Consumers want more insurer regulation

Americans’ personal experiences interacting with health plans influence their perception of the industry overall, according to Harris Interactive. Its recent poll shows that 40% of 2,383 consumers surveyed believe health insurers should be more regulated by the government than they are now.

Only oil companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers beat out insurers in the consumer rankings of 19 industries, with a response of 45% and 43%, respectively. Harris Interactive has been tracking consumer perception of health insurers for 10 years, and the trend at least seems to be improving.

Believe the industry should be more regulated by government:

2003-59%

2004-56%

2005-46%

2006-48%

2007-52%

2008-49%

2009-45%

2010-42%

2011-40%

2012-40%