a nationally representative sample of 1,004 adults. Highlights from the survey are shown below.
1. Seventy-five percent surveyed rate the process of sorting and deciphering complex health plans as equal or worse than doing their own taxes, and 73 percent of respondents said it's as unenjoyable as getting the middle seat on an airplane.
2. Most respondents, 44 percent, said they prefer an insurance plan with a low monthly premium but high deductible. This number can be further broken down by income: According to the survey, 52 percent of Americans making $50,000 or more per year would choose this plan, while only 39 percent of those earning less would make the same choice.
3. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they prefer a plan with a high monthly premium but low deductible. Forty-six percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 prefer this type of plan, while just 33 percent of respondents 50 or older would make the same choice.