title: Determinants of the use of health plan information in formulating health plan selection decisions.
abstract: This study seeks to identify the impact of information on employees' health plan selection decision-making. Surveys were administered to 1,722 Federal employees working in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). This study focuses on the enrollees' access to and use of three types of health plan information: print information issued by the Federal government (in particular, The Guide to Federal Employees Health Benefit Plans), print information issued by the health plans, and web-based information. Literature from health plans was utilized to a greater degree than The Guide. Web-based information was the least accessed and used. Major positive predictors of the use of health plan information from any source were: race, time in Federal employment, whether the employee was considering a plan change, employees with less time in current plan, employees who search for information to make decisions, and spouses' health status. Younger and more-educated employees were more likely to access web-based information. Implications for management, policy, and future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Professions, College of Health and Public Affairs, HPA 2, Room 214, Orlando, FL 32816, USA. doetjen@mail.ucf.edu
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oetjen
authors.forename: Myron D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fottler
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Unruh
mesh_terms: D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D035082:Federal Government; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014483:United States Dept. of Health and Human Services