Health survey: Americans prefer online communication for health care needs Posted: March 4th, 2011

The second annual Intuit Health Care Check-Up Survey finds Americans increasingly want online options to communicate with their physicians about health-care needs. In addition, most survey respondents express concern about how to pay for their health insurance and health care costs.

Of those polled, 73 percent would prefer increased online services from physicians, including being able to schedule appointments, request lab results, pay bills and otherwise communicate with their doctor's office via the internet, according to the survey. Twenty percent of people report difficulty reaching their doctor through traditional means.

Five other survey findings:

1. 62 percent of respondents say health care costs increased in 2010
2. 67 percent expect future increases in health care costs
3. 41 percent are not confident that health care bills are correct
4. 20 percent are unsure whether to pay the health insurance company or the doctor
5. 57 percent have had at least one medical bill sent to a collections agency

The online poll of 1,000 adults, conducted by Decipher Research on behalf of Inuit, was completed in January.