21 percent of uninsured aren?t internet users

When the website of the federal government’s new Affordable Care Act, www.healthcare.gov, was launched, it was overwhelmed by people seeking low-cost health insurance. Most people – already insured and uninsured – looked online at the new health insurance marketplaces. Such was the demand that, in fact, on October 8, the site went down for maintenance.

But for one-fifth of Americans without health insurance, whether the website is up or down makes little difference: they don’t use the Internet at all. According to a story by the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project, based this calculation on a mid-2012 survey:

“Some of the groups most likely to not have health insurance are the same as those groups most likely to not be online. This includes Hispanics, those who have not attended college, and those living in lower-income households.”

Although information about the new health care marketplaces is also available by regular mail and phone, the government is hoping that as many people as possible expedite matters by using the websites – when they’re up to speed. For the 21 percent of uninsured Americans – more than 10 million people – application is more difficult. Some of those who are unconnected and uninsured can use public libraries or other public computing centers. But that group remains at a disadvantage, both in applying for health insurance and maintaining their accounts.

That’s why Speed Matters urges the government and private sector to continue working to address the barriers to high-speed Internet adoption.

21% of Americans without health insurance do not use the internet (Pew news release, Oct. 1, 2013)

Study: 21 percent of uninsured Americans don't use Internet (CBS/AP/ Oct. 2, 2013)