During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was locked inside their homes, the medical industry experienced a new revolution as telehealth and telemedicine in healthcare increased rapidly. Even today, when the world has moved forward from COVID-19, the existence of telehealth visit can still be felt as it offers several benefits over in-person consultation. 

As compared to in-person visits, telehealth is cost-effective and saves alot of your precious time; thus, it is a popular choice. If you want to explore telehealth services; however, you are unsure about

the telehealth cost, we have got you covered. This article is a complete guide on how much a telehealth visit costs. Let’s dive in!

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth is referred to as using technology to offer people healthcare services remotely or from a distance. There are several ways to do so; however, the most common is providing services on a phone or a video call. In simple terms, telehealth is virtually visiting a doctor’s clinic. During the video call on a tablet, computer, or phone, you share your symptoms with your healthcare expert and nurses and discuss the underlying problem. Further, the condition is monitored online, and a customized treatment plan is formulated. 

Most of the time, telehealth is confused with telemedicine; however, both concepts have a minor difference. Telehealth majorly deals with medical and non-clinical services whereas, the concept of telemedicine is known for delivering healthcare services remotely. Certain health conditions which can be treated are asthma, flu, high or low blood pressure, diabetes, cold, migraines, skin problems, thyroid issues, urinary tract infections and more. 

Benefits Of Telehealth Services

Here are the major benefits of telehealth services: 

1. Better access to healthcare

One major benefit of telehealth services is you get excellent healthcare services at your home without commuting to the doctor’s clinic. You can log in, make an appointment, and consult your healthcare expert easily through telehealth applications. 

2. Immediate medical attention

The major goal of telehealth services is to offer patients immediate medical attention so that their first treatment is timely. In most cases, people suffering from chronic conditions mostly benefit from telehealth services. 

3. Time and money saving

Since you no longer have to take breaks from work to get yourself checked and avail of medical services, it saves a lot of your time and travel costs. Thus, it is a cost and time-efficient way.

4. Limited paperwork

The healthcare industry still uses a lot of paper; thus, the chances of errors are higher. Once the telehealth services came into existence, the paper usage was eliminated.

How is Telehealth a Cheaper Option for Healthcare than Office Visits?

Telehealth is a cost-effective option for medical care, according to several studies. The cost of telehealth services around $40 to $50, while in-person care can be much more expensive, costing as much as $176 per visit.

Follow-up appointments over the phone are also a more efficient and affordable option for patients than in-office visits.

Telehealth is an affordable option for virtual care that doesn’t lead to more follow-up appointments or antibiotics compared to urgent or primary care. Telemedicine can also help patients who face transportation, parking, or cost barriers to in-office clinic visits.

The cost of your telehealth visit will depend on various factors such as insurance coverage, provider charges, and the type of facility. Many insurance providers offer telehealth coverage, but policies may differ depending on the state.

To keep your telehealth costs low you can:

• Check if telehealth is covered by your medical insurance and use it for your telehealth visit.
• Check if your prescription is covered by your prescription coverage.
• Look for prescription discounts if you have to pay out of pocket.
• Compare different telehealth providers, such as Everlywell’s Virtual Care Visit.
• Search for low-cost lab test options if needed.

What do Telehealth Services Include?

• Prescription refills: This type of telehealth service enables patients to discuss their medications with their concerned doctors and ask for refills. 
• Patient education: With this telehealth service, patients can learn more about their condition and know how to manage it at home by attending classes. 
• Condition management: In this telehealth service, your provider monitors you and your symptoms remotely if you are suffering from any chronic disease like diabetes or migraine. 
• Counseling/mental health therapy: Using this telehealth service, patients can discuss mental issues like depression or anxiety with a therapist or psychologist. 

You can leverage all the above-mentioned telehealth services just by scheduling a virtual doctor visit with your healthcare provider on the white-label telehealth solution they are using or via popular third-party apps in the market. 

What Technology is Required for Telemedicine?

Nowadays, almost every laptop and tablet come packed with all the necessary equipment for your telehealth visit. Still, it would be fitting to ensure that you have:

• Internet connectivity
• Video accessibility on your computer or smartphone
• Speakers or headphones

How Much Does Telehealth Visit Cost on Average?

The cost of telehealth depends on several factors, such as your condition, insurance, and the provider. 

An analysis conducted on the cost of telemedicine solutions for different conditions like acne, birth control, cold sores, hair loss, and erection reveals an average incurred cost. For example- acne telehealth visits range from $43 to $86. At the same time, the analysis noted the average cost for birth control visits was less than $50. 

According to a Health Affairs study, the average cost of a telehealth visit for a critical respiratory infection, including laryngitis, bronchitis, or sinus infection, was registered at $79 compared to $146 for an in-person visit in 2017. That’s almost 50% saving, and it is worth considering telehealth if you go for an in-person visit to a doctor’s office via a vehicle in terms of time and consumed gas. 

Other than this, the report also reveals that some low-cost telehealth providers charge more for prescription refills. 

Does Insurance Cover Telehealth Services?

Going through a range of health plans (Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, and United Healthcare), it has been found that yes, insurance companies cover telehealth services but differently. Most health plans cover telehealth services, based on your benefits. Some plans cover telehealth visits if they are conducted on pre-approved video platforms. Whereas some plans cover telehealth with the support of third-party providers. 

Even Medicare and Medicaid expanded telehealth vs telemedicine coverage. Medicare promises to pay for office, hospital, and other visits with a wide range of providers such as doctors, nurse practitioners, and licensed social workers.

Still, there are chances that you have to pay a copay like a regular visit. Therefore, it would be best to contact your insurance company to ensure the out-of-pocket costs. Ask if you need to get prior approval for telehealth services before scheduling an appointment. 

Factors That Affect the Cost of Telehealth Visit

As we have mentioned earlier that the cost of telehealth depends on several factors like your condition, insurance, and provider, there are other factors as well which play a vital role in determining the telehealth visit cost.

Reputation and Licensure:

The more popular a doctor is, the more they will charge. Besides, the level of licensure also influences the vcdoctor telehealth cost. For instance, a board-certified doctor will surely be charged more for telehealth services than those without certification. Telehealth implementation guide providers with federal certifications like those awarded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, typically charge more. However, some states do not recognize HHS certification, so the eligible professionals who adhere to HIPAA standards and are practicing in these states, could not get any reimbursements. 

Your Location:

The location where you live and how far you have to travel to see the doctor also plays a key role in defining the cost of seeing a doctor. In rural areas, telehealth services are much costlier owing to the availability of fewer providers and the doctors having to travel long distances to see patients. 

Your Condition:

Your illness’s severity also influences the telehealth visits to a greater extent. Suppose you are suffering from a minor illness like a sinus infection, laryngitis, or bronchitis, and the doctor does not need to perform any test or physical examination. In that case, it will cost you comparatively cheaper than the illness or condition that requires different tests or physician-performed procedures. 

Availability:

The provider availability in your insurance plan also affects the cost of telemedicine services. The unavailability directly impacts your pocket. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the provider you are willing to see would fall in the insurance coverage and be certified. 

Platform:

Research and market analysis demonstrate that telehealth providers who serve needy ones through state-of-the-art platforms often cost more than those utilizing older setups. Well, the more expensive platforms like American Well offer better video and sound quality for a consultation with patients. Also, it enables patients to connect quickly and effectively with their online doctors. Whereas most telecommunication companies and patient portals don’t charge any fee for a virtual HIPAA-compliant consultation. But there is a problem that these platforms lack consistency which makes it challenging for doctors to find compatible platforms on which they can practice. 

Tips for Reducing The Cost of Telehealth Visits

It’s acceptable that telehealth solutions are convenient for both patients and providers, but they attract a considerable sum. Here we are providing a few ways to cut down on the incurred cost of your next telehealth visit. 

Shop Around

Different insurers cover different types of telehealth visits at different rates. Therefore, it is necessary to compare the policies of different insurers before signing up for a specific plan. Even do not forget to ensure what kind of virtual appointment your insurer will reimburse before scheduling your next telehealth visit.    

Ask for Discounts

You can ask for discounts from your insurer before scheduling your telehealth visit. Many providers offer considerable reductions when insured patients look for discounts and offer telemedicine portals and apps they have partnered with. 

Keep Track of Costs

Check out how much time it takes for your doctor to respond via telemedicine or traditional ways so that if the provider offers discounts for using these modes, you will get to know which option truly saves you money. More patients are making their way toward tech-based healthcare options because they are quick and convenient. However, you should research to find out the best way possible to save your money on telehealth visits before making an appointment with your physician. 

Conclusion

Going through the blog, you have learned almost all aspects of telehealth visits. From its brief introduction to its use in different telehealth services, average telehealth visit cost to factors that influence the cost—almost everything. 

As a healthcare service provider, you would have understood the importance of a telehealth platform and must look for the best telehealth companies for physicians. If yes, then you are landed in the right place. VCDoctor is a renowned telehealth solution provider company; you can consult for telehealth solutions for providers, clinics, or patients. The company leverages the needy ones with all sorts of telehealth solution development ease. Consult your telehealth software development project with our healthcare experts. Contact Now!!

Commonly Asked Questions

1. What kind of conditions can be treated through telehealth visits? 

Several healthcare conditions can be treated through telehealth visits. Some commonly treated conditions are asthma, diabetes, migraines, colds and flu, skin irritations, urinary tract infections and thyroid issues. 

2. List some common disadvantages of telehealth? 

Some major drawbacks of telehealth technology are: 

• Concerns about leaking private and personal information
• Lack of detailed and comprehensive diagnosis due to no in-person meeting
• Inability to perform physical examinations and tests. 
• Chances of misdiagnosis always exist because of remote services 
• Limited access to technology and a stable internet connection, especially in rural areas 

3. Are there any hidden virtual visit costs?

Yes, there might be some hidden charges with telehealth visits in certain cases. For example, if you use a particular feature such as DICOM reviewer e-prescription, the total visit cost increases. 

4. How can I build my telemedicine app? 

Here is a step by step process of building a telemedicine application or software: 

• Evaluate your telemedicine app idea
• Get in touch with developers for a quotation
• Build a project opportunity for the MVP
• Kickstart the development phase
• Application demonstration approval
• Submit your application to the app store