The doctor will see you now — via Skype

Telemedicine has been a healthcare buzzword for years, but 2018 may be the year Nashville consumers start to use it. 

What is telemedicine? It refers to the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients via technology. In other words, it’s a doctor’s visit by phone or webcam. 

Why will telemedicine take off in Tennessee next year? Both carriers on Nashville’s individual market cover the service. In fact, it’s a key piece of newcomer Oscar Health’s value proposition to consumers. 

It isn’t just the individual market, either. Most carriers now cover telemedicine, and 30 states, including Tennessee, require private insurers to reimburse for the service. 

Even so, more consumers are interested in using telemedicine than have actually used it. According to a survey by Deloitte, half of consumers would be willing to use telemedicine, but tech consulting company Accenture reports just 21 percent of Americans have actually received care via telemedicine.

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So what’s keeping consumers from calling up the doctor? Some consumers have concerns over quality and security, but most just aren’t sure how it works. 

Here’s what consumers in Nashville need to know about telemedicine — why it’s rising in popularity and how Nashville consumers can use it. 

Why is telemedicine becoming more popular? 

Healthcare stakeholders have been pushing for wider use of telemedicine for years. Remote diagnosis and treatment costs less than a traditional visit, and it improves access to both basic and specialized care.

Consumers appreciate the convenience of telemedicine. If it takes five minutes to describe your sinus infection to the doctor, it is certainly much easier to do so over phone and have a prescription sent to your nearby pharmacy than it would be to make a doctors appointment, drive to the office and wait for the doctor to see you, all to tell them the same five minutes of information.

So how does it work? 

Both Cigna and Oscar Health cover telemedicine in all their marketplace plans. These services are best used for common conditions, like colds, the flu or infections. Here’s how it works. 

Oscar Health: Telemedicine is a major part of Oscar Health’s platform. The carrier offers fully-covered, 24/7 telemedicine services. This means there are no out-of-pocket costs to talk to a doctor via telemedicine. 

Using your smartphone, consumers can open the Oscar app, and request a call from a doctor. You can also send them a message or include a picture. Oscar reports callbacks in about 10 minutes, and you can describe your condition and receive a prescription if necessary.

Cigna: Cigna plans also cover telemedicine, but it works a little differently than Oscar Health. First, there is a copay associated with telemedicine. It is typically lower than a traditional office visit, but you will incur an expense. 

With a bronze plan, your costs will vary per telemedicine provider. With a silver plan, copays are $35, or less if you are eligible for a plan with reduced cost-sharing, and copays are $15 with a gold plan.

To access telemedicine through Cigna, you must register with either MDLIVE or American Well. These are telemedicine-coordinating services. You can do so through www.MDLiveforCigna.com or www.amwellforcigna.com. 

After registering with a vendor, you can either call their toll-free number (MDLIVE, 1-888-726-3171 or American Well, 1-855-667-9722) to receive care by phone, or visit their website to receive care by video.

By phone, you will first speak with a coordinator, who will connect you with a doctor. Online, you will search for a doctor through the website. 

Don’t have Cigna or Oscar Health?

Your insurance may still offer telemedicine. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has partnered with MDLIVE for its own telemedicine service, called Physician Now, which you can access by logging into your Blue Access account, but not all services are covered by all plans.

Have a different insurer? Call your insurance provider and ask if telemedicine is covered and how to access it. 

Alex Tolbert is the founder of Bernard Health, a company that provides noncommissioned, expert advice on health, Medicare and COBRA insurance and medical bill consulting. To learn more about Bernard Health, visit www.bernardhealth.com.