Adults using online tools.(Decision Support)(Survey)(Brief article)

Thirty-seven percent of online adults ages 65 and older who are covered by Medicare report having used online healthcare decision-support tools, compared with 44 percent of online adults younger than age 65, according to a survey by Forrester Research.

The survey found that 16 percent of online Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older have used an online physician or healthcare facility finder, compared with 25 percent of online adults younger than age 65. In addition, 10 percent of online Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older have used an online health risk-assessment tool, compared with 15 percent of online adults younger than age 65.

Medicare beneficiaries older than age 65, however, are more likely to use online prescription drug cost comparison tools than younger adults. The survey found that 24 percent of online Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older have used an online prescription drug cost comparison tool, compared with 16 percent of online adults younger than age 65.

Results are based on a June 2008 survey of 5,255 U.S. adults ages 18 to 88.

Print Get the Mag Weekly Updates