Off to College? Put a Doctor in Your Student’s Pocket

MILWAUKEE--You’ve had the talk about the birds and the bees, and the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Now, your “little one” is ready to go off to college. But what about those medical ailments and health care questions you didn’t discuss and can’t plan for?

In the past, when sore throat or pink eye struck, college students may have had to choose between a long wait at an on-campus clinic, or a bus ride home to see their primary care doctor. Today, things are different, and the nearest doctor may already be in your student’s backpack or pocket.

Called telehealth, individuals can now use their smartphone, tablet or computer to have a live video visit with doctor. One such service is LiveHealth Online. Doctors using LiveHealth Online can provide a diagnosis, treatment, and even write a prescription if needed.

Best of all, telehealth visits are quite affordable. Many Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield members already have access LiveHealth Online as a part of their insurance benefits, and anyone can use the service simply by signing up at www.livehealthonline.com and paying with a credit card. Doctors using LiveHealth Online typically charge $49 per medical visit.

Here are just a few more reasons why students and families increasingly are turning to telehealth services:

• Access anywhere, anytime: Telehealth services like LiveHealth Online allow you to connect with US-based, board certified primary care doctors within minutes by two-way video chat. Available 24/7, 365 days a year anywhere where telehealth is allowed in the US, it’s as easy as downloading an app on your phone or tablet.

• The power of choice: We pick our friends, we pick our hair stylists -- and most of us want to pick our doctors from the choices available to us. Telehealth services let you review the background and patient ratings of doctors where you are so you can select the one that most suits your needs. Doctors are there to handle acute conditions, exacerbations of chronic conditions, triage, refills and general advice. They can review a patient’s personal history with them, answer questions, diagnose and treat. Also, if medically appropriate and allowed by the state, doctors can send prescriptions directly to a nearby pharmacy.

• Save time and money: Americans are constantly trying to balance busy schedules and are looking for quick, affordable solutions to help manage it all. Telehealth lets you skip long lines at the urgent care clinic and call from the comfort and convenience of your own home, with consultations typically lasting just ten minutes. No more worry about picking up additional germs as you sit in the waiting room. Telehealth is a cost-effective alternative to urgent care or retail clinics and may even be covered with your health plan -- so you pay less.

A great way to get started with telehealth is by downloading the mobile app and registering for the service before your student is sick. This allows you to save your insurance and billing information directly in the system so your student doesn’t have to call you in the middle of the night when they need it.

The free LiveHealth Online app for mobile devices is available for Apple devices on iTunes and for Android devices on the Google Play store, and the service may be accessed by computer at www.livehealthonline.com.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWi), which underwrites or administers the PPO and indemnity policies; Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (Compcare), which underwrites or administers the HMO policies; and Compcare and BCBSWi collectively, which underwrite or administer the POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.

About LiveHealth Online

LiveHealth Online is a telehealth tool that provides consumers with a convenient way to have live video conversations with doctor, get a diagnosis, and receive treatment for common urgent care-type health conditions. Consumers can access board certified doctors through livehealthonline.com or on an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet using the free app. It is secure, private, easy-to-use and affordable. Consumers can have live, instant or planned visits with their choice of doctors seven days a week, 24 hours a day, using two-way video conferencing, along with instant messaging. LiveHealth Online is the trade name of Health management Corporation, a separate company, providing telehealth services on behalf of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.