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Consumers are increasingly using AI tools founded on large language models to answer health-related questions, from understanding insurance coverage to checking symptoms.
According to a report released by generative AI (GenAI) giant OpenAI, more than 40 million people ask ChatGPT healthcare-related questions each day, with roughly 1.5 million to 2 million questions about health insurance submitted to ChatGPT each week.
Queries range from comparing health plans to handling billing issues, claims and price transparency.
Overall, healthcare-related topics account for more than 5% of all messages sent to ChatGPT globally, amounting to billions of interactions each week.
The report also found about 70% of health-related conversations with ChatGPT occur outside typical clinic hours, indicating that many users are seeking information when doctors' offices and insurers are unavailable.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Several sparsely populated states ranked disproportionately high for use, suggesting residents in underserved regions may be turning to AI tools to fill gaps in access to care.
Over a four-week period in late 2025, ChatGPT received an average of more than 580,000 healthcare-related messages per week from users in these areas across the U.S. Wyoming accounted for the largest share of those messages, at 4.15%, followed by Oregon, Montana, South Dakota and Vermont.
OpenAI also analyzed anonymized ChatGPT use in so-called "hospital deserts," defined as areas located more than a 30-minute drive from a general or children's hospital. These regions often lack specialty services such as cardiology, oncology and neurology, contributing to longer travel times, delayed treatment and poorer health outcomes, the report said. Even access to traditional healthcare remains uneven and often confusing, it said.
AI will not, on its own, reopen a shuttered hospital, restore a discontinued OB unit, or replace other critical but vanishing services," the report noted. "But it can make a near-term contribution by helping people in underserved areas interpret information, prepare for care and navigate gaps in access, while helping rare clinicians reclaim time and reduce burnout."
THE LARGER TREND
While the report does not assess the accuracy of responses or clinical outcomes, it underscores how frequently consumers are turning to AI for guidance as they navigate insurance complexity, limited access and gaps in availability across the healthcare system.
An OpenAI survey conducted in December found that three in five U.S. adults had used an AI tool for health or medical questions in the prior three months. While 55% reported using AI to check or explore symptoms, 48% said they used it to understand medical terminology or instructions. More than 40% said they turned to AI to learn about treatment options.
A recent report from the Mesothelioma Center found that more than half of Americans use ChatGPT for medical symptoms, widening a gap between patient reliance on AI and clinician concerns.
The results pointed to a growing disconnect between how patients are using AI tools and how clinicians view their potential risks.
Nearly one in three Americans said they would delay or avoid seeing a doctor if an AI tool labels their symptoms as low risk. Among respondents who used ChatGPT to check symptoms, about half said the tool "led to a diagnosis," raising concerns that users may place too much confidence in AI-generated assessments.
U.S. healthcare providers are also increasingly turning to AI as they navigate mounting pressures across the system. Research shows clinicians are using AI tools to help manage burnout and support more personalized care delivery.
According to the American Medical Association, two-thirds of U.S. physicians reported using AI for at least one work-related use case in 2024, up sharply from 38% the year before.
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org