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In this report: Overview; Insured but not covered; How to pay?; Why health care costs so much; Employers try to cope; Premiums and profits; Can health insurance be fixed?; 7 ways to make the most of your health plan; Details on medical costs; Medicare plan restricts choices; Survey findings; Methodology behind the survey

September 2007

Consumers weigh in on medical costs

	Well insured	Underinsured
Prepared to handle unexpected major medical costs in next 12 months	65%	37%
Postponed needed medical care in past 12 months due to costs	22	56
Dug deep into savings to pay medical bills	9	33
Made important job-related decisions based mainly on health-care needs	11	21
Health plan does not adequately cover prescription-drug costs	7	63

Source: Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of a nationally representative sample of 2,905 adults ages 18 through 64. The underinsured are respondents who had two or more of these complaints: plans with high deductibles, inadequate coverage for doctor visits, prescription drugs, medical tests, surgery and nonsurgical procedures, or catastrophic medical conditions.