The 1,000-person national poll show consumers who change health insurance plans frequently tend to switch between primary care physicians at a similar rate, requiring them to be the owners of their medical history and regimen. On the other hand, patients interact much more frequently with pharmacists and often turn to them for information and help finding savings for prescription drugs.
Here are seven findings highlighted in the survey.
- Approximately half of Americans with health insurance have had a relationship with their current primary care physician for fewer than three years.
- About half of respondents have changed their health plan in the last three years.
- Nearly half of respondents under age 65 were unaware that regardless of household income, pharmaceutical companies offer co-pay coupons — such as savings cards — to reduce out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines.
- Forty-three percent of respondents indicated their pharmacist always or frequently recommends an alternative prescription medication to what their physician prescribes initially.
- Nearly half of respondents said they always or mostly accept their pharmacist’s alternative recommendation for a medication prescribed by their physician.
- More than three out of four patients will consult their physician or pharmacist first if they have a question about prescription medication; only eight percent visit a medication web site.
- Forty-six percent of respondents said they see their primary care physician only once a year, typically when called, reminded to make an appointment or when they are ill.
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