5 Key Components of a High-Quality Telehealth Plan

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry saw a surge in the use of virtual care. According to the CDC, telehealth use increased by 154% in March 2020 and has proven to be a valuable alternative healthcare solution since. One thing making it so valuable? Increasing premiums and deductibles have made it challenging for employers to offer high-quality health insurance, leaving many employees without the kind of coverage they want or need and prompting them to seek alternate solutions in healthcare, like telehealth plans, to meet their needs affordably where insurance doesn't.

Telehealth plans are great alternatives for people without insurance or with high deductibles. This makes them a particularly attractive solution for folks who don't have any insurance at all, like immigrants, part-time workers, contractors, and freelancers. Further, because telehealth plans aren’t health insurance, they don’t have the same restrictions, which means they allow anybody to access virtual care by paying their provider directly (typically in the form of a monthly fee).

Beyond affordability, virtual care also provides a more accessible and safe alternative to traditional healthcare without sacrificing quality. By skipping long stints in waiting rooms, virtual care makes it easy to connect with your doctor without risking exposure to illnesses. This convenient solution helps people more easily maintain their preventative care and manage their chronic conditions, reducing major health issues in the long term — and keeping them safer while doing it.

Finding the Right Telehealth Plan for You

If you're interested in making a telehealth plan a part of your care routine, it's important to choose the right one. Not all plans offer services like behavioral health solutions and virtual primary care, so you need to do your research before deciding which telehealth provider to adopt to ensure you have access to the care you're seeking. Here are a few key things to look out for in that process:

1. Virtual urgent care

Say you're dealing with eye irritation and wondering whether it could be pink eye. Maybe you're wondering whether that stomach bug you've had could actually be the seasonal flu. This is where virtual urgent care comes in handy. Virtual urgent care gives you access to same-day care for common illnesses and injuries, as well as prescriptions and specialist referrals. According to reports from McKinsey & Co., virtual urgent care needs are the most common among telehealth users, so it's critically important that the plan you choose covers this service.

2. Virtual primary care

From bloodwork follow-ups to medication management, primary care is a necessity when it comes to staying healthy. In fact, adults in the United States who have a primary care provider are 19% less likely to suffer a premature death compared to those who only see specialists. Virtual primary care provides the convenience of telehealth visits with all the same advantages as in-person primary care. Before choosing your telehealth plan, make sure it includes annual wellness visits and basic lab testing.

3. Behavioral health solutions

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults has a mental illness. If you're one of the many dealing with mental health issues, you need a provider who covers both your physical and mental healthcare needs. Behavioral health solutions, like online therapy, provide a network of licensed therapists who can support your mental health needs from the comfort of your couch.

4. Discount programs

While having access to telehealth appointments makes staying healthy possible, it's just one part of the process. Maintaining health can also require medication. But the cost of vitamins, prescription medication, and lab tests can add up fast — Americans spend an average of $1,200 per person per year on prescription medication. That said, before deciding on a telehealth provider, ask whether the plan includes discount programs to ensure you'll have access to the best prices possible.

5. User-friendly navigation

Finally, when finding a telehealth provider, you want to look for a program with easy-to-use navigation. Not everyone immediately knows how to use telehealth solutions. In fact, a 2021 study conducted by BMC Family Practice found difficulties with technology to be a leading barrier to a positive patient experience with telehealth. Virtual care should simplify healthcare — not make it more complicated. Before choosing a plan, spend some time on the virtual care provider's website or platform to see whether the navigation is user-friendly.

Taking the time to do proper research and find the right telehealth plan is more than worth it. By finding the virtual care that's right for you, you give yourself the opportunity to receive the best care possible conveniently, affordably, and easily.

At Health Karma, we offer telehealth plans and virtual care solutions that meet all of the criteria listed above. Including services ranging from virtual urgent care to behavioral health solutions, our user-friendly platform allows you to receive low-cost care quickly and affordably, whether you're insured or not. Interested in learning more about Health Karma’s Virtual Care Membership Plan? Click here to get started.