The benefits of virtual visits for your employees

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Say one of your employees is sick at home, and I can’t see their normal primary care provider in person. Luckily, most Wellmark plans include coverage for virtual urgent care visits with board-certified physicians.

Virtual visits offer benefits for every workforce, but can be especially helpful for employees who:

• Have tight schedules or short lunch breaks
• Live or work in areas where in-person care isn’t widely accessible
• Travel frequently for work
• Want to avoid a trip to the emergency room
• Have a simple question about an existing treatment regimen

Doctor On Demand^® gives you and your employees the option to receive medical treatment via phone, tablet or desktop computer.

Virtual visits vs. in-person care: What employees should know

Virtual visits are convenient and just as effective as in-person visits for conditions like:

• Cold and flu symptoms
• Migraines
• Stress management
• Seasonal allergies
• Nausea
• Follow-up visits
• Prescription refills

Virtual visits also benefit providers by freeing up the time they’d spend treating someone with a common cold. When simpler ailments can be addressed virtually, providers are able to dedicate more time to patients with chronic conditions.

When to visit a doctor in-person

There are some doctor visits that are best performed in-person like:

• The first time meeting a new provider or nurse
• Something needs to be felt (like a lump), heard (like heartbeat or lungs) or seen (sore throat or rash)
• If blood tests or imaging needs to be done

If your employees are unsure if they should schedule an in-person or virtual visit, remind them of BeWell 24/7^® Nurse Support — a service available exclusively to Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield members. Your employees or their family members can call 844-842-3935 to get medical support and answers to their health questions from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What does a virtual visit cost?

A virtual visit through Doctor On Demand is a benefit covered by many Wellmark plans. Oftentimes, a virtual visit costs the same or less than a visit to a primary care provider (PCP). If virtual visits aren't covered under your Wellmark health plan, accessing care online through a service like Doctor On Demand may still be more affordable than a trip to urgent care or the emergency room. Encourage your employees log in to myWellmark^® to check their plan's benefits before receiving care.

Some Wellmark plans cover Doctor On Demand visits for mental health. If your employees are hesitant about getting help for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or chronic stress, a virtual doctor visit may be a good place to start.

How can you help your employees?

It may be time to take a look at your health plan to see how telehealth visits are covered by your health plan. Contact your Wellmark representative to learn more.