Telehealth vs. Traditional Care: Understand What Your Health Insurance Adapts to Find out how health insurers are adapting to telehealth and the new normal. Learn what your health insurance covers for both telehealth visits and traditional care and how to maximize your coverage with the right choice.
Telehealth The New Normal
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Telehealth vs. Traditional Care: Understand What Your Health Insurance Adapts to
Telehealth vs. Traditional Care: How Your Health Insurance Adapts to the New Normal
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed the healthcare landscape. Traditional in-person healthcare appointments are now often replaced with telehealth calls, and health insurance companies have had to adapt to these changes. In this article, we’ll explore how your health insurance plan can help you with telehealth services, what benefits traditional care offers, and helpful tips for navigating the healthcare system in the “new normal” of COVID-19.
What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth is any healthcare service performed remotely with the aid of two-way video or audio, such as through a phone call or video conferencing. Telehealth services offer many advantages such as providing patients with access to healthcare providers without needing to make an in-person visit.
How Does Health Insurance Cover Telehealth?
Before the pandemic, telehealth appointments not always covered by health insurance. However, due to the pandemic, many health insurance companies are covering telehealth services as they would an in-person visit. Generally, Medicare and Medicaid are covering telehealth services as an in-person visit as well.
It’s important to read the fine print of your health insurance policy to make sure telehealth services covered and what your out-of-pocket costs, such as copays, may be. Additionally, some health insurance companies are providing incentives to use telehealth services as an inexpensive alternative to traditional care.
Benefits of Traditional Care
Although telehealth services have become increasingly popular, there are still plenty of benefits to in-person visits. Traditional care allows you to have a physical exam, gives you the opportunity to receive a more thorough exams, and lets your healthcare provider look at any new symptoms or signs of disease that could not be assessed over a video or audio call.
Additionally, traditional care may provide an environment that is better suited for emotionally or mentally vulnerable patients. An in-person visit is an ideal setting for deep conversations. For providing emotional support, and even for listening to a patient’s concerns.
Tips for Adapting to the New Normal
COVID-19 has made it important to stay aware of your health insurance company’s coverage and how it can use to your advantage. Knowing these tips can help you make the most out of your plan:
1. Check Your HSA Balance
If you’re enrolled in a Health Savings Account (HSA), you have access to money that can be used for healthcare services such as telehealth. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the balance of your HSA and know what expenses are eligible for use.
2. Stay Informed About Coverage Changes
Health insurance policies can change and with them, the benefits available for telehealth services. It’s important to stay informed of any changes that may affect your coverage and if or how they can be used to your advantage.
3. Consider Telehealth Services as an Alternative
When you’re considering health services such as a physical therapy appointment or a general checkup, consider using telehealth services as an alternative. It is usually the more affordable and convenient option, and many of these services are now covered in full by health insurance companies.
4. Utilize Virtual Care Resources
Your health insurance company may offer virtual care resources such as online wellness programs, digital health trackers, or even virtual physician visits. Taking advantage of these types of services can help you take control of your health and ensure you are staying up to date with any changes in your conditions or treatments.
5. Read the Terms of Your Plan Thoroughly
Lastly, you should read the terms of your health insurance policy thoroughly. Doing so will ensure that you have all the information that you need and allow you to gain a better understanding of what services your insurance provider will or will not cover.
Conclusion
Telehealth services provide an excellent opportunity to get healthcare services from the comfort of your own home. However, it’s important to know the changes that your health insurance company has made to its policies and how to best benefit from them. Traditional services can offer many benefits as well and it’s best to evaluate both options when making healthcare decisions.
FAQs
1. What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth is any type of healthcare service that is performed remotely, using two-way audio or video, such as through a phone call or video conferencing.
2. Does Health Insurance Cover Telehealth Services?
Health insurance companies have made changes to their policies to cover telehealth services as they would an in-person visit. It is important to read the fine print of your insurance policy to make sure telehealth services are covered and what the out-of-pocket costs may be.
3. What Are the Benefits of Traditional Care?
Traditional care offers many advantages such as providing patients with an in-person physical exam. A more thorough exam. The opportunity for healthcare providers to look for any new symptoms or signs of disease. Additionally, traditional care can provide an environment that is better suited for emotionally or mentally vulnerable patients.
4. What Are Some Tips for Adapting to the New Normal?
It’s important to stay aware of your health insurance company’s coverage and how it can use to your advantage. Tips to help you make the most out of your plan include: checking your HSA balance. Staying informed about coverage changes, considering telehealth services as an alternative. Utilizing virtual care resources, and reading the terms of your plan thoroughly.
5. What Is an HSA?
An HSA (Health Savings Account) is an account that can be used for healthcare services such as telehealth. It is important to familiarize yourself with the balance of your HSA and know what expenses are eligible for use.Check Here