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A major challenge in the health insurance industry is adaptation to change: in technology, generational values, and the way we access care. This week, we're sharing data on the increase in physicians willing to use telehealth, plus statistics on how Gen Z and Millennials compare to older generations when it comes to visiting a doctor or the ER.

Physician willingness to use telehealth increases, motivated by access, burnout: survey

American Well’s 2019 physician survey finds 69% of physicians would be willing to use telehealth, up from 57% in 2015. This increase in physician willingness is the result of a decrease in the number of physicians who are unsure about telehealth. Other findings include:  

• A total of 22% of physicians have used telehealth to see patients, up 340% from 2015 when only 5% of physicians reported having ever used telehealth.
• Access is a key driver of telehealth adoption.
• There's a high correlation between burnout and interest in telehealth.
• By 2022, between 340,000 and 590,000 physicians expect to be using telehealth.
• While most physicians use telehealth occasionally, by 2022 over half say they will use it frequently. 
• Physician barriers to telehealth include uncertainty around reimbursement and questions about clinical appropriateness. 

Survey: Most Gen Z and Millennial patients research cost burden before visiting doctor

A survey by TransUnion Healthcare revealed 75% of patients are looking up the cost of medical procedures online. Among the findings: 

• 62% of patients said knowing their estimated OOP costs can influence whether or not they will access healthcare.
• 49% said having a clear estimate of financial responsibility will impact whether they visit a certain provider.
• 85% and 84% of Gen Z and Millennial patients, respectively, said they research their cost burden before visiting the doctor. Between 60 and 65% said costs can sway whether they visit the doctor or hospital.
• 73% of Gen X patients said they looked up health care costs online, compared to 65% of Baby Boomers, while 44% and 34% of Gen X and Baby Boomer patients, respectively, said online price transparency influenced their healthcare access decisions. 

Study: Nearly three in four Americans say it’s easier to go to the ER than to get a doctor’s appointment

A Zocdoc study reveals 73% of Americans think it’s easier to go to the ER than to get a doctor’s appointment. The study found that even though 84% of Americans have an established relationship with a primary care physician, the majority (65%) would still visit the ER if they couldn’t get in to see a doctor at the office quickly enough. Younger generations like Millennials (ages 25-39) and Gen Z (ages 18-24) were even more likely to do so (71% and 69%, respectively).

The study also found 33% had gone to the ER for non-urgent medical care and 14% view the ER as their primary care doctor. Again, younger generations are most responsible for this growing trend. A quarter of Gen Z (25%) and Millennials (24%) view the ER as their primary care doctor, which represents a stark contrast to 3% of Boomers (ages 55+) and 14% of Gen X (ages 40-54) respondents who said the same.

About AllWays Insider

AllWays Insider launched September 2019 to help brokers stay up to date on what they need to know about the health care market and AllWays Health Partners. Register for the blog here.