By: Lea Bogle
Healthcare costs have skyrocketed and small businesses that have historically provided healthcare benefits have either gone to plans with high deductibles, or have stopped offering it all together. Other small business who would like to have a company provided health benefit, can’t simply because of the costs. Additionally, many employees have decided to cancel their insurance as well, because of the outrageously high cost. Today, a family of four, with an average high deductible HMO is paying more than $600 per month. These exorbitant costs are leaving more businesses and more families than ever without access to healthcare and a doctor.
There is an affordable option, it’s providing your employees with a telemedicine benefit. According to the American Medical Association, over 70% of all doctor visits are for matters that can be easily handled over the phone.
Telemedicine isn’t new, in fact, it’s been around for nearly 40 years, mostly in rural America. However, with the advances in technology and the rising cost of healthcare, the timing is right for more businesses to move towards providing a telemedicine benefit, in conjunction with or instead of a traditional medical health benefit. The way the telemedicine app works is simple. As an employer you pay an average monthly fee of $25 or less per employee, per month and the employee’s family will be covered. Once a member in the telemedicine program, your employee logs into their member portal, where they will add their dependents and the relevant information for each person, including their health history, current medicines, and the basics, such as age, height, weight, etc. Then, when they get sick, they can either call an 800 number or simply log into the app and make an “appointment”. A fully certified doctor will call them back, typically less than 2 hours, often in less than 30 minutes. As the patient you decide if you want to “see” the doctor. If you do, you request a video consultation, if you don’t you simply request a phone call. The doctor will provide a personalized treatment plan and prescription (if needed) without any additional charges for the doctor “visit”. Additionally, some telehealth companies offer a process to get discounts on prescriptions that can be as much as 95% off of the retail price.
The most common treatments treated with a telemedicine app are:
- Allergies, Sinus Infections
- Bronchitis, Asthma, Respiratory Infections
- Cold/Flu, Fever, Sore Throat
- Constipation, Diarrhea, Nausea
- Conjunctivitis or “Pink Eye”
- Insect Bites, Rashes, Skin Inflammations
- Sprains and Strains
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Joint Aches, Pains & Gout
- Medication refills, short term prescriptions, travel medications
- Many other non-emergency conditions
If the doctor determines the patient needs additional medical services, they will recommend that you go to a local doctor for additional treatment.
Telemedicine doesn’t cover the costs associated with a hospital stay or surgery. However, it is an affordable option with significant benefits, including:
- It offers access to doctors at an extremely affordable price
- It enables every small business to provide an affordable health care benefit to its employees
- It provides access to a doctor, 24 hours a day – even at 2 AM when your child is sick
- There are no additional fees to talk to a doctor
- Some plans even include a mental health benefit and provide a licensed counselor as well
- No more waiting until tomorrow for an appointment
For more information call 844-699-2777 or email HelpMD@premierwirelesstx.com.
