If you frequent the Altera Digital Health blog, you might have seen our earlier pieces on healthcare trends among Generation Z (Gen Z) and the baby boomer generation written by my colleagues, Jaimes Blunt and Dr. Jeanne Armstrong, respectively. To continue this theme of generational deep dives, we thought it would be fitting to explore a cohort sandwiched between these two groups. Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are generally understood as those born between 1981 and 1996. There are approximately 72.1 million millennials in the U.S., making them the largest generation in the country today.

Here are a handful of things to keep in mind when thinking about millennials in the healthcare space.

A 30,000-foot view

From racial and ethnic perspectives, millennials as a whole are more diverse than older generations; approximately 56% are white, 14% are Black, 21% are Hispanic, 6% are Asian and 3% identify with other groups, according to census data. Additionally, one quarter of millennials speak a language other than English at home.

Though a greater share of millennials have completed bachelor’s degrees than their predecessors (39%), they tend to have lower net worths than baby boomers did at their age ($12,500 in 2016 versus $20,700 in 1983). Relatedly, one study on employee health found that millennial workers had the highest rate of social determinants of health (SDOH) risk factors as compared to Gen Z, Gen X and baby boomer workers; 13% had three or more SDOH risks, including financial insecurity and social isolation.

It is relevant to combine these findings with what we socialized regarding Gen Z’ers, of which 58% report two or more unmet SDOH needs. Considering contextual economic factors like inflation, it is clear that SDOH risks will be of greatly increasing importance for these younger generations. Examining these trends gives healthcare systems and partners clarity around the importance and rationale behind impending technology regulatory trends related to SDOH. This confluence of factors signals to us that as younger generations become more prominent and dependent users of healthcare services, SDOH insights will not only pose a regulatory requirement, but an invaluable source of insight to help inform better care for patients.

And while 83% of millennials consider themselves to be in good or excellent health, data paints a different picture, as they have higher rates of several conditions than Gen Xers did at the same age, including major depression, hyperactivity, hypertension and type II diabetes.

Given these concerning figures, it is pivotal for providers to screen for SDOH and deliver culturally competent care to account for the gamut of factors influencing their millennial patients’ health outside of the exam room.

“…it is pivotal for providers to screen for SDOH and deliver culturally competent care to account for the gamut of factors influencing their millennial patients’ health outside of the exam room.”

Zooming in on tech trends

Understanding how millennials tend to view and interact with the healthcare ecosystem is also key for provider organizations looking to create more personalized healthcare experiences. While millennials are the last generation to experience the pre-digital era, they came of age and grew with technology. More than 90% of millennials own a smartphone and 86% use social media, while 68% of boomers own a smartphone and 59% use social media. It may come as no surprise, then, that technology tends to play a bigger role in millennial healthcare decisions.

Healthcare leaders seeking to attract and retain millennial patients should consider trends such as:

• Millennials prefer a hybrid of in-person and virtual care more than older generations and Gen Z, at a rate of 40%
• More than 67% of millennials read online reviews before picking a physician and they are significantly more likely to do so than patients from older generations
• Approximately 73% of millennials (and Gen Z) prefer to schedule their healthcare appointments digitally, while only 40% of boomers favor this method
• <a href="https://www.aha.org/aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2021-06-29-there-may-be-generation-gap-telehealths-future”>Convenience is one of the top reasons millennials prefer telehealth to in-person care

In summary, millennials and Gen Z’ers are more diverse than prior generations. These younger generations will face ever more challenging economic pressures and are more “plugged in” than those before them. They will face constraints with time and financial resources to afford and access care. Yet they are more willing and able to leverage digital platforms.

Taken together, these findings suggest that, through technology, providing options and flexibility can help healthcare organizations offer care that fits into millennial patients’ lives more easily. Given the growing diversity combined with increasing SDOH risks, understanding patient constraints and offering flexibility with regards to care plans may yield increased care plan compliance and better outcomes for these generations.

More broadly, these trends also serve as a reminder that as technology and the world around us evolve, so do the preferences and needs of patients of all ages.

At Altera, we’re working to make healthcare easier to access, easier to understand and easier to navigate. Learn more about how we’re bringing next-level healthcare within reach—for everyone involved—here.