A large annual survey of consumer satisfaction with health plans finds 41% of members of employer-sponsored insurance plans would shop for coverage through a private health insurance exchange if their employer provided vouchers for purchasing insurance independently.

Surveyed members also are more receptive to shopping for coverage through a state-sponsored exchange. Thirty-seven percent said they would not likely use a state exchange, compared with 50% a year ago.

JD Power and Associates surveyed more than 32,000 members of commercial health plans between November 2011 and January 2012 for its sixth annual U.S. Member Health Plan Study. Those surveyed represented members of 141 health plans in 17 regions across the nation. Other survey results include:

• Member satisfaction with their health plan averaged 702 on a 1,000-point scale, compared with 696 a year ago. Members perceive simpler benefit designs as consistent and dependable.
• Health plan members in the Illinois/Indiana/Michigan/Ohio region are most satisfied with their coverage and those in the Mountain region are least satisfied.

—      Joseph Goedert, is a news editor for Health Data Management, a SourceMedia publication.