Telehealth for Seniors on Medicare

When you start to feel sick, you have a few options for seeking healthcare. One increasingly popular option is telehealth — a virtual visit with your healthcare provider over the phone or video chat.

If you haven’t heard of or had a telehealth appointment before, the concept might seem confusing. Telehealth is a simple and easy alternative for seniors and Medicare beneficiaries to receive the medical care they need to stay healthy.

What is telehealth?

Telehealth uses technology like a smartphone or webcam-enabled computer to help patients and healthcare providers communicate. Using a telehealth app or software, you might be able to instant message your doctor, set up a phone call to discuss symptoms or hold a primary care appointment over video chat.

Telehealth appointments allow you to discuss medical problems and receive wellness advice from your healthcare provider from the comfort of your own home. If you appear to have a health problem that requires in-person testing or attention, your doctor can recommend that you make a physical appointment. Some aspects of telehealth may also include at-home monitoring using a medical tracking device that provides your physician with real-time information.

Telehealth is a rapidly growing industry because of the many benefits it can offer patients — particularly seniors. One of these benefits is the potential to lower costs, both for the visit itself and for the cost of travel. Additionally, telehealth allows patients to receive advice on how serious their condition may be, potentially saving them from a costly visit to the emergency room.

Appointments via telehealth are also convenient. It can save seniors time traveling to and from their doctor’s office — and make it easier and faster for patients and physicians to speak with specialists. Providing healthcare right at home also reduces barriers for rural or homebound seniors who may struggle to get to their doctor’s office regularly.

Who should take advantage of telehealth?

Telehealth is a fantastic option for many seniors in need of healthcare, but it’s not always the right solution. Because telehealth cannot cover everything the way an in-person visit might, it’s best to consider it as a supplement to in-person healthcare.

A telehealth appointment may be right for you if:

· You begin to feel sick and can report specific symptoms to your physician for a diagnosis

· You need general health and wellness advice from your primary care physician

· You have a chronic health condition that requires check-ups and symptom monitoring

· You need a follow-up appointment after an injury or surgery

Telehealth is not appropriate if:

· You need routine health tests completed, such as blood work

· You’re experiencing an emergency that requires immediate medical attention

To determine whether telehealth can be useful for your healthcare needs, speak with your doctor. Based on your needs, they can recommend which situations are best for an in-person visit and which are okay to conduct through telehealth.

Telehealth and Medicare Insurance

If you have Medicare insurance and would like to take advantage of telehealth appointments, it’s very important to review the details of your plan. Some parts of telehealth, such as virtual appointments with specialists who are not immediately available, may be covered by Medicare insurance. Others may not be.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of telehealth and are looking for a Medicare insurance plan that meets your needs, a licensed insurance agent that works with PlanEnroll is here to support you. We have access to a range of Medicare insurance plans and our licensed insurance agents can help you find coverage that’s just right for you. Call us today to be connected with one of our licensed insurance agents.

PlanEnroll is a brand operated by Integrity Marketing Group, LLC and used by its affiliated licensed insurance agencies that are certified to sell Medicare products. MedicareEnroll is not endorsed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) or any other government agency.