Thomson Reuters Study Finds Healthcare Consumer Confidence Improved 12 Percent Since...

Thomson Reuters Study Finds Healthcare Consumer Confidence Improved 12 Percent
Since March
New Index Measures Impact of Economy on Healthcare Experience of Consumers

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans have grown increasingly
confident about their ability to pay for healthcare services.

A new report -- Thomson Reuters Healthcare Indexes(TM): Consumer Confidence --
found that consumer confidence related to healthcare expenditures increased 12
percent between March and July.

The analysis is based on telephone surveys of 3,000 households each month from
March through July 2009 -- part of the Thomson Reuters PULSE((R)) Healthcare
Survey. PULSE polls more than 100,000 U.S. households each year about their
healthcare behaviors, attitudes and utilization, making it the nation's
largest and longest running privately funded healthcare survey.

Consumers were asked about their ability to pay for medical care and the
likelihood they would postpone or cancel care during the next three months due
to economic concerns.

Here are the key findings:

-- Healthcare Consumer Confidence Rises: Overall consumer confidence
increased 12 percent between March and July.
-- Payment Confidence Index Up 18 Percent: A sub-index reflecting
respondents' belief that they will be able to pay for their
healthcare expenses in the next three months rose 18 percent during
the
study period.
-- Patients Say They Are Less Likely to Postpone Care: Sub-indexes that
reflect respondents' anticipated ability to access routine care,
urgent care, medical testing, elective surgery and therapies all
increased between 8 percent and 15 percent.
-- Older Americans Most Confident: Overall confidence levels and rate of
improvement of confidence were both highest among seniors.

-- Insurance Coverage Has Powerful Effect on Confidence: Those without
insurance coverage had overall confidence levels 80 percent lower than
average in July.

"These findings are consistent with data we've been seeing for everything from
hospital discharge trends to opinions about healthcare reform," said Gary
Pickens, chief research officer for the Healthcare & Science business of
Thomson Reuters and lead author of the study. "There is growing optimism among
many healthcare consumers, but also is a clear disparity in outlook between
those with higher income levels who have insurance coverage and those who are
uninsured. This gap needs to be an area of focus for healthcare professionals
and policymakers."

A copy of the study is available here (free registration required). This
analysis is part of a series of research papers assessing the impact of the
current recession on the healthcare system.

About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for
businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative
technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the
financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media
markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With
headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota,
Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people in 93 countries. For more
information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

David Wilkins, +1-734-913-3397, David.wilkins@thomsonreuters.com