Many consumers call for bigger tech role in daily wellness

The data: Over one-third of consumers (34%) want to see more technology involved in their health and wellness management, according to a Reach3 Insights survey of 1,043 US adults.

Digging into the details: Consumers are already using a range of digital health tools.

  • 20% use a smart scale in 2026, per Reach3.
  • 19% use a smart home health device (e.g., connected blood pressure monitor, smart thermometer) this year, Reach3’s data revealed.
  • 35% of US consumers will use a health or fitness app this year, per EMARKETER projections.
  • We estimate that 26% will use health-related wearables this year, including smartwatches, smart rings, and fitness trackers.

Why it matters: Rising interest in and adoption of health tech signals a growing comfort with technology playing a bigger role in everyday wellness management. Healthcare providers, insurers, and health tech companies all have a stake in understanding how consumers use technology to manage their health, creating new opportunities for engagement through real-time tracking, virtual care, and personalized guidance.

Implications for healthcare stakeholders: As demand for smarter digital health tools grows, these organizations will need to align strategies around consumer expectations for convenience, personalization, and trust in device-generated data.

Providers need to integrate health device data into clinical workflows and patient visits. While physicians have historically been skeptical of device-generated data, improving wearable technology and rising consumer adoption should push health systems to pay closer attention to how patients are using tech to manage their care outside the doctor’s office.

Insurers need to more closely link wellness data to measurable member value. For example, plans can offer discounts or subsidies for consumer health tech devices, paired with incentives for members who demonstrate health improvements through their use. This should increase member engagement and satisfaction with the plan while helping payers achieve healthier enrollee outcomes.

Tech companies must continuously innovate AI health features. Many health apps and wearables now offer some version of AI-driven tracking and guidance, meaning the next phase is delivering personalization and easy-to-use tech that drives measurable user action rather than just insights.

This content is part of EMARKETER’s subscription Briefings, where we pair daily updates with data and analysis from forecasts and research reports. Our Briefings prepare you to start your day informed, to provide critical insights in an important meeting, and to understand the context of what’s happening in your industry. Not a subscriber? Click here to get a demo of our full platform and coverage.

You've read 0 of 2 free articles this month.

Get more articles - create your free account today!