7th Annual Ipsos-Reid/Aventis Healthcare Survey

Ottawa, ON -- According to a new Ipsos-Reid survey conducted on behalf of Aventis Healthcare, while Canadian benefit plan holders place significant value on their health benefit plan (94% say their plan meets their needs), there has been a steady decline since 1999 in the degree to which these plans meet the needs of Canadians. In fact, only 58 per cent of respondents say their plan meets their needs "extremely well" or "very well" -- down from 73 per cent in 1999.

Findings also reveal that among plan members who say they are satisfied in their job, 59 per cent say their plan meets their needs "extremely well" or "very well". Of those who are unsatisfied with their job, only 34 per cent say their plan meets their needs (extremely/very well).

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/Aventis Healthcare telephone survey conducted from January 7th to 18th, 2004. Telephone interviews were conducted among a random sample of 1,503 Canadians, 18 years of age and older. All respondents are primary employer-sponsored health benefits plan holders. With a sample of this size, the overall results are within ±2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire survey population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. The data have been statistically weighted to ensure that the age, gender and regional composition of the sample reflect those of the adult population according to the 2001 Census data.

Plan Continues To Meet Needs, But Decline In Those Who Say Meets Needs Extremely/Very Well

Overall, respondents say that their health benefit plan meets their needs (94%). Half (58%) say that it meets their needs extremely/very well, while 36% say it meets their needs somewhat well. Less than one in ten (6%) say that their needs are not met. While Canadians place significant value on their health benefit plan, there has been a steady decline since 1999 in the degree to which these plans meet the needs of Canadians. In fact, only 58 per cent of respondents say their plan meets their needs "extremely well" or "very well" -- down from 73 per cent in 1999.

Findings also reveal that among plan members who say they are satisfied in their job, 59 per cent say their plan meets their needs "extremely well" or "very well". Of those who are unsatisfied with their job, only 34 per cent say their plan meets their needs (extremely/very well).

Trade-Offs

Respondents were asked to choose between having extra money per year ($2K, $5K or $8K) or keeping their health benefit plan. Findings reveal that the plan won out against each financial option. On average, 72% of respondents chose the health benefit plan:

• A majority of respondents (81%) said they would prefer their employee health benefit plan to an extra $2,000 cash per year, while one in five (19%) would prefer the cash option.
• Three in four (70%) respondents said they would prefer their employee health benefit plan to an extra $5,000 cash per year, while one in four (28%) would prefer the cash option.
• Two in three (65%) respondents said they would prefer their employee health benefit plan to an extra $8,000 cash per year, while one in three (34%) would prefer the cash option.

Funding Alternatives -- Paying Higher Premiums Still Preferred Option

When respondents were given a choice of funding alternatives if their employer was unable or unwilling to pay for increased costs to their health benefit plan, half of respondents said they would "pay a higher premium themselves to maintain the same coverage" (50%), this is followed by those who said they would "pay a higher portion of the cost when their actually used a medical service" (31%), and fewer (15%) said they would "reduce the benefits they received but pay the same premiums."

Importance Of Health Benefit Plan Components

When asked how important each component of the health benefit plan was to respondents, overall findings reveal that a majority of plan holders feel all components are important. Almost all respondents said the drug plan was very/somewhat important (98%), as were the dental plan (95%), extended healthcare (95%), and short/long-term disability (94%). A majority also thought accidental death/dismemberment (89%) and life insurance (86%) were important.

Employer Should Not Limit Plan

Most respondents (87%) agree that their "employee health benefit plan should cover any prescription drug their doctor prescribes to them, regardless of costs." Conversely, only 27% agree that "it is acceptable for their employer to decrease employee health benefits because of increasing plan costs."

Sense Of Entitlement To Healthcare And Difficulties Accessing Provincial Healthcare

Respondents were asked about their attitudes regarding healthcare. Findings reveal that 87% of respondents strongly agree (62%) or somewhat agree (25%) that "Canadians should have access to new medications as quickly as citizens in the U.S." Similarly, 85% strongly agree (48%) or somewhat agree (37%) that "as a Canadian they are entitled to the best possible healthcare, regardless of the cost to the government." Finally, 53% strongly agree (16%) or somewhat agree (37%) that "it is difficult to access the services available under their provincial healthcare system."

• Residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (62%) are most likely to agree that is difficult to access the services available under their provincial healthcare system, followed closely by residents of Quebec (60%), Atlantic Canada (59%), British Columbia (51%), Ontario (49%), and Alberta (47%).

Interest In Specific Wellness Programs

When asked if they would be interested in specific wellness initiatives, most respondents (81%) said they would be likely to participate in a disease detection program like testing for diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis. Almost as many also said they would be likely to use a gym or on-site fitness facility (78%), or would participate in an on-site vaccination program (73%). Slightly fewer said they would participate in a weight loss program (56%) and a smoking cessation program (40%).

Please open the attached PDF to view the factum and detailed tables.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Alexandra Evershed
Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs
(613) 241-5802