United to cover telemedicine
UnitedHealthcare, the country's largest health insurer, has partnered with three telemedicine service providers to expand individuals' access and coverage for virtual care options.
Doctor on Demand, Optum's NowClinic and American Well are the three companies now part of UnitedHealthcare's network of care providers. More than 20 million patients will have access to telehealth offerings through UnitedHealthcare, according to reports.
Currently, coverage for telemedicine is available to self-funded employer customers, but it will soon expand to UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored and individual plan participants next year, according to a statement.
Individuals seeking to use telemedicine options can access in-network providers through UnitedHealthcare's Health4Me mobile app, and the payer plans to add network care providers in the future to increase choice and access for beneficiaries. The virtual consultations will be available to customers in 47 states and Washington D.C.
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.