Dive Brief:
- New research from the Kaiser Family Foundation has concluded that roughly half (51%) of those surveyed in a recent study preferred more expensive plans that offer broader networks.
- 37% of respondents said they'd prefer a less expensive plan with a limited range of providers available.
- However, when respondents who said they preferred narrow networks were warned that they might not be able to see their preferred providers, the number favoring narrow networks fell to 23%. Meanwhile, those who first said they preferred more expensive plans with bigger networks changed their preference in many cases when told they could save as much as 25% with narrow network plans.
Dive Insight:
It's not surprising that consumers are ambivalent about narrow network-based plans. Everyone wants the products they purchase to be both affordable and convenient. Unfortunately for those that prefer a wider network, it looks like they'll be out of luck over time, or that at minimum, they'll see prices go up to a level they can't manage. That's just the direction in which things are headed.