Here’s something you may want to make sure your next healthcare plan has: A social media component.
Individuals are increasingly turning to social media sites like Facebook and YouTube to meet their healthcare needs.
Overall, 32% of adults — and 50% of those under the age of 35 — said they’ve used social media for healthcare purposes, found a recent survey of 1,000 adults by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The sites individuals use most to search for healthcare info (and the percent of healthcare consumers who’ve used them):
- Facebook (18%)
- YouTube (12%)
- Blogs (9%)
- Google+ (8%)
- Twitter (6%)
- MySpace (4%), and
- LinkedIn (4%).
According to PwC’s survey report, individuals are using social media sites to help them make decisions about the care they receive, as well as where to go for care.
Social media “will open new opportunities to improve health delivery and outcomes,” said the report.
Social media sites have become popular destinations for consumers looking for fast answers and advice. They provide companies with a prime opportunity to upgrade their customer service experience.
Does your healthcare plan provider have a social media site up that your employees could go to for information on their plan or benefits? Could be worth asking about now — and when it comes time to renew.
Of course, insurers’ ability to keep employees’ personal health info private will be a must.
