Increasing numbers of British Columbians are accessing and looking for virtual health care options. Does your benefits plan include telehealth access?
In early 2020, telemedicine quickly became the primary access point for patients seeking health care. Although lock downs have become a thing of the past, one thing has become clear: telemedicine is here to stay. In fact, a recent study by Benefits Canada revealed that 54 per cent of British Columbians received virtual care in 2022.
Telehealth was initially offered to provide safety and peace of mind for both patients and health care providers. Today, however, reasons for using this evolving service include convenience and cost, such as time and cost of travelling to appointments and reduced childcare requirements, as well as increased quality of care as patients have access to additional health care providers that are farther away.
Demand for virtual care through health benefits plans is also on the rise. Benefits plans that offer virtual health care options are viewed more favourably than ones without this option.
Ninety-two per cent of individuals with plans containing virtual care rate their plan as excellent or good, compared with 69 per cent of individuals whose plans do not contain virtual care.
What’s more, 66 per cent of respondents indicated that they would use virtual health services if they were offered. That number jumped to 81 per cent for individuals who had previously accessed virtual health care.
Despite this, only 29 per cent of group benefits plan include a virtual health service. This means many employers are missing an opportunity to differentiate themselves from their competitors when looking to retain and attract employees. Next time you connect with your benefits provider, ask if telehealth is included in your plan and, if not, consider adding it when your plan comes up for renewal.
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