




Pension and Employee Benefits: Code, ERISA, & Regulations
This series provides an authoritative and comprehensive reference to the full text of benefits-related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the full text of ERISA, and related proposed and final regulations, as well as the official IRS and DOL preambles, and Committee Reports.
From Spencer's Benefits Reports: Although most Americans were happy with their doctor, the majority (74%) also said that they would like more and better information to help them choose a health care provider, according to a survey sponsored by The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company. More than half (56%) of respondents believed that their regular doctor provided them with above-average care, while a very small proportion (3%) were dissatisfied with their doctor’s quality of care. Hospitals drew similarly high marks—of those with personal or family experience with a hospital in the past five years, more than half (54%) thought that the hospital care provided was above-average, while only 9% thought their hospital’s care was below average.
The survey found that the most important factors in judging hospitals were respondents’ own observations about how the hospital treats patients (79% highlighted its importance), the hospital’s history of mistakes (78%), and how often the hospital has performed a procedure (68%).
Respondents indicated that the most important factors in choosing a doctor were his or her ability to clearly explain issues, a respondent’s own experience with the doctor, and the physician’s board certification, as well as any disciplinary actions by a hospital or government agency. Slightly less important were a doctor’s participation in the respondent’s insurance network or malpractice suits against the doctor. Even less important were recommendations, location, and credentials.
Results were based on telephone interviews conducted among a sample of 1,043 adults (530 men and 513 women) age 18 and older in the continental United States. Interviews were weighted by four variables: age, sex, geographic region, and race. For further information, visit http://www.megainsurance.com.
For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH Pension Plan Guide, CCH Employee Benefits Management, and Spencer's Benefits Reports.
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