Telehealth

A telehealth appointment can either be done by phone or by video. For video appointments you’ll need access to the internet along with a device that has a camera and microphone, such as a computer, smartphone or tablet.

No, not every provider office has the option of telehealth. To find out if your provider is able to schedule a telehealth appointment you’ll need to contact them directly.

In most cases, you’ll schedule a telehealth appointment the same way you schedule a regular in-person visit to your doctor. The first thing you should do is call your doctor’s office to see if they have telehealth available for their patients. If they do, they’ll let you know what steps to take based on how their office handles telehealth appointments.

If offered a telehealth appointment by your doctor, you are not required to take it. You can tell your doctor that you prefer an in-person visit instead. 

Depending on the reason for your appointment a video call may not be needed. Telehealth appointments can also be done by a regular phone call.

For video telehealth visits you may need to download a video chat application onto your device or log into a specific website. Be sure to ask your doctor’s office what you’ll need when you schedule your telehealth visit so you’ll be ready at the time of your appointment.

Below is a list of just some things that can be discussed or treated during a virtual visit with a doctor.

• Cold and flu symptoms
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Chronic pain
• Skin issues
• Stomach problems
• Minor injuries
• Women and men’s health needs
• Pediatric care
• Prescriptions
• Medication refills

Telehealth appointments are popular for a number of reasons. The biggest one is that you get to avoid the waiting room. Telehealth can save you time traveling to your appointment and waiting to be seen by a doctor. In some cases, like if you have allergy symptoms for example, it can also help your doctor to treat you faster because you can choose to show them things in your home that may be impacting your health.

Much like an in-person visit to the doctor, you’ll want to have a list of your medical concerns ready to discuss with them. You also may be asked to share your weight, temperature, or blood pressure if you have the ability to do so.

Yes, your doctor is able to prescribe certain medications to you during a telehealth appointment.

If you currently have copays for in-person appointments, your virtual visit will have the same copay. Telehealth services are subject to the same cost-sharing rules as a traditional office visit. On occasion there may be exceptions such as if you need to split an office visit into two sessions for a routine wellness check for your child and the follow-up immunization in the office, you would only be charged for one visit.

We will cover the cost of an in-network provider telehealth visit even if they are not your PCP. 

Members are allowed to bring companions to the appointment just like you would for an in-person appointment.

The software used by our providers may vary. You should always check with your provider’s office if you have concerns. Please note that it is also very important that you conduct your visits in a private, secure location. 

The type of environment may vary, but providers are required to maintain your privacy.

We recommend you ask during your call if you have any concerns about how it’s going. Telehealth visits can sometimes include more questions from your doctor than you may be used to from a routine medical visit. This is because they are unable to make a physical assessment of your health in person. Your doctor is responsible for answering your health questions and this includes how your appointment is handled.