Three reasons to include telehealth in your employee benefits package

The need for telehealth is increasing faster than ever

Demand for the remote delivery of physical and behavioral health care—or telehealth—has skyrocketed. To accommodate their members, some health insurance carriers have had to quickly adapt by providing coverage for valuable virtual options. This includes access to real-time video appointments with physicians and virtual health coaching.

As an employer, it’s important for you to offer a competitive benefits package that provides access to the types of services your employees need and want. Here are three reasons you should ensure that telehealth is part of your plan offerings.

Reason 1: The demand for telehealth services continues to rise.

COVID-19 rapidly changed life for everyone. You may have had to help some employees adapt to working from home while helping others adjust to a workplace full of unanticipated challenges. You might also have experienced unanticipated business challenges.

The global pandemic also caused restricted access to in-person health care, triggering nonemergency physicians to seek new ways to deliver routine care.¹ While there will always be a need for face-to-face contact for certain clinical interactions, telehealth technology can help support routine and urgent care needs.

Reason 2: Telehealth is critical to the health of your employees and company.

Offering telehealth is an easy way for you to ensure that your employees have 24/7 access to care and receive a rapid response to their health needs—no matter where they are.

Over time, telehealth can also contribute to reduced health care costs and increased productivity. Copayments for telehealth services are usually less than an urgent care or emergency department visit, equating to lower costs for your employees and for you. This quick access to care also means that your employees don’t have to take time away from work to receive treatment, which can reduce your overall absenteeism rate.

Reason 3: Employees are seeking telehealth options in their benefits package.

As telehealth evolves, more employees are likely to expect it as part of their health benefits package because of the convenience it provides. Telehealth has joined the ranks of online shopping, banking, and other routine activities because it allows people to address routine or urgent medical needs when they have the time. Offering a rich benefits package that includes access to telehealth is key in attracting and retaining the top talent you need to help your organization thrive.

UPMC Health Plan’s telehealth and digital health offerings

Not all health insurers have the same level of expertise in developing and deploying telehealth services. If you are choosing between insurers, you should carefully compare their digital offerings.

UPMC Health Plan members have access to exclusive digital health tools and telemedicine to help them manage their health and their health plan. Our offerings include:²

• UPMC AnywhereCare.³ 
• Members and their children can have virtual health care visits 24/7 to address cold and flu symptoms, sinus infections, rashes, and other nonemergency conditions. All they need is a tablet, computer, or smartphone. When appropriate, providers can send prescriptions to the member’s preferred pharmacy.
• Members can also use UPMC AnywhereCare to schedule talk therapy and psychiatry video visits. The talk therapy service connects members with psychologists and licensed therapists who are certified in telehealth and can evaluate and treat mental health disorders. The psychiatry service connects members with medical doctors who can provide support and prescribe medications as appropriate.
• Members can work with a health coach virtually to manage their weight, reduce their stress, quit using tobacco, or reach other health and wellness goals.
• Members can use the Ask a Pharmacist feature to talk with a licensed UPMC pharmacist about how to work with their doctor, lower-cost alternatives to medications they're taking, ways to improve their medication adherence, and more.

• Virtual appointments with UPMC physicians. Many UPMC primary care providers and specialists offer video visits that members can have from the comfort of their home.

• The UPMC Health Plan app. This app gives members convenient, on-the-go access to their health insurance information and wellness resources, including UPMC AnywhereCare.
• The UPMC MyHealth 24/7 Nurse Line.⁴ Whether a member has an urgent health care need after hours or general questions about symptoms, a UPMC nurse can assist them—day or night.

As you and your employees continue to adapt to a post-COVID-19 health care landscape, telehealth can help ensure that your employees get the care they need when they need it, and it can help you operate your company now and into the future.