Fruits and Vegetables Should be Desirable and Affordable

Today the Alliance released the 2014 Healthy Americas Survey, a bilingual phone survey with a nationally representative sample of 846 respondents fielded from February 16th to March 2nd of this year. The Downloadable version of the 2014 Healthy Americas Survey is available at the Alliance’sHealthy Americas Institute website at www.healthyamericasinstitute.org. 

The findings show that access to care is part of the solution for achieving the best health outcomes for all. While there are obvious steps people can take which are critical, e.g., drinking less soda and sugary drinks and eating more fruits and vegetables, these options are not as simple as they may appear.

There is a huge amount of creative talent and dollars that are spent on getting people to buy sugary drinks. It would be wonderful if we could spend as much on advertising for fruits and vegetable and other healthy options as is spent on options that are not as healthy.  While PSAs are helpful they are few and far between and often play in the off-hours to fill in the time when no one wants to buy advertising time. Moreover, fresh fruits and vegetables are often financially out of reach for families with modest means.

We need to make it desirable and easier for everyone to eat in a healthier way.  

Affordable Care Act and the Alliance

Between September 30, 2013 and February 23, 2014 the Health Promotion Advisers at the Alliance spoke to 15,862 consumers about what the Affordable Care Act means to them.  There were many important lessons but the top ten were:

1. All consumers know that insurance is important to have.
2. The state you live in makes a huge difference.
3. Consumers like to know what are all of their options.
4. Technology is a great tool but it is not enough.
5. Mobile platforms are essential.  
6. If you have never had health insurance, or even if you did, the language of insurance is confusing.
7. Comparisons based solely on monthly cost is the wrong way to make a selection.
8. Co-pays should be more accurately described as "you pay"
9. Coverage for mental health needs to be upfront.  
10. Conversations with an informed and trusted source are key.