Aflac’s fourth annual Wellness Matters Survey found 76% of Gen Z and 63% of millennials now turn to artificial intelligence as their first line of primary healthcare, according to results released Aug. 4.
The survey, conducted in March 2026 by Kantar Profiles among 2,000 employed U.S. adults ages 18 to 65, found AI use for healthcare drops sharply with age: 47% of all Americans surveyed use AI for health information, compared to 76% of Gen Z and 63% of millennials.
The shift toward AI comes as younger workers skip in-person care. Sixty-five percent of Gen Z and 61% of millennials reported skipping routine checkups in the past year, compared to 47% of Gen X and 33% of baby boomers. Only 48% of Gen Z respondents have a primary care doctor, versus 87% of baby boomers.
Emergency and urgent care use also rose among Gen Z, climbing to 62% in 2026 from 51% in 2025. Usage increased among Hispanic, Black, and Asian American respondents as well.
Matthew Owenby, Aflac’s chief human resources officer and chief administrative officer, said younger Americans are substituting convenience for consistent care. “Young Americans are replacing in-person preventive care with the convenience and speed of digital health support,” Mr. Owenby said.
The survey also found 51% of Gen Z respondents believe a cancer diagnosis is unlikely for them, compared to 36% of millennials and 26% of Gen X. Aflac, a Fortune 500 supplemental health insurance provider, has published the Wellness Matters Survey annually for four years to track how Americans engage with preventive care and health benefits.
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