Our lives can sometimes be a little bit difficult. As time marches on and we go about our daily activities, anxiety, depression, panic, and other issues can set in and really take a toll on your life. When that happens, seeking care and therapy is essential. One in every three Americans experience some kind of anxiety or depression throughout their lives. More often than not, people don’t seek treatment right away due to various reasons. With modern accessible teletherapy, it’s easier than ever to get treated for these conditions. Here are five things to consider when choosing a teletherapy provider.
Insurance
The first question on most people’s minds when it comes to telemedicine is probably “will they take my insurance?” This is a valid question when it comes to selecting any kind of healthcare. If your insurance covers the appointment, it won’t end up costing as much out of pocket and can ultimately contribute positively to seeking care in the first place. Most telemedicine companies take some form of insurance and some insurance policies actually have specific, preferred telemedicine providers. All of the major providers like Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield cover telemedicine in some capacity. Private insurance companies, however, vary somewhat on what they will and will not cover. HMO plans, particularly, don’t always cover it. So, you’ll need to check with your own insurance to see what they will cover and check with your telemedicine provider to find out what insurance they take and how much a visit will be with or without the insurance covering it.
Conditions Treated
When you’re seeking treatment for a health concern, it’s vital to ensure the telemedicine provider covers the condition you need treated. Every telemedicine provider has a list of the conditions that they will treat and a list of conditions they are not equipped to handle. Even with that in mind, the sheer depth of coverage the typical telemedicine provider has is pretty impressive. Everything from cold and flu to some Urgent Care situations can typically be handled by a simple telemedicine visit. Even managing chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, and hypertension is possible through several telemedicine virtual visits. One area where they excel is providing access to therapy, prescriptions, and treatments for mental health as well as physical.
Prescriptions
Sometimes a therapist or doctor will prescribe antidepressants for a patient. Antidepressants are very helpful with treating depression in different ways. Your doctor will perform a mental health evaluation and speak with you about what kind of medication will be best to treat your condition and will explain how to use it, when to take it, and how much to take. Online telemedicine makes getting your depression medication easy, private, and convenient. An online doctor can prescribe medications like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Cymbalta, or their generic equivalents.
How The Process Works
Seeing a doctor or therapist online is fairly straightforward. Once you’ve selected a provider, simply visit their website and book an appointment. You’ll choose a doctor from a list of licensed physicians or therapists and set a time for the appointment. Depending on the provider, you will be prompted to enter vital statistics such as heart rate, oxygen level, weight, and temperature. Then you’ll have to provide a description of the reason for your visit including anything you want your doctor to know ahead of the consultation. After that, the doctor will contact you through your preferred means of communication. This could be over the phone or via a video. During the consultation, the doctor will discuss with you your concerns, help you figure out a way to treat your issue, and possibly prescribe medication. The entire thing usually takes around 15 minutes or so. Afterward, the doctor sends your prescription to your preferred local pharmacy and you pick it up. It’s an easy and effective way to get treatment fast.
Costs
One of the main reasons people tend to avoid seeing the doctor when they have an issue is the cost. Medical bills compile up and become a serious problem especially for people without insurance. With telemedicine, you can have some relief from that because a single appointment does not cost a significant amount. Depending on what you need to use it for, a single visit might cost around $70 to $100. No hidden fees, being charged for waiting in the waiting room, or excess expenses for Band-Aids or tissues. It’s just a simple straightforward way to get the treatment you need when you need it, from the comfort of your own home. Costs vary by provider and your insurance, so be sure to do a little bit of research as you seek health care online.
