Homework: External Influences on Consumer Choices
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 homework 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 for the HMOs, PPOs, and POSs and 2 disadvantages of each of the same in a chart like the one below:
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Point of Service (POS)
Advantages
Disadvantages
Write a 90 to 175 words response to the following prompts. Consider the information you listed above and what you know about consumer behavior when you compose your response.
a. Explain the impact media and social networking have on consumers when choosing the most appropriate plans. Consider the positive and negative impact.
b. Discuss how branding, marketing, and communication influences a consumer's choice when considering an appropriate plan. Consider positive and negative influence.
c. Explain how communication and education to consumers differs by generations when marketing plans.
o Consider why it is important to communicate and educate differently between generations.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.