Online Access To Doctors Is Popular

U.S. adults are very open to the idea of using the Internet to communicate with healthcare providers, finds Intuit Health. Nearly three quarters (73%) say they’d use a secure online communication portal to schedule medical appointments, pay bills, and/or get lab results.

Two in 10 say it’s not easy to reach their doctors’ offices to ask questions, make appointments, or get lab results. Half would switch doctors in order to get the convenience of online communication with their doctors. Gen Y (59%) adults are more likely than Boomers (29%) to say they’d switch.

The majority of adults are comfortable with online sharing of their health information; 78% would use a secure online method to access their medical histories and share information with their doctors. More than eight in 10 (81%) would take advantage of the opportunity to schedule their own appointments and fill out medical/patient registration forms online.

Rising costs of healthcare are a major area of concern; 62% say their healthcare costs increased in 2010, and 66% expect costs to increase in the future. Seven in 10 are somewhat or very concerned about managing their healthcare bills.

More than four in 10 patients (45%) wait more than a month before paying medical bills. Women are more likely than men to delay payment. More than half of adults (57%) have had at least one medical bill go to a collection agency. Four in 10 (41%) aren’t confident that their medical bills are accurate. [Healthcare/Medical, Online]

Source: “Health Care Check-Up Survey,” Intuit Health, Steve Malik, President & GM, Intuit Health Group, 2632 Marine Way, Mountain View, CA 94043; 650-944-6000; www.intuithealth.com

© Copyright 2011, EPM Communications, Inc. May not be reproduced without written consent of publisher.

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