10 Abr Millennials change the healthcare system

Millennials (ages 21–32) will change the healthcare system by expecting continuous improvement.

Advances in technology, demographic shifts and consumer trends will affect the healthcare landscape in the future.

As patients behave more like consumers, they seek to use their digital skills and experiences as they interact with the healthcare system.

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in the U.S., there is a shift toward patient-centered care. PNC Healthcare commissioned Shapiro+Raj to explore it on this whitepaper.

Each generation is becoming proactive with respect to their health and healthcare, demanding more digital access to healthcare and information.

In the case of millennials, they are the ones that take the most responsibility of all the cohorts for their own healthcare through adjusting their lifestyle and doing research.

On top of it, they are willing to identify the right providers and get others’ opinions. However, this generation tends to be skeptical of most sources and behaves differently from previous ones.

First of all, millennials express the greatest concern about their ability to afford care for their children in the future. As a result, they are also more willing to modify their behavior for a better service and a better price.

Above all, 81% expressed confidence in their primary care physician (PCP), while 81% expressed confidence in nurses, 80% in doctors in general, and 78% in urgent care clinics.

Overall, the lack of confidence in the system and concerns about costs manifests itself in several ways:

• 54% of millennials said they’d delay or avoid getting medical treatment because of costs
• Also, 43% of millennials are willing to go out of network for a better doctor
• Another 46% said they would switch their primary care provider if they could find care at a lower price
• Finally 56% of millennials said they’d usually wait a few days before seeking medical care for a child

SOURCES: Okodia Blog, PNC Health.