With winter cold and flu season approaching, along with concerns over COVID-19 variants, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for any health care visits you may need.
For many health concerns, you may not need to be seen in person by your provider. Virtual visits and telemedicine appointments offer convenience and eliminate exposure risk—but do you know the difference between the two and how your insurance plan covers them?
Virtual health care visits, or e-visits, became widely known in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Physicians offered virtual visits as alternatives to in-person visits, conducting the appointment remotely, typically using video to mimic a face-to-face visit. In terms of insurance benefits, a virtual visit is considered equivalent to an in-person appointment, which may have a co-pay or be applied to your deductible.
Telemedicine, or teledoc, appointments are usually conducted over the phone via a video-calling app like FaceTime or other mobile apps. A telemedicine appointment is held with a licensed health care provider who is affiliated with the service, not with your primary physician. Many insurance plans have separate telemedicine visits, often with a lower co-pay or even no co-pay.
Why should you choose one or the other?
First and foremost, do not opt for any type of virtual visit if you have a health emergency, urgent concern, or an ailment that requires an in-person examination.
Telemedicine is a great option for common, non-emergency conditions such as flu, cold, seasonal allergies, mild rashes, sinus infections, pink eye, and more. You may save on cost and be able to get an appointment more quickly than with a virtual visit with your primary care provider.
A virtual visit with your provider is preferred if you have multiple concerns to address at one visit or ongoing conditions they are monitoring. For example, if you have questions or concerns about a medication your provider recently prescribed, it may be helpful to have their familiarity with your medical history.
We hope knowing these differences encourages you to check your insurance plan coverage and leaves you feeling more equipped to make health care decisions this winter and beyond!