Jun 29, 2023
UnitedHealthcare will eliminate out-of-pocket costs for 24/7 Virtual Visits for eligible members enrolled in applicable fully insured employer-sponsored plans, offering plan participants an option to access care professionals anytime to help treat a range of medical issues.
Eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for 24/7 Virtual Visits may help improve health equity by reducing the burden of medical costs for consumers and encourage earlier interventions. This, in turn, can reduce the risk of complications and avoid visits to costlier settings such as the emergency room. 24/7 Virtual Visits are designed as a supplement to services delivered by local care providers, who conduct approximately 95% of virtual care appointments among UnitedHealthcare members (per a 2022 internal analysis).
The coverage enhancement is part of UnitedHealthcare’s broader efforts to help people to use technology to access quality care at a lower cost.
With 24/7 Virtual Visits, members can connect on demand to a doctor by video or phone through myuhc.com or the UnitedHealthcare app, including national care providers such as Optum Virtual Care. Participating doctors, all of whom are licensed at the state level and have been vetted for providing quality care, can treat a wide range of health conditions, from flu and pink eye to migraines and more, and may prescribe medication as needed. 24/7 Virtual Visits may treat many of the same conditions as an ER or urgent care, offering a more convenient and affordable alternative particularly at night or on weekends when many primary care providers are usually unavailable.
The new coverage enhancement will become available to some large group fully insured plans at renewal starting July 1, 2023, including an option for employers with self-funded plans to adopt a similar policy for their employees. The coverage enhancement will be available to small group fully insured plans beginning with the January 1, 2024, renewal cycle.
Contact your Amwins Connect Regional Sales Manager for more information.
