Communicating for America Releases Study on High-Speed Internet Discrepancies in Relation to Health Care in Rural Communities
Survey shows lack of rural broadband access equates to lack of access to health insurance and necessary medical care
Communicating for America (CA), a rural advocacy organization, has released a new study that correlates the lack of high-speed internet to the lack of health insurance coverage and access to health care. The survey, conducted in
Of those surveyed, 39% in urban and semi-urban areas said they had high-speed internet. The number dropped to 21% in rural areas. The study’s findings went on to show people without high-speed internet were significantly less likely to have health insurance (61% had coverage) compared to individuals that have broadband internet (88%). A similar disparity was shown in health care systems. Of those without broadband internet, only 5% have used low-cost telemedicine for medical treatment, whereas 22% of individuals with high-speed internet have used telemedicine in the past. In addition:
- People without access to broadband internet are significantly less likely to use online medical records (29%) than people who have broadband internet (59%).
- People without access to broadband internet are significantly less likely to schedule appointments online (17%) than people who do have broadband internet (36%).
Demographics of the survey participants also told the story of who is being affected by the lack of broadband access. The percentage of broadband users was over 40% male. Yet those without high-speed internet access was nearly 70% female. Individuals without broadband access were also likely to not own a computer (only 48% do) compared to those who have access to high-speed broadband and own a personal computer (92%).
According to the
“As more and more of our health care activities happen online, our main research question was, compared to people with high-speed, broadband internet, are those without broadband internet resources more likely to be uninsured? Are they less likely to use telemedicine? We found a gaping hole in access and equality,” said
Read the full analysis of the survey and review CA’s white paper on rural broadband issues.
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191009005091/en/
Source: Communicating for America
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