• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Current price of oil as of July 13, 2026

2

Summer camps remain a battleground over what it means to be American

3

The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets: The result is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents

1

Current price of oil as of July 13, 2026

2

Summer camps remain a battleground over what it means to be American

3

The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets: The result is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents
HealthChatGPT

OpenAI suggests ChatGPT play doctor as millions of Americans face spiking insurance costs: ‘In the U.S., ChatGPT has become an important ally’

By
Tristan Bove
Tristan Bove
Contributing Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tristan Bove
Tristan Bove
Contributing Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 7, 2026, 12:02 PM ET
Three in five Americans say they recently used AI tools for health or healthcare queries, according to an OpenAI survey.
Three in five Americans say they recently used AI tools for health or healthcare queries, according to an OpenAI survey.Getty Images—Andrew Harnik
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

One week after the expiry of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced healthcare subsidies, Americans are starting to feel the pinch. Up through the end of 2025, around 24 million Americans used the subsidies to purchase healthcare at a discounted rate. That lifeline is now gone as the Senate remains deadlocked in renewal talks. But where there is crisis, one of the Internet age’s most prolific disruptors has spied opportunity.

Recommended Video

Americans are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to help decipher the thorny and ever-changing labyrinth that is the U.S. healthcare system. Three in five Americans say they recently used AI tools for health or healthcare queries, according to a survey published Monday by ChatGPT creator OpenAI. The survey was part of a larger report tracking similar trends globally. The report acknowledged difficulties with dealing with U.S. healthcare requirements are likely an important driver of this user trend.

“In the United States, the healthcare system is a long-standing and worsening pain point for many,” the report read. Tracking between 1.5 and 2 million health insurance-related messages each week, OpenAI found Americans use ChatGPT for everything from seeking diagnoses to comparing coverage plans and dealing with post-visit bills and claims. 

Even before ACA subsidies expired, the complexity and high cost of interacting with the healthcare system was discouraging for many Americans. Around 27 million Americans are uninsured, according to the CDC, with many more underinsured, meaning they have coverage but it rarely pays out enough to cover the cost of a claim. A December Gallup poll found a record low 16% of Americans were satisfied with the healthcare system. 

The U.S. healthcare system is bogged down by an abundance of stakeholders, which researchers say has contributed to higher administrative costs. These include private plans offered through employers, federal providers such as Medicare and Medicaid, and plans offered through ACA, which offered income-based subsidies for individual coverage on federally run marketplaces. 

In 2023, nearly 60% of insured Americans said they experienced problems using their health insurance, according to a survey by health policy research outfit KFF. That survey also found around nine in 10 insured adults would support policies to simplify healthcare, including requiring insurers to maintain up-to-date provider directories and give clearer disclosures about out-of-pocket cost liabilities. 

The system’s complexity was already funneling many patients to AI tools like ChatGPT for help, the OpenAI report found. The company also claimed people living in communities with low coverage rates could stand to benefit the most from having real-time access to healthcare information. On average, nearly 600,000 healthcare-related queries are submitted to ChatGPT every week from so-called “hospital deserts,” underserved rural areas at least a 30-minute drive from the nearest general medical center.

The trouble with using ChatGPT as your medical advisor

AI can be helpful in deciphering bureaucratic bloat, though researchers have warned of the risks when users become too reliant on AI for medical diagnoses. More than 60% of Americans say AI-generated health information is at least somewhat reliable, according to a survey last year by the University of Pennsylvania. But AI medical diagnoses can also suffer from inaccuracies and bias, as studies have found large language models can issue vastly different recommendations based on a patient’s race, income level, and sexual orientation.

Issues also arise when users turn to AI for mental health advice. Last year, OpenAI was hit with seven lawsuits in California alleging ChatGPT use had contributed to multiple suicides and psychological harm. In November, OpenAI tweaked its usage policies to walk back ChatGPT’s ability to give medical advice. 

OpenAI did not immediately return Fortune’s request for comment. In a statement to Business Insider related to the usage policy change, an OpenAI spokesperson said: “ChatGPT has never been a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, but it will continue to be a great resource to help people understand legal and health information.”

With millions suddenly lacking any coverage at all in the wake of ACA’s subsidy expiry, many more Americans could tap that resource soon.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
By Tristan BoveContributing Reporter
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

mm
North Americaaging
Washington gerontocracy meets its receipt-check moment: ‘I think we need some transparency’
By Jill Colvin and The Associated PressJuly 14, 2026
3 hours ago
Best Recumbent Bikes (2026): Athlete Approved
HealthDietary Supplements
Best Recumbent Bikes (2026): Athlete Approved
By Christina SnyderJuly 13, 2026
22 hours ago
GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell ends frenzied speculation about his health, revealing a fall led to his hospitalization and he’s now in a rehab center
PoliticsU.S. Senate
GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell ends frenzied speculation about his health, revealing a fall led to his hospitalization and he’s now in a rehab center
By The Associated PressJuly 12, 2026
2 days ago
Manufacturing worker on factory floor
SuccessFlexible work
Fortune 500 Land O’Lakes is letting workers choose what days and times they work—and the flex jobs are getting 25% more applicants than full-time gigs
By Emma BurleighJuly 12, 2026
2 days ago
Other diet fads championed by MAHA are questionable. But some science and thousands of years of human history are behind fermented foods
HealthFood and drink
Other diet fads championed by MAHA are questionable. But some science and thousands of years of human history are behind fermented foods
By Devi Shastri, Mary Conlon and The Associated PressJuly 11, 2026
3 days ago
The 3 Best IgG Food Panel Tests of 2026: Reviewed by Experts
HealthDietary Supplements
The 3 Best IgG Food Panel Tests of 2026: Reviewed by Experts
By Emily PharesJuly 10, 2026
4 days ago

Most Popular

Current price of oil as of July 13, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 13, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 13, 2026
1 day ago
Summer camps remain a battleground over what it means to be American
North America
Summer camps remain a battleground over what it means to be American
By Seth T. Kannarr, Derek H. Alderman and The ConversationJuly 13, 2026
23 hours ago
The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets: The result is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents
Innovation
The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets: The result is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 12, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 13, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 13, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 13, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of gold as of July 13, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of July 13, 2026
By Danny BakstJuly 13, 2026
1 day ago
Exclusive: Corner Health raises $25 million to turn nurse practitioners into entrepreneurs
Newsletters
Exclusive: Corner Health raises $25 million to turn nurse practitioners into entrepreneurs
By Emma HinchliffeJuly 13, 2026
24 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.