Telehealth: Convenient Health Care Over the Telephone (for GIC members)
Posted on June 4, 2020
A lot has changed over the past couple of months due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), including how we access health care. To lessen the spread of the virus or other illnesses and limit potential exposure, many physician practices are now offering telehealth or telemedicine visits to evaluate and treat patients remotely. With telehealth, clinicians can use technology such as the telephone, smartphone, tablet, or computer to provide quality care to patients, who remain safely in their homes.
During a telehealth appointment, your doctor may communicate with you about your symptoms, illness, and well-being via a phone call, email, text message or video chat.
During the COVID-19 state of emergency, the Group Insurance Commission is covering costs for telehealth services for all conditions with health care providers, and with Teladoc®. The Health New England 24/7 Nurse Advice Line at (866) 389-7613 is available at no cost to all members as well.
If you aren’t feeling well, call your doctor’s office and ask if they offer telehealth services, or call Teladoc. However, if you are having a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
About Teladoc®
As a Health New England member, you have access to U.S. board-certified physicians 24/7/365 through Teladoc* – our telehealth platform. Teladoc physicians are able to treat non-emergency medical issues such as colds, the flu, bronchitis, allergies, rashes and more over the phone, via the mobile app or during an online video consultation. And, they can electronically prescribe non-narcotic, short-term prescriptions as part of the treatment. Go to https://www.teladoc.com/coronavirus/ for more information about Teladoc and to schedule a virtual visit, or call 1-800-Teladoc.
*Teladoc is available to Health New England fully funded, self-funded, Medicare Advantage and BeHealthy Partnership plan members. Some self-funded employer groups do not participate in this benefit.
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