Abstract Background The assessment of e-health readiness (eHR) is used to assess the ability of selected groups of citizens and patients, as well as society as a whole, to adopt e-health support. This study aimed to understand the main determinants of eHR in adult Internet users in Poland. Methods The analysis was conducted using data from a computer-based web-based interviewing (CAWI) survey carried out in June 2023 in a representative sample of 1661 Polish Internet users. The eHR score was established based on the e-Health Readiness Scale. Uni- (ULRM) and multivariable (MLRM) models were developed for eHR. Independent variables included technology anxiety (TA), digital health literacy (DHL), Internet (IU) and social media use (SMU), self-assessed health status, and sociodemographic variables. Results ULRMs revealed that TA, DHL, IU, SMU, an array of sociodemographic variables, and self-assessed health status (SAHS) were significant predictors of eHL. ULRMs with TA and DHL explained, respectively, 30.1% and 23.9% of the eHR variability. In MLRM developed with all predictors confirmed in ULRMs, only TA, DHL SMU, age, and income level maintained their significant effect on eHR. MLRM explained 42.8% of TA variability. Higher TA was associated with lower eHR (B, 95% confidentiality interval (95%CI): -0.30, -0.33 - -0.27). Respondents with higher DHL demonstrated higher eHR (B, 95%CI: 0.42, 0.37 - 0.48). Older persons were more likely to accept e-health solutions (B, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.003 - 0.05). More frequent SMU was associated with higher eHR (B, 95%CI: 1.87, 0.94 - 2.80). Finally, those who refused to reveal their level of income showed significantly lower eHR than those who revealed it (B, 95%CI: -0.84, -1.58 - -0.10). Conclusions TA and DHL are the main predictors of eHR. SMU also accounts for eHR. Unexpectedly, older age is a positive predictor of eHR. Finally, variables reflecting health status do not exert a significant effect on eHR. Key messages • Technology anxiety should be treated as an important determinant of the successful implementation of e health solutions. • The development of society’s digital health literacy may be a countermeasure to the unfavorable effect of technology anxiety on e-health readiness.