Survey finds 25 percent of U.S. adults use AI for medical advice due to cost

One in four U.S. adults now turn to AI chatbots for medical advice because they cannot afford a doctor's appointment, according to a survey of 1,250 adults conducted by insurance platform Insuranceopedia. The poll found that 25 percent of respondents aged 18 and older have asked AI for help with health issues.

Among adults aged 18 to 24, the share reached 53 percent. Respondents earning between $45,000 and $49,999 used AI for medical advice at a rate nearly five percentage points higher than the next income group.

Concerns over accuracy Medical experts have raised questions about the reliability of AI-generated health information. A study published last October in the peer-reviewed journal BMJ found that AI chatbots gave problematic medical advice in roughly half of tested cases, with 20 percent rated highly problematic.

The same study reported that chatbots performed best on questions about vaccines and cancer and worst on topics involving stem cells, athletic performance, and nutrition. A fourth-year surgical resident at Duke Health wrote that AI systems lack the ability to interpret broader patient context that clinicians use when answering questions.

Additional uses and background The Insuranceopedia survey also found that 22 percent of U.S. adults use AI to understand health insurance coverage, 19 percent seek help interpreting medical bills, and 16 percent compare insurance plans with AI assistance.

Mayo Clinic has noted that AI can assist with explaining medical terms and offering general wellness guidance. The findings come as 44 percent of Americans reported difficulty affording healthcare costs in a December 2025 survey by healthcare data group KFF.