The findings show that less than a third (31%) of seniors (age 65 and older) have ever gone online compared to more than two-thirds (70%) of the next generation of seniors (50-64 year-olds).
The difference indicates that online resources for health information may soon play a much larger role among older Americans. For example, only 21% of seniors have gone online to look for health information compared to 53% of 50-64 year-olds. In addition, the internet was ranked 5th on a list of media sources of health information for seniors compared to first among 50-64 year-olds.
The survey also drew attention to the fact that this significant digital divide could leave those most in need with less information on which to base important health care decisions. Seniors whose annual household income is under $20,000 a year are much less likely to have gone online (15%) than those with incomes between $20,000-49,000 (40%) or $50,000 a year or more (65%).
We know that the internet can be a great health tool for seniors, but the majority are lower-income, less well educated and not online, said Drew Altman, President and CEO, Kaiser Family Foundation. It’s time for a national discussion on how to get seniors online.
The survey also drew attention to the federal web site Medicare.gov, which has become an important resource for comparing the benefits of competing cards, especially with the passage of Medicare reform that allows recipients to choose prescription drug discount cards, with 2% of all seniors visiting the site.
