N.Y. Health Insurers To Offer Virtual Doc Visits 74
Posted
by
samzenpus
from the virtual-co-pay dept.
from the virtual-co-pay dept.
CWmike writes "Two insurance organizations in upstate New York said on Wednesday that they will offer their members and employers virtual physician visits beginning this summer, making New York the fourth state to provide these types of services. BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, BlueShield of Northeastern New York and technology services provider American Well said the Online Care service will allow members to talk with physicians in real time through a private online chat network or through a voice-over-IP phone call. The service also offers video chat and instant messages. Members can sign on to the insurer's Web sites and look for physicians who are available online in various specialty areas."
Standard Fee (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm curious as to how much will be billed back through insurance. You have a standard fee just for going in to the office to see the doctor, now that the office is not being used how much of a 'discount' will you see.
Re:Standard Fee (Score:3, Interesting)
I'd probably pay the standard fee just for the opportunity to talk to an actual MD. I met my doctor once. Once. She's been my primary care physician for 5 years now, I've been in the office 5 times for routine physicals and 2-3 times for specific issues, and the only time I ever saw her was when I went in for a biopsy. She watched as an intern did the biopsy.
Re:Coming next: (Score:3, Interesting)
Actually, it is already being done with digital images from cat scans and such that are sent via internet from rural hospitals and doc-in-a-box places to larger facilities for specialized "reading" and consultation. Assuming something was worked out with licensing and board exams I don't see outsourcing stuff like that to $other_place as much more than a change in the destination IP address.
Re:Dr Eliza (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Coming next: (Score:3, Interesting)
What about that doctor in NY that tried $79 a month for all the visits you want. The government stopped him because he was acting like insurance. Get the government out of the way and the private sector will make health care more affordable and available.
Re:No office fees now? (Score:3, Interesting)
Of course not, how can you be so strange? Real visits are going to be "premium" experiences and will now cost $150.
This is Capitalism man, get with the program!