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How Does Telemedicine Work?

Telemedicine and telehealth may be an attractive health care option with more tech-savvy patients with Internet access. Through the use of a smartphone, tablet or computer, you can participate in a virtual doctor's visit for diagnosis and treatment. Learn the pros, cons and limitations of telemedicine.

What's a Telemedicine Provider?

You may have a health care insurance plan that has access to a telemedicine program. The program comes from a telemedicine provider. Here are three of the largest telemedicine providers and health care insurance companies that use them:

• Doctor on Demand through United Healthcare
• Teledoc through Aetna
• MDLive through BlueCross BlueShield

Health care insurance companies aren't the only ones offering telemedicine vendors. Hospitals around the country also offer remote telehealth, allowing patients the chance to consult with the same doctor they'd see in person, according to MobiHealthNews, a digital health news outlet.

Pros of Telemedicine

The overall premise of telemedicine is that you can meet with a doctor through video without having to leave your home. There are more benefits to remote care:

• No more waiting in germ-filled waiting rooms.
• No more going to the emergency room or urgent care for immediate care.
• It's a time- and cost-efficient way to see an appropriate doctor. It can take about 20 minutes or less to have a virtual appointment with a doctor, according to United Healthcare's site.
• Virtual doctors also send prescriptions if needed and if appropriate.
• Some programs offer virtual therapy, according to United Healthcare.
• Studies have shown the quality of health care services are as good as in-person visits, according to the American Telemedicine Association.
• Medicaid covers some virtual services, but states vary in telemedicine requirements and coverage. Medicare covers telemedicine in some instances, as well, reports American Telemedicine Association.

Cons of Telemedicine

There are a few disadvantages to telemedicine. Here's what you may experience when opting for a televisit with a doctor:

• You may be paired with a random health care provider that you don't like.
• Your technology could go on the fritz in the middle of an appointment.
• You may miss the personal touch of face-to-face medical care.
• Reimbursements and cost coverage for patients differ from plan to plan and state to state, according to eVisit, a telemedicine solution provider.

Patient Costs of Telemedicine

Telemedicine is meant to significantly reduce health care service costs, according to eVisit. It reduces costly ER visits and transportation costs to the doctor. The cost of a telehealth visit is supposed to be a fraction of the cost you'd typically pay.

The reality is that you may need to pay out of pocket about $40 for a virtual visit. That may be higher than your co-pay, but worth it in an emergency.

Who Vets Telemedicine Doctors?

Though telemedicine is meant to diagnose non-emergency situations, such as the cold, conjunctivitis and other minor health issues, you still want a qualified doctor.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has a comprehensive set of ethical guidelines for professionals, facilities and companies using telemedicine, according to its website. In addition, the Federation of State Medical Boards has telemedicine policies in place, according to the FSMB site.

Telemedicine companies only want top-quality doctors on their rosters. For example, all Doctor on Demand physicians are board certified and licensed in the states in which they practice, according to DoctorOnDemand.

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