Baby Boomers Bringing Technology To Senior Years

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

Medicare-eligible baby boomers worry providers attempting to meet MU requirements, but one survey’s results say there may be no reason to fret

The healthcare industry needs to take note that more than 10,000 Americans will be turning 65 every day over the next two decades, and these new senior citizens will be far more Internet savvy than those who preceded them.

According to a report published by Accenture, the Pew Internet & American Life Project notes, “Internet use rates tripled among seniors (65 and over) and doubled among 50 to 64 year olds between 2000 and 2012. The greatest growth in Internet use among all age groups during this period was among seniors 65 and over, ushering in the era of the silver surfer.

“Seniors want to do more than access general healthcare information online. They want online access to their personal health information, and many want to research and evaluate health insurance options, accessing their information once enrolled.”

As of 2012, 91 percent of seniors surveyed were using email frequently, and nearly three-quarters use internet search engines on a regular basis. Seniors even surpassed the 18 to 29 year old demographic when it comes to searching for health information online, and more than half of Medicare beneficiaries have checked out their health plan’s website recently according to EHR Intelligence.

The aforementioned Pew Internet & American Life Project report shows 69 percent of adults ages 65 and older report that they have a mobile phone, up from 57 percent in May 2010. Even among those currently age 76 and older, 56 percent report owning a cell phone of some kind, up from 47 percent of this generation in 2010.

Accenture also discovered 67 percent of Americans 65 and older say that accessing their medical information online is very or somewhat important. Eighty-three percent of US seniors think that they should have full access to their electronic health records, while only 28 percent actually do. Sixty-two percent of seniors believe it is somewhat or very important to be able to book appointments online and 53 percent say it is important or very important to email with providers.

“Not only are today’s Medicare consumers digitally savvy, 55 to 64 year olds aging into Medicare have even higher digital use rates, and are poised to drive adoption as they age in,” writes Accenture.

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