9A. Testing the Hypothesis Part 2

Interview #1, My Father:
My dad is a doctor which aligns quite well with my idea. He said he has first hand seen people get in financial troubles due to hospital visits. He thinks this idea is great for the lower middle class and lower class of Americans who don't have the best healthcare and don't have the most money in the world.

Interview #2, My Grandfather:
My grandfather is of the older population that is more often going to the hospital than younger, healthier people. He stated that at this point in his life, he would not use this service as money really isn't an issue and he has gotten this far without using it. He could see people younger and with families using it more though. The need is there, but the technology is a little too new for his age group to really utilize.

Interview #3, Mother of Four Children:
This mother I interviewed loved the idea. Having four children, she said, leads to more hospital and doctors office visits that the average person. Using this app to identify the cheapest places are very important because each savings could potentially be multiplied by 5, including herself.

Interview #4, Clerk at a Gas Station:
I asked the clerk at a gas station if they would answer a couple questions for me and she was more than glad to do so. She said she would most definitely use the app as she is not in the highest paying field, and every dollar counts. There is clearly a huge market for low wage workers who still need to go to the hospital.

Interview #5, Graduate Student:
This person LOVED the idea. He said he recently started paying for his own health insurance, and still has co-pays. As he is trying to get his master's degree and save money, this is an easy way to maximize savings. He mentioned that in a state of emergency he would not use the app, but in the case where he has time, he would definitely try to save some money.

Who is in? Anyone who is trying to save money. This includes people with low wages, people just starting careers or still in school with a lot of student loan debt, large families.	Who is not? People who make a lot of money, or people who have terrific health care packages.
What the need is? The need is to save money. Hospital expenses can be immense, and can really hurt a person financially. This app will help.	What the need is not? The need is not for the well off or for emergencies. Often times people who visit emergency rooms need immediate attention and driving to save money is not an option as life and health is valued more.
Why the need exists? The need exists because the United States does not have universal healthcare. In some European countries, healthcare is universal and there would be no need for this, but in the U.S. people have different levels of healthcare and different income levels.	Alternative explanations Some people are conscious about saving money in most places, and others are more oblivious and keep it on the backburner. If that culture could be switched into a more frugal approach, even with hospital and doctor’s visits, this could be immense.