Online Doctors' Appointments
Why insurance companies are making office visits optional
Two major insurance companies have agreed to reimburse for online doctor visits.
At the beginning of February, two of the largest insurance companies in this country have agreed to reimburse patients who make online appointments with their doctors. The cost will be similar to what a normal office visit would be.
This means that patients who would have a hard time making it to their doctor’s office, can still receive medical attention for minor issues and checkups. Working professionals, busy parents and others scrambling to fit everything into their day are breathing a sigh of relief that at least they can schedule their meetings with their doctors on their own time.
Doctor’s visits in the United States have gone up 20 percent in the last five years or 1.2 billion visits annually, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. However, the actual number of doctors in the country has decreased and wait times will likely go up.
Doctor's Visits Are Growing
Patients have been looking for ways to connect with their doctors without having to get in their cars, face traffic, and spend time waiting in their doctor’s office. Some doctors have already communicated with their patients through email, free of charge, involving less urgent matters like prescription refills.
What These Appointments Could Help Treat
Aetna—the largest insurer in the nation—and Cigna Corp. have both agreed to reimburse for online doctor visits. These online interactions are best suited for follow-up consultations or treatment for illnesses like colds or the flu.
Many are also recommending that the online appointments could help specialized doctors like cardiologists and gynecologists, who need to have periodic checkups with their patients, but don’t necessarily need in-person meetings.
Not only are patients thrilled that they can have immediate access to their doctor without worrying about making a trip to their office, the addition of some insurance companies offering to reimburse is even more of an incentive to take advantage of this program.
Doctors are also optimistic—they can work more often from home if they can access their patient’s emails and there will be less fatigue if they don’t have to spend all day at the office. Better care would be provided for all who can communicate with their doctors about any concerns they have.
The system would work by going to a doctor’s Web site or Internet companies like Relay Health Inc. or Medem Inc. Prices could vary depending on the reason for the emails, from $25 to $125. Payments could be made through credit cards online.
Costello, Daniel. “Online house calls click with doctors,” The Los Angeles Times,
February 4, 2008.
