by A recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging has found that only 7.5% of adults between the ages of 50 and 80 have used direct-to-consumer healthcare services. These online platforms, such as Amazon Clinic, Sesame, and BetterHelp, offer convenient access to healthcare providers without the need for a referral or health insurance. The survey also revealed that middle-aged individuals, between 50 and 64 years old, were more likely to have used these online services compared to adults over 65 (10% versus 4%).
Interestingly, almost half (47%) of respondents over the age of 65 said they had never heard of these direct-to-consumer healthcare companies. However, nearly one-third of older adults expressed interest in using these services in the future. Among those aged 50 to 64, the interest was even higher, with over 42% stating they would consider using online healthcare services.
Dr. Mark Fendrick, a primary care physician at the University of Michigan, expects that more seniors will become interested in using these online services over time. He predicts that the convenience they offer, especially for those willing to pay out-of-pocket, will attract more patients. Fendrick also noted that the increasing number of online healthcare providers and the shortage of primary care clinicians will likely contribute to the growth of these services.
However, the survey also raised concerns regarding patient safety and continuity of care. One-third of respondents who used online-only services admitted that their regular doctor was unaware of their engagement with these platforms. This lack of communication can lead to potentially harmful drug interactions if the online providers are unaware of the patient’s full health history or medical records. Fendrick emphasized the need for providers, insurers, and regulators to pay closer attention to how patients are using these services and their impact on care quality and safety.
The survey revealed that convenience was the primary reason older adults chose to use online health providers, with 55% citing it as their main motivation. Other reasons included a lack of access to their regular doctor, the absence of a regular healthcare provider, or the need for services when their family clinic was not available. Around 20% of respondents indicated discomfort discussing sensitive health issues with their doctor as a reason for turning to online health services.
In terms of the types of care sought through these platforms, nearly half of older adults who used online-only services sought general healthcare, such as treatment for allergies, sinus infections, pink eye, or acid reflux. Other common areas of care included sexual health issues (15%), mental health services (12%), skin care (9%), weight management (6%), hair loss (5%), and pain management (5%).
Despite their utilization of online health services, more than 55% of respondents still believed that they received better overall quality of care from their primary care provider. This highlights the importance of open dialogue and transparency between doctors and patients regarding the use, benefits, and risks of online healthcare services. Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren, director of the poll, emphasized the need for ongoing contact with primary care providers for continued care and advised patients to inform their regular clinicians about their use of online services.
The survey, conducted online and via phone in July and August 2023, included 2,657 adults between the ages of 50 and 80, with 168 participants reporting having used an online health care service.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
