4 minute read
TELEHEALTH: A LOW COST, CONVENIENT BENEFIT OFFERING
By Katie Morris, Director of Employee Benefits, VGM Group, Inc.
Prior to COVID-19 turning our world and schedules on their heads, we constantly had that hustle and rush to get everywhere—work, school, workouts, lunch dates, practices—the last thing you needed was to have something slow you down like a sore throat. Now with the limited direct contact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has increased in prominence, with the biggest selling point being that you can visit with a doctor and receive new prescriptions and refills without leaving your home.
Not only does this allow people to avoid the exposure of the waiting rooms and hospitals, it gives employees the flexibility they’ve been looking for all along, making it a low cost, convenient benefit to add to your company offerings.
[ Telehealth options are perfect for common conditions and less severe symptoms like the common cold or seasonal allergies. ]
What Is Telehealth?
Adding telehealth as an option allows employees to access a doctor and, if needed, a prescription on the go via their laptop, phone, or tablet without stepping foot in an actual medical facility. While telehealth options are not to be used for catastrophic or life-threating situations (e.g., shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest pains), they are the perfect option for common conditions and less severe symptoms such as rash, common cold, flu and seasonal allergies, headaches (including migraines), heartburn, and more.
How It Works
Depending on the telehealth service, a visit could consist of a questionnaire with a follow-up call or text, with some services requiring video chat capabilities. Typical visits are around 15 minutes with a potential follow-up. The options are endless—there are even some telehealth services that offer mental health assistance. Additionally, some Employee Assistance Programs are going virtual as well, which allows those visits to be more convenient and accessible for employees.
Types of Telehealth Options and Cost
There are many different telehealth options out there. Some are linked to a specific health insurance company and some are private pay through local hospitals or online companies. Regardless of the type of telehealth option you choose, it’s a winwin for employees and employers for its cost and convenience.
Typically, the cost of a telehealth visit is under $75 even for private-pay options. If it is linked to the company’s health insurance, the copay is usually low and may even be free. There are other savings capabilities for the company, too—self-funded and fully insured health plans benefit from offering telehealth options since the cost for the visit to the plan is much less than your typical visit to the emergency room, primary care physician, or an urgent care facility. Typical primary care physician visits cost around $175- $200, and the middle-of-the-night ER visit for an ear infection could cost over $1,000 for the plan.
Emergency Room Visit $1,000
Physician Visit $175-200
Teleheath Visit $75
[ Initial introduction of telehealth can be underutilized as some employees are resistant to new ways of medicine. ]
Gaining Employee Participation
The initial introduction of telehealth to an organization can be underutilized as some employees are resistant to new ways of medicine or they forget it’s even offered. It is important to inform employees often and have multiple ways they can access the information. At VGM, we post information on our internal social media site, company intranet, and payroll platforms. Another way to boost the participation in this benefit is to offer the first few telehealth visits for free or set an extremely low copay each plan year. Some may be put off by not physically being seen or even talking with a doctor, but once people try it, they love it!
[ To get started, reach out to your health insurance provider and see if they offer any telemedicine options. ]
Getting Started
To get started offering this benefit, reach out to your health insurance provider and see if they offer any telemedicine options. Even if they don’t offer these options directly, they will likely be able to offer some advice on private-pay options. Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is a topic health insurance providers are used to being asked about.
Regardless of what you decide, telehealth is a great option for almost any company. Between the low cost and the convenience and flexibility it grants to your employees, there’s no reason not to look at adding this benefit.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katie Morris, Director of Employee Benefits, VGM Group, Inc.
Katie began her career at VGM Group, Inc. in 2009 and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Northern Iowa. As Director of Employee Benefits, Katie is responsible for benefit planning and administration for VGM Group’s more than 950 employee owners located in 24 different states across the country. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn or at Katie.Morris@vgm.com.
