Benefits of Telemedicine
Telemedicine, which enables video or phone appointments between patients and their health care providers, benefits both health and convenience. As technology advances, telemedicine will continue to become more popular as more health care providers offer to "see" patients by computer and smartphone.
There was a growing trend pre-Covid-19 of telemedicine, also known as Telehealth. However, since early 2020 when the spread of Covid-19 was at its peak, health care providers have rapidly implemented this virtual service into their practice for safety and to continue serving and treating patients. In addition, there are many vital aspects and benefits telemedicine offers that traditional in-person visits cannot offer.
Convenience
With telemedicine, you don't have to drive to the doctor's office & sit in a waiting room when you're sick for an hour before seeing a doctor. Instead, you can see your doctor from the comfort of your home.
Virtual visits are much easier to fit into your busy schedule. With telemedicine, most often, a quick refill of a routine medication can be done from the comfort of your house or workplace.
Mitigate the spread of Illness
To help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and other illnesses, doctors can use telehealth appointments to prescreen patients for possible contagious diseases. Less exposure to other germs helps everyone, especially chronically ill, pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised.
Primary Care and Chronic Condition Management
Regular visits with primary care practitioners, such as those specializing in family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics, are essential to your family's health. Telemedicine makes it easy to connect with a doctor or nurse practitioner. In addition, some platforms and providers are available 24/7.
Cost
Telemedicine collectively can decrease costs not only for the overall healthcare system but for the patient specifically. Most insurance plans cover telemedicine visits at 100% without having to satisfy a deductible. Claims to insurance companies for these visits tend to be less than an in-person visit as well. When telemedicine is used as opposed to utilizing your local ER as a PCP when you have a non-emergency medical event, this alone can decrease overall health care and coverage costs. Most importantly cost you less. Most cash-pay telemedicine visits cost less than an actual in-person doctor's visit.
Doctors can treat more Patients
Telemedicine provides alot of flexibility to both patients and healthcare providers. This flexibility allows providers to see patients after hours. Thus, opening healthcare providers to treat more patients more frequently and faster. Most telemedicine can be completed within 15 minutes.
Implementing telemedicine in our healthcare system can drastically improve medical outcomes, drastically reducing patient and healthcare costs. If you are uncertain if your current coverage has telemedicine service, reach out to us so we can review your plan benefits. With the open-enrollment period for 2023 fast approaching, now is the perfect time to speak to one of our licensed advisors to review your current coverage or get quotes. Options can be tailored to your specific situation, preferences, and budget. We aim to not only provide you with flexible options but to advise and educate you in today's market.
