Having health insurance is critical to getting quality medical and dental care, and experts in the Mountain State said making a doctor’s appointment is always preferable to relying on social media influencers for advice.
A recent survey from Edelman’s Trust Barometer found 43% of people regret a health decision they have made because of inaccurate information.
Gina Sharps, executive director of the West Virginia Oral Health Association, said it is important to realize the lines between credible information and misinformation can be blurred.
“If they do a quick online search – if they’re looking at tooth gems or teeth whitening, or mail-order veneers – that it never, ever replaces the value of peer-reviewed research, professional guidelines and expertise from a licensed dentist or dental hygienist,” Sharps emphasized.
The same survey found one in four adults age 35 to 54 admitted content creators without medical credentials have influenced their health choices. According to an August 2025 KFF health poll, 14% of the general population regularly gets health information from influencers on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said as millions of Americans choose their health benefits during open enrollment, doing your homework using reliable sources is critical.
“This is an important decision for your health,” Randall stressed. “It’s also an important decision for your financial health, so you want to have enough time to compare the choices that you have available to you, to consider the benefits, the services, the up front and out-of-pocket costs.”
For Medicare beneficiaries, the open enrollment period is now through Dec. 7, and for individuals who are shopping on the health insurance marketplace in most states, the enrollment period is between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15.
