The ongoing, global COVID-19 pandemic has completely transformed consumer health behavior. According to surveys of US consumers, many of them spent the last year trying to find new brands and channels, switching to in-home options from out-of-home activities, and preferring online and omnichannel engagement. Many of these shifts could linger post-pandemic as well, which is potentially affecting consumer engagement with healthcare. US consumers are rethinking the way they used to address mental as well as public-health challenges, receive healthcare, manage their healthcare needs, and their expectations to do business with healthcare firms. In this article, we have discussed how COVID-19 has impacted US consumer engagement with healthcare systems.
As the US consumer health behavior is changing drastically during the pandemic, healthcare companies should consider adopting new measures along with partnering with personal protective equipment manufacturers in the USA.
How US Consumer Healthcare Needs Are Changing
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how consumers view and receive healthcare. Some of these changes include:
Increasing Whole Person Healthcare Needs
Since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have been going through adverse health. In a recent survey, it was found that one in five respondents reported reduced physical wellness prior to COVID-19, while one in three reported decreased emotional wellness.
The employment and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have aggravated that reduction in wellness. Among employees who reported a reduction in working hours since the beginning of the pandemic, 32% revealed that they did less exercise and 27% reflected that they gained weight.
Also, one in three individuals in the group reported increased levels of stress and anxiety due to the pandemic. This was about 8% points higher than the remaining population.
Consumers Rethink Their Health Insurance Policies and Providers
The pandemic has changed the way how consumers think about their healthcare insurance plans and now they are reconsidering their alternatives. The economic downfall caused due to the pandemic has led to many US consumers losing health insurance coverage. About 39% of that group had not yet confirmed if and how to receive coverage. 33% of earlier uninsured respondents, 70% of whom earn $50,000 or less per annum, reported that they were thinking of healthcare insurance due to the pandemic.
The crisis has also influenced consumer decision-making about which health insurance plans to choose. According to research, of respondents who are more likely to purchase a plan, 49% looked for an affordable insurance plan, 44% preferred better coverage regardless of the cost of the plan, and 11% were dissatisfied with their insurance provider’s response to the pandemic.
While economic ambiguity may result in consumers looking for more affordable healthcare insurance policies, the public health crisis is also creating a demand for better coverage and policies that are very responsive to the crisis. Hence the payers can consider working on the personalization of consumer interactions and product recommendations to meet various consumer needs.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic also influences the decision-making related to healthcare insurance providers. Among 20% of respondents without PCP (Primary Care Provider), around one in three reported a great interest in getting one. Of the 80% of respondents who had a PCP, 11% were looking to change their PCP, mainly due to dissatisfaction with their providers’ response to the crisis, a lack of telemedicine appointments, and inadequate communication related to COVID-19.
Impact on the Decision Making Related to Healthcare
To meet the health concerns related to COVID-19, more than one in three consumers have indicated that they don’t mind the delay in healthcare if they feel that the physical location is safe.
To address their concerns, providers, and payers can implement ways to provide smooth and integrated physical and virtual healthcare. The global pandemic has shifted focus on telehealthcare across stakeholders, thereby facilitating the growth of the virtual healthcare trend.
According to a report, 24% of survey respondents reported that their recent medical appointment was made via telephonic or virtual means. Moreover, many consumers may prefer virtual healthcare for mental as well as behavioral healthcare appointments. Of that group, 47% of consumers reported that they received their latest appointments virtually, and 25% reported that they experienced through the phone.
This trend will be accelerated by the shifting behavior and policies of other healthcare stakeholders, including payers, providers, and regulators. In the pre-COVID-19 era, only 4% of healthcare providers reported that they used telemedicine technology for healthcare follow-ups, mainly because of the absence of parity in reimbursement compared to personal healthcare.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers are now implementing telehealthcare methods and enjoying their benefits. Moreover, healthcare reimbursement is being changed to enhance its economics and the healthcare covered, both of which are crucial for long-term provider use.
Besides, sourcing PPE gear for healthcare professionals from personal protective equipment manufacturers in the USA, healthcare systems can adopt critical measures to improve US consumer engagement.
How Can Healthcare Systems Boost US Consumer Engagement?
To support US consumers in the emerging changes, the healthcare system would benefit from speeding up the shift toward making healthcare personalized and convenient, leveraging omnichannel methods to consumers when and how they wish to, and enhancing transparency for better decision making.
Healthcare organizations can considerably improve their US consumer engagement with their services. Here are some actions that they can take to do so:
- Address the needs of the whole person optimizing healthcare service offerings to cover a wider range of needs by streamlining physical, behavioral, and social care services
- Improve decision-making of consumers by providing transparent, and comprehensive information.
- Personalize and improve US consumer engagement in healthcare.
- Offer seamless and consistent customer experience across healthcare journeys and coverage changes, starting with better access to healthcare.
- Integrate personal and virtual healthcare solutions.
- Partner with wholesale PPE suppliers for maintaining adequate stock of personal protective equipment in your healthcare organization.
Wrapping Up
While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the US consumer healthcare behavior, healthcare systems can actively respond to the healthcare crisis by adopting the aforementioned measures.
As one of the leading wholesale PPE suppliers in the USA, Co-Defend supports healthcare systems during and post-COVID-19 pandemic by supplying high-quality PPE gear at an affordable price range. If you’re looking for reliable partner for PPE needs, you may contact us right away!
FAQs
Q.1. What is the main difference between telemedicine and telehealthcare?
Telemedicine refers to the practice of medicine leveraging technology to offer healthcare services remotely. Telecommunication infrastructure is leveraged to deliver patient care at a distance.
Telehealthcare, on the other hand, refers broadly to electronic and telecommunications solutions and services to offer healthcare and services remotely.
Q.2. What does a PPE kit involve for COVID-19 protection?
A PPE kit involves WHO Priority Medical Devices including surgical and non-surgical masks, face shields, gloves, gowns, goggles, and N95 respirators.
Q.3. In which areas does COVID-19 infection spread more?
COVID-19 infection can easily get transmitted in:
- Crowded public places or gatherings,
- Close-contact areas,
- Confined and enclosed places with bad ventilation systemsHave More Questions? Feel Free to Contact Our Experts.