A question that has come up often by clients these last few weeks is to whether or not they should venture out and see their doctor.
Because of the social distancing that is being asked by each of us during this Coronavirus pandemic, it’s not surprising that this question has been asked. The truth is that it’s not always a good idea to head to an emergency room right now unless it is a true emergency. Elective surgeries have been put off, physical therapy offices have been closed, and mental health counselors have also not been open to see patients.
With this being said, physicians and insurance companies realize that this isn’t a good practice all the time. Treatment still needs to be put into place to help with not only coronavirus, but also with other illness and/or injuries. They also realize that unnecessary visits to the doctor may put you into more risk which is why more and more physicians are using telemedicine and/or virtual health visits.
Your insurance company may have a specific app that you can use for these visits, but they can and do help to get your concerns addressed as well as tell you if you should venture out to your doctor and/or an emergency room.
By using telemedicine or virtual health visits as they are sometimes called, people who are suffering with other medical ailments can receive care at home without going out and without entering medical facilities. This not only protects themselves, but also protects healthcare workers.
Routine care can also be addressed with these types of visits. We all know that people with chronic diseases that need routine care such as diabetics can be at greater risk if they are infected with Covid-19. Again, these visits can provide protection, allow them to be seen and address their concerns, but also protect them against any unnecessary exposure.
There is also the question that if someone believes they might have contracted Covid-19. Questions can be asked. You may be asked to check your temperature and/or your blood pressure. Depending on the symptoms as well as the answers to your questions, the physician can then direct you to what steps need to be taken next.
If you are unsure if your insurance carrier allows for virtual health visits, give them a call. At Balanced Care, we receive daily updates from each of our carriers letting us know that they are turning to this type of care now more than ever. In fact, some insurance companies are telling us that virtual healthcare is up over 80% since social distancing began.
At Balanced Care, our goal is to provide protection for uncertain times.
Uncertainty is a sign of humility, and humility is just the ability or the willingness to learn. We are learning every day here at Balanced Care and we want to provide you with as much information to help guide you during these uncertain times.
Terri Trepanier is the owner of Balanced Care Health and Supplemental Insurance and a licensed insurance consultant and broker with Associated Brokers. Licensed in both Maine and NH, her specialty is working with small businesses, individuals, and families with their health and life insurance needs. She is certified to offer health plans both on and off the exchange and is contracted with every health insurance company that offers plans in both New Hampshire and Maine. Her other passion is assisting Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare Supplemental, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Terri has seen firsthand the importance of insurancCare is to “Insure Security and Peace of Mind One Family at a Time”.