Millennials and Healthcare

Millennials and Healthcare Posted By:
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Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are those born between 1981 and 1996. They currently comprise one-fourth of all Americans and seem to look at healthcare differently than previous generations. For example, millennials are more likely to research treatment costs online, ask for an estimate upfront, and investigate whether their insurance will cover the treatment/procedure prior to committing to it. In addition, they support telemedicine and would rather video chat, set up appointments, and review health records on a mobile platform instead of visiting a healthcare provider face to face.

Usually millennials do not have a primary care provider; however, if they are sick, they will go to a retail clinic or urgent care that is open on weekends and evenings. They like to wear devices that collect biometric data that can be shared, and often seek medical information from various sources (eg, blogs, message boards, websites, friends), rather than consulting a healthcare provider. Exercise, nutrition, and mental health are essential to their well-being, demonstrated by their tendency to seek out offerings on smoking cessation and stress management.

Since millennials are a growing part of our patient base, it is important to tailor our practices toward their preferences. Some ways we can accomplish this are by having testimonials and reviews from other millennials on our websites or apps, being transparent, and removing medical jargon and other complicated information from our websites. Posting pricing online, as many retail clinics do, also helps to build millennials' trust.

A trend that we are currently seeing in primary care is the hiring of more physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to better meet the needs of millennials. Many practices are also providing patient portals and other digital tools for millennials to communicate with their healthcare provider (ie, smartphones to make appointments or videoconference). Another growing trend is the merging of health insurance companies with drugstore networks.

So when seeing millennial patients in the future, remember to be patient-centered and incorporate some of the aforementioned tips and strategies for a positive visit.

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Filed under: Health Policy and Trends , Practice Management/Career

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