Factors Influencing Disenrollment From an HMO

A survey was conducted of people who disenrolled from a prepaid group practice Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Disenrollees were more dissatisfied with the organization of the HMO and the care they received than those who remained in the plan. Changes in eligibility for HMO coverage and dissatisfaction with medical service were the first and second most frequently reported reasons for disenrollment. Although the sample was drawn during a period when there was an increase in the cost of HMO premiums and a concomitant decrease in the cost of comparable Blue Cross/Blue Shield premiums the disparity of costs for health insurance was given by only a small proportion of respondents as the reason for disenrollment.