Flexibility And Scalability Kick Telemedicine Into Overdrive

How to ensure your company’s benefits offerings are top of the line

Throughout the 21st century, the world of technology has changed the way businesses and individuals operate. Now, as we navigate changes following COVID-19, it is clear that telecommunications technology will play an even more substantial role in day-to-day life. 

While video-conferencing platforms are nothing new, the novel coronavirus pandemic has forced just about everyone, even slow adopters, to see its advantages. How will this enhanced acceptance affect the HR world and the benefits you provide employees? The answer seems to be pointing to telemedicine, which has been available for quite some time but seems to be experiencing a boom in its frequency of use. As an HR manager, you are always looking for ways to ensure your company’s benefits offerings are top of the line, and the telemedicine service you provide access to as part of your benefits package may be the distinguishing factor now more than ever.

Although telemedicine is not a new benefit, it has been quickly adopted. In fact, according to the American Telemedicine Association, more than half of U.S. hospitals have adopted some form of telemedicine1 — a fascinating statistic considering the organization measured it before the telemedicine boom due to COVID-19.

Proof of the service’s significant growth can be verified in a recent CNBC article citing a Frost and Sullivan study that found a 50% surge in March telehealth visits, with virtual health visits on pace to top 1 billion by the end of 2020.2 This means it is more important than ever to offer telemedicine services within your benefits package. As people become more comfortable with video messaging, they will begin to use this benefit more.

While the potential growth of the service is exponential, there are more good reasons to offer telemedicine. Consider how time is money — and going to a doctor’s office in person takes up a lot of this precious commodity. In fact, according to Patient Engagement Hit, 30% of patients have left a medical appointment because the wait time was too long.3 Compare this issue to telemedicine, which only requires an average of 13-15 minutes of a patient’s time,4 and it is easy to see this is a significant win for both employees and the business where they work. 

Some may think that time saved through a telehealth visit might be at the cost of care quality, but telehealth users are not likely to experience any difference in care. In fact, 62.6% of patients reported no difference in the overall quality of the visit and 21% said it was even better.5 With such a positive reception, it makes sense to add this option to your company’s benefits package. 

When working with an ever-evolving service such as telemedicine, keep in mind that rules still apply so it is crucial to ensure that workers understand the details of their “virtual” benefits like applicable co-pays and the importance of using an in-network doctor whenever possible. Remember that as companies continue to adopt new services such as telemedicine, technology does not negate your colleagues’ need for sound and holistic health and financial protection in all areas of benefits offerings.

As telemedicine is offered as part of some health plans, supplemental benefits providers like Aflac offer telemedicine and other services that enhance their core offerings. This means your company’s employees can not only feel confident that they will be protected in the situation of an unexpected health event, but that they have additional services that are there as they recover. These services, such as health advocacy and medical bill saving assistance can help employees navigate the maze of medical bills. 

According to the 2019-2020 Aflac WorkForces Report, 66% of millennials and 63% of Gen Zers find negotiating medical billing stressful.6 By providing access to assistance when negotiating medical bills and understanding what one is paying for, you can help reduce unnecessary stress, and insurers like Aflac provide access to these services with many of their products at no additional charge.

Consider adding supplemental insurance offerings and additional value-added services to your benefits program as a great way to get help with the expenses health insurance doesn’t cover. Benefits payments are made directly to the policyholder, unless otherwise assigned, to use as he or she wants, including copays, deductibles or even groceries.

For better or worse, the coronavirus pandemic has changed us, so it is wise to take a proactive approach to the situation with your benefits offerings. Telemedicine was already a rapidly growing industry, and the recent health situation will continue to accelerate the adoption of the practice. As a low-cost, easy-to-use benefit offering, telemedicine is sure to help keep your employees happy while saving precious time.

Notes

1 “About Telemedicine.” American Telemedicine Association. Accessed April 27, 2020.
2 “Telehealth visits are booming as doctors and patients embrace distancing amid the coronavirus crisis.” CNBC. Accessed April 27, 2020.
3 “Long Appointment Wait Time a Detriment to High Patient Satisfaction.” Patient Engagement Hit. Accessed April 27, 2020.
4 “Master Guide to Telehealth Statistics for 2019.” Wheel. Accessed April 27, 2020.
5 “Patient and Clinician Experiences With Telehealth for Patient Follow-up Care.” The American Journal of Managed Care. Accessed April 27, 2020.
6 The 2019-2020 Aflac WorkForces Report is the ninth annual study examining benefits trends and attitudes. The surveys, conducted by Kantar, captured responses from 1,200 employers and 2,000 employees across the United States in various industries.