Our lives have significantly changed when it comes to convenience.
In previous years, you would have struggled to make a quick call to family members because cellular phones were scarce. You would be required to use a payphone or buy a telephone, which was expensive for most people.
In recent years, convenience has become an important aspect of our lives, and we will choose a simplified way of doing things. From avoiding queues at the bank by opting for online banking, to any other technology invented tools to makes life easier, convenience is always the way to go. The healthcare industry has also focused on convenience by using telehealth services. This article will uncover these services and how they have made healthcare easier to access.
Firstly, let’s help you understand what telehealth services is and what it entails.
Understanding Telehealth Services and its role in primary healthcare insurance
Telehealth services is a new and trendy way of accessing medical services worldwide which ensures that patients receive the best possible care without leaving home. By providing education, virtual consultations and information using remote technologies, this new approach has made it simple for South Africans and the rest of the world to access healthcare at their comfort.
It fits perfectly because we now depend on the internet and mobile devices for most of or daily activities.
What are the benefits of telehealth?
There are many benefits that come with telehealth services. Medical Insurance providers have made a point to include most of these benefits in their plans. In this section, we explore the benefits it includes.
Some of the benefits of telehealth include:
- Home care, especially for people who can’t easily get to their providers’ offices
- Getting care from a specialist who is not close by
- Getting care after office hours
- Communication with your providers
Some Medical Insurance providers have chronic illness management, and they use telehealth services to manage chronic conditions like HIV, diabetes and other conditions.
Furthermore, some offer virtual visits which are relatively cheaper than in-person doctor’s visits.
Choosing the right telehealth insurance provider
You want to ensure that you get your money’s worth when it comes to receiving healthcare, especially if it is telehealth care services. To effectively choose the right provider, you need to look at the type of telehealth care services they offer.
You want to ensure that you get your money’s worth when it comes to receiving healthcare, especially if it is telehealth care services. To effectively choose the right provider, you need to look at the type of telehealth care services they offer.
The types of care that you can get using telehealth services may include general healthcare visits and prescription for medication. Based on the communication with a healthcare provider, you can be able to get eye exams via a virtual consultation.
Some urgent care conditions which are not life-threatening like UTIs, common rashes and more, can be attended to virtually.
Some Medical Insurance providers have made it a point to include mental health support in their benefits and with virtual consultation, they are able to conduct online counselling for members.
On top of the telehealth services, some Medical Insurance providers come with a variety of benefits that include face-to-face interactions with healthcare providers at premiums less than R500 per month.
Telehealth services or In-person consults?
The beauty of having choices is that it allows you to go for what is convenient to you and your family. Telehealth services do not cancel out in-person consultations. Instead, they work hand-in-hand making things easier for you. In a case of acute illness, you can opt for telehealth care whereas in a much more life-threatening situation, in-person consultations work best.
Tap into the convenience of Telehealth services
In this day and age, we all want access to healthcare for us and for our families. With tools like telehealth services, you are able to do that without worrying about always going to the doctor’s office or getting important health information. We hope this article helped you understand telehealth and choosing the right provider for those services.
Not all Medical Insurance plans are the same and benefits as well as limitations may vary. Descriptions of benefits given are meant to be for general educational purposes only and you must ensure that you seek the advice of a broker to ensure any product choice you make suits your individual needs.
