External Influences On Consumer Choice

Health care consumers receive various communications about different health care options. It is important to understand consumer demographics to determine the impact (positive or negative) media, social networks, branding, marketing, and communication play in health care consumer choices.

In this assignment, you will research managed care plans to determine what impact social media and other external influences have on consumer behaviors. Research the different managed care insurance plans listed below by reviewing various health care organizations or resources (e.g., Kaiser as an HMO).

Consider within your research who might access the health care systems (i.e., age, generation, socioeconomic status, military/veteran, and health care insurance plans, etc.).

List 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of HMOs, PPOs, and POSs in the following chart.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

Point of Service (POS)

Advantages

1.

2.

1.

2.

1.

2.

Disadvantages

1.

2.

1.

2.

1.

2.

Write a 90- to 175-word response to the following prompts. Consider the information you listed in the chart above as well as what you know about consumer behavior when you compose your response.

· Explain the impact media and social networking have on consumers when choosing the most appropriate managed care health insurance plans. Consider the positive and negative impacts.

· Describe how branding, marketing, and communication influence a consumer’s choice when considering an appropriate managed care health insurance plan. Consider positive and negative influences.

· Explain how communication and education to consumers differ by generation when marketing managed care health insurance plans. Consider why it is important to communicate and educate differently across generations.