SingleCare survey: U.S. consumers turn to AI for medicine advice

In this article:

• Who uses AI for medication questions?
• What people are asking AI
• AI is influencing medication decisions
• Checking drug prices
• Filling prescriptions
• Why people choose AI over doctors
• Verifying AI-generated information
• Concerns remain high
• AI in healthcare is still mostly invisible to patients
• Our methodology

In this article

• Who uses AI for medication questions?
• What people are asking AI
• AI is influencing medication decisions
• Checking drug prices
• Filling prescriptions
• Why people choose AI over doctors
• Verifying AI-generated information
• Concerns remain high
• AI in healthcare is still mostly invisible to patients
• Our methodology

According to SingleCare’s survey, nearly half of respondents are already using AI to make decisions about their medications, and many are acting on its recommendations. Our new survey reveals how Americans are turning to tools like ChatGPT to research medications – such as side effects and prescription costs – highlighting both rapid adoption and growing risks in how people manage their health.

Who uses AI for medication questions?

Almost half of U.S. respondents (46%) say they have used AI tools to answer medication-related questions, signaling that AI is already gaining meaningful traction in medication management. 

AI use patterns vary across demographics, indicating that comfort with technology, access, and trust all play a role in shaping the extent to which different groups consult AI for medication guidance:

• Women (44%) are less likely than men (50%) to use AI to answer medication-related questions.
• Parents, particularly those with two or more children (62%), are more likely to rely on AI for medication guidance than people with no children younger than 18 living at home (42%).
• People with a household income of $100K+ are more likely to use AI to compare medication alternatives (46% vs. 26%), decide whether to seek care for a health problem (45% vs. 30%), interpret lab results (34% vs. 24%), and get a prescription (44% vs. 34%) than those with a household income of less than $50K.
• The adoption of AI for medication information is stronger among younger adults, but skepticism is higher in this age group.
  • Reported use of AI for medication research is similar across ages 18-54 (51%) and decreases at age 55 and older (38%).
  • More than half (56%) of younger adults aged 18-24 reportedly use AI for medication questions, and 80% say they verify the information.
  • Only 38% of adults aged 55+ reportedly use AI for medication research, and just 56% report verifying AI-generated information.

What people are asking AI

Most users turn to AI for basic medication research, but many are also using it to guide decisions. Of those who reportedly used AI to answer questions related to medication:

• 51% research what a medication is and what it’s used for
• 44% look up side effects or dosage recommendations
• 37% decide whether to seek care for a health problem
• 34% check drug interactions
• 34% compare or identify medication alternatives
• 26% interpret lab results

Still, 23% report using AI for none of these purposes, suggesting ongoing hesitation from nearly a quarter of respondents.

“Just in the past few weeks, patients have come to office visits with specific AI-related queries and answers,” says Leslie Greenberg, MD. “Last month, I had a woman ask to ‘optimize’ her hormones and request an extensive lab panel. These labs are available but not routinely used in menopausal hormone therapy because they rarely alter treatment or management.”

AI is influencing medication decisions

We asked survey respondents whether AI helped guide them in taking their medication. Almost half (49%) of respondents changed the way they took their medication based on AI information.

Of those who used AI to help guide them on how to take their medication:

• 25% used an alternative (OTC or natural)
• 23% started a medication
• 20% changed dosage
• 18% changed timing
• 16% stopped a medication

Although most users still seek validation, a quarter of respondents acted on AI advice without consulting a healthcare professional.

“Two patients recently told me about using AI to help understand an aspect of their health,” says Chad Shaffer, MD. “One had used an AI model to generate dietary suggestions to mitigate the nausea and constipation side effects of Zepbound use for weight management. The ideas included increasing water and fiber consumption, along with avoiding large, fatty, and late-night meals. I reinforced the advice when asked, and the patient has turned the corner with both medication tolerance and efficacy.”

“Another patient discontinued metformin after asking AI for the potential side effects of their diabetic medication regimen,” Dr. Shaffer says. “They had not been experiencing symptoms of any adverse effects, but were afraid of long-term impacts. After we discussed the relatively low risk of medication side effects and higher degree of health benefits from metformin in her situation, she was comfortable with the decision to resume the drug. Ideally, the concerns about the drug would have been brought forward before temporarily stopping it.”

Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medication. Stopping a medication or changing the way you take it can result in serious side effects.

Understanding prescription prices

The survey results suggest that using AI tools to navigate drug prices is still in early adoption, but nearly half (47%) report using AI to research Rx savings strategies. Among AI users, the most common queries are understanding insurance coverage, comparing drug costs, or finding prescription savings. 

Of those who used AI to help them navigate prescription pricing questions:

• 26% checked insurance coverage (including Medicare and Medicaid coverage)
• 24% compared drug costs or found savings
• 19% compared drug prices by pharmacy
• 15% checked prior authorization requirements
• 14% appealed an insurance denial

AI may not be the best method for finding real-time savings. Many AI models are trained on historical data, and some queries don’t trigger real-time web searches. Because prescription prices often fluctuate, checking sources like SingleCare for drug prices can be more accurate than AI.

Few people rely on AI to fill prescriptions

Most respondents (60%) have not used AI to help obtain prescriptions, but some are beginning to explore it:

• 19% used AI to compare branded versus compounded options
• 19% used AI to research what type of provider prescribes certain medications
• 14% used AI to find telehealth services that prescribe certain medications
• 12% used AI to determine what to say to get a prescription
• 12% used AI to learn how to qualify for a specific medication (such as GLP-1s, ADHD meds, etc.)

AI also influences how some people fill their prescriptions, with 27% changing where or how they get their medication based on AI-generated information, most often by using coupons (12%) or switching pharmacies (7%).

Why people choose AI over doctors

Convenience is the main driver of AI use for medication research:

• 47% say AI is more convenient
• 25% want a second opinion
• 17% want anonymous guidance
• 17% use it outside of office hours
• 14% want to avoid paying for a visit
• 9% feel their provider didn’t explain enough or in a way they understood
• 8% feel embarrassed asking a provider

Additionally, 30% say they feel more comfortable asking AI sensitive health questions, while 38% say it depends on the topic.

People trust AI but still verify responses

Most users view AI as accurate, but still take steps to verify the information:

• 78% think AI information is at least somewhat accurate
• 17% are unsure whether AI information is accurate
• 5% think AI information is inaccurate

Although many report that AI-generated information appears accurate, most (68%) still verify it: 35% verify sources, and 33% check with a healthcare provider. About a third (32%) don’t take any steps to check that what AI says is true.

“I don’t think AI does a perfect job at giving the most up-to-date and accurate information,” says Gerardo Sison, Pharm.D. “What could be dangerous is that they’re pulling from inaccurate sources. I think AI could be helpful for guiding you in the right direction for general health info, but for deeper issues, I’d always say see a doctor or pharmacist.”

Concerns remain high

Despite growing use, concern about AI-generated information is widespread, with the majority (83%) of survey respondents reporting some degree of concern about AI providing incorrect medication guidance:

• 39% are very concerned
• 44% are somewhat concerned
• 16% are not concerned
• 1% trust AI completely

Healthcare professionals remain the top source for medication questions (40%), followed by health websites (26%) and AI (15%).

AI in healthcare is still mostly invisible to patients

Many new AI health tools are coming to market for professionals. SingleCare’s Medical Review Board members report using AI in the following ways:

• Medication research
• Insurance coverage details
• Drafting prior authorization letters
• Assistance with documentation
• Generating summaries of patients’ health histories

A survey by the American Medical Association found that two-thirds of physicians are using AI for certain healthcare tasks; however, our survey shows that these tools aren’t yet apparent to patients. Only 16% reported having seen AI used in their health care. This would make sense, as many of the ways AI is described as being used in clinical settings are behind-the-scenes tools used outside of appointment times.

Our methodology

SingleCare conducted this AI in medicine survey online through AYTM on March 13, 2026. This national survey includes 1,000 United States adults ages 18+. Participant samples were census-balanced to match the U.S. population in age, gender, and U.S. region. The AI examples we gave to surveytakers included ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Mode.