https://mailchi.mp/f3434dd2ba5d/the-weekly-gist-december-20-2019?e=d1e747d2d8

In a recent discussion on consumer strategy, a health system executive relayed a surprising data point: the system’s most “digitally activated” market was a local retirement community. The residents of this over-55, master-planned community, designed for active seniors, had the system’s highest rates of patient portal activation and online appointment scheduling.

Growth of this cohort of “young old” consumers (YOLDS) —over 65 but still active—will explode as the peak of the Baby Boom joins their ranks. And with a median wealth of $210,000, they’ll have tremendous spending power, so much so that the Economist recently dubbed the next ten years “The Decade of the Yold”. Many “Yolds” will keep working well into their 70s, and those that do will experience slower rates of health and cognitive decline.

For health systems, the next few years are critical for deepening relationships as the Yolds transition into Medicare. What do they want today? Technology-enabled care, and access and communication that works right out of the box, as they have little patience for troubleshooting buggy software. Customized, high-touch services, like they’ve come to expect from everything they consume.

And a focus on helping them maintain their active, productive lifestyle for as long as possible. But they’re not brand switchers: once they join a Medicare Advantage plan, there’s a 90 percent chance they’ll stay. Building loyalty with the Yolds can be the found