Which US Consumers Are Healthcare eVisit Early Adopters?

eVisits — interactions between patients and care professionals that occur online — have the potential to simultaneously help control healthcare costs and allow physicians to dispense routine medical advice quickly and conveniently. Despite these appealing attributes, eVisit adoption among US consumers remains strikingly low. When we look specifically at eVisits that take place in writing, less than a quarter of patients whose doctors offer email have used it, while only 16% have taken advantage of their doctors' online forms for medical visits. A look at eVisit users reveals that they are young, well-off, wired, and proactive about their health. To entice mainstream users to use eVisit platforms, health plans and health systems should address lingering payment issues, position eVisits as equivalent to in-person visits, and provide clear, easy-to-follow instructions and help for less tech-adept patients.