Saw this service today: http://www.doctorondemand.com/pediatrics
You basically videochat with a doctor and they can write you a script. It's only $40 per chat for a pediatric need. Obviously they can't deal with broken arms but lots of urgent care needs.
At $40 this is actually cheaper than a sick visit with my doctor because we have a high deductible health plan.
Would you ever use it?
apricot / 490 posts
@ms.line: That's fantastic! I've been seeing some articles on the reemergence of house calls and its sort of the same idea.
Medicine is changing so much with technology and greater competition for more insured folks.
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
Yes, our insurance uses this or a similar service like it. I haven't used it yet but think it's a great idea - and a good way to keep patients out of urgent care to pass around minor illnesses and the like.
apricot / 490 posts
@avivoca: Good point. So it wouldn't work for ears but could work for something like pinkeye.
@coopsmama: Exactly re: my pinkeye example. Stay home!
coconut / 8430 posts
I think its great that new forms of access are being created. I'm not sure in what situation I'd use the service, but I'm glad its available for those who can use it--I'm thinking someone who might live rurally and has a hard time getting to a doctor for something minor or for a prescription refill would be an ideal candidate.
apricot / 490 posts
@sunny: Yes, actual rural areas of the US are really embracing using telemedicine a lot!
grapefruit / 4355 posts
I would not use it because I want doctors to actually be able to do a good examination of me or my child. Plus, it would cost me more than it would cost to go see a doctor in person.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
I think the only time I'd use it is if I had a recurring problem and knew what worked for me (like a uti, and I knew my antibiotic of choice for example). If it was a new illness, I'd prefer a physical visit. Same for my kid. Recurring issue? I'd use it.
$40 is way cheaper than what we pay OOP for sick visits. We don't even have a high deductible plan, we just have a crappy plan. I pay $250 for every sick visit. And last year they made me pay for my physical. They suck.
coconut / 8430 posts
@Mrs. Pen: I thought the ACA gives you free well check visits? Though with my doctor they ask me to sign something that says if we discuss issues that are really meant for a sick visit, they may code it differently and I would get charged.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@sunny: they're supposed to. And initially our statement of benefits came showing it was covered. 6 months later I got a bill from my clinic for $1300. Turns out because I mentioned during my physical that I was returning to school, and just a few of the labs I asked for were specifically for the nursing program, they denied coverage. I even had to pay for my freaking Pap smear! I filed a complaint/appeal with both my insurance and clinic. Why would I need a Pap smear for school?! And why, even if it was a "school physical", would it not be covered? It was a mess. Anyway. My clinic gave me a small discount but I still had to pay $850 out of pocket.
pineapple / 12053 posts
@Mrs. Pen: I was also told that if I tried to combine a well check with a sick visit question that it would charged separately!! WTF?!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@birdofafeather: it wasn't even a sick visit! It was just that I needed a couple extra labs/tests to be cleared for clinicals at school. my doctor felt horrible, she had no idea that by including any notes in my chart about school, it would cause my insurance to deny my claims. Lesson learned.
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