Many telemedicine or telehealth stories start like this one: “I started getting a sore throat on Monday. By Monday night I had sound medical advice and a prescription in-hand. I didn’t have to take off work. All I had to do was make a phone call, consult with a physician, and I was on track to feeling better.” With stories like those, there’s no doubt telemedicine is here to stay. Telemedicine may be an option offered with many major health insurance plans, but employers can also opt to purchase this valuable service as a separate benefit for their employees for as low as $2.00 per employee per month.
These telemedicine services provide 24/7 access to board certified physicians that can diagnose and treat common ailments, such as allergic reactions, sore throats or urinary tract infections. Telemedicine can save time and money as it cuts down on emergency room and urgent care visits, not to mention saving claims to the group health insurance plan. Whereas telemedicine shouldn’t be used to replace necessary doctor’s visits, it can be used to treat minor ailments. Consultations can take place via phone call, email or via video call.
Adding telemedicine to your group health insurance plan can greatly increase satisfaction with benefits packages among employees as well. Having access to certified physicians takes the hassle out of dealing with doctors’ appointments and taking time off for non-vacation related reasons. Response time is usually within 15 minutes, rather than waiting for days, even weeks, for an appointment. Children can also be covered by the telemedicine plan, making immediate care for them easy as well.
For the last few years telemedicine has had an obvious positive impact on employee benefits. The service should be explored by any employer offering group health insurance or voluntary benefits. Overall telemedicine saves time, money, and hassle.