Healthcare consumer confidence improves again in December

Americans' confidence in their ability to access and pay for healthcare improved for the second straight month, according to a consumer sentiment index produced by Thomson Reuters. Respondents reported positive news when asked if they had experienced a reduction in or loss of insurance coverage in December. Overall, the Thomson Reuters Consumer Healthcare Sentiment Index moved upward one point from 98 to 99. "It's extremely encouraging to see high levels of across-the-board optimism from healthcare consumers in this month's report," said Gary Pickens, chief research officer at the Thomson Reuters Center for Healthcare Analytics.