Millennials and other young adults have grown up in a digital age with large, dominant tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, and Google. Nationwide consumer surveys of more than 6,000 individuals found that younger adults are highly familiar with these companies, and are more inclined than older generations to trust big tech to steer their healthcare journeys.
Three-quarters of adults ages 18-44 said they would use a mobile app developed by Amazon, Apple, or Google to help them find and select healthcare services, compared to less than half of those ages 45 and older. Forty-two percent of those ages 18-44 said they would trust those companies to develop the best online healthcare search tool, compared to just 20 percent of those ages 45 and older.
Rising expectations
Millennials and other young adults want convenient access to healthcare, when and where they need it. They increasingly begin their healthcare journeys online, and are demanding better online services. Among adults ages 18-44, 43 percent said they found where they wanted to receive care by searching online, and nearly half said they prefer to schedule medical appointments online.
When asked their top recommendations for improvements in healthcare, millennials identified the following areas:
• Finding accurate healthcare cost estimates
• Conducting video visits with a physician or nurse
• Finding which providers accept their insurance
• Having the ability to call outside of normal business hours
Young adults do not want to wait for care. Asked how long they are willing to wait to see a primary care physician for a minor injury or illness before seeking another option, most millennials said they will wait no more than a day. About a quarter said they would not wait more than four hours.
Millennials are more open than previous generations to using alternative care models such as telehealth, virtual, and walk-in clinics, yet many are frustrated by a lack of these types of convenient care options. Nearly 50 percent of those surveyed said they do not have easy access to a video visit for basic healthcare needs.
