My employer is offering telehealth as part of its health plan in 2016. What exactly is telehealth, and do I have to use it rather than seeing a doctor in person? --M.S., Madison, Wis.
Telehealth offers virtual visits with a doctor by phone or through video chat. Michael King, of Teladoc, a telehealth company, says it is mostly used for people suffering from common complaints, such as sinus, upper respiratory and urinary tract infections; bronchitis; allergies; and flu and coughs. Or, if you have a rash, you can e-mail a photo to a telehealth doctor for a diagnosis.
Some employers use a separate telehealth program, but most offer it as an option in their health plan. “No one requires you to use telehealth, but some employers encourage employees to use it by lowering the co-payment,” says Allan Khoury, a senior health management consultant with benefits consulting firm Towers Watson. The typical co-pay for a telehealth visit may be $15 or less, versus $20 for an office visit, $50 for urgent care and up to $150 for the ER.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Employers can cut costs, too. An office visit may cost $150, and the ER can cost $700 or more, but a visit with a telehealth doctor typically costs $40.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks End Higher in Whipsaw SessionThe main indexes were volatile Thursday with Nvidia earnings in focus.
-
Trump Picks Dr. Oz as Head of Medicare and MedicaidPresident-elect Donald Trump picked Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Here's what to know about the former TV host.
-
Credit Report Error? They All Mattercredit & debt Don't dismiss a minor error. It could be the sign of something more serious.
-
Insurance for a Learning Driverinsurance Adding a teen driver to your plan will raise premiums, but there are things you can do to help reduce them.
-
529 Plans Aren’t Just for Kids529 Plans You don’t have to be college-age to use the money tax-free, but there are stipulations.
-
When to Transfer Ownership of a Custodial Accountsavings Before your child turns 18, you should check with your broker about the account's age of majority and termination.
-
Borrowers Get More Time to Repay 401(k) Loans
retirement If you leave your job while you have an outstanding 401(k) loan, Uncle Sam now gives you extra time to repay it -- thanks to the new tax law.
-
When It Pays to Buy Travel Insurance
Travel Investing in travel insurance can help recover some costs when your vacation gets ruined by a natural disaster, medical emergency or other catastrophe.
-
What Travel Insurance Covers When Planes Are Grounded
Travel Your travel insurance might help with some costs if your trip was delayed because of the recent grounding of Boeing 737 Max planes.
-
Ways to Spend Your Flexible Spending Account Money by March 15 Deadline
spending Many workers will be hitting the drugstore in the next few days to use up leftover flexible spending account money from 2018 so they don’t lose it.
