UnitedHealthcare to roll out Network of Virtual Visits for Commercially Insured Consumers

UnitedHealthcare has planned to launch a network of virtual visits for its commercially insured consumers in order to help them get access to affordable health care for simple issues like colds. Three provider networks - Doctor On Demand, NowClinic and Amwell - have been granted contracts to provide the services, which will be rolled out in phases.

One can access the networks through smartphones, tablets and computers every day of the year.

Karen Scott, senior product and innovation director with UnitedHealthcare in Minnetonka, Minn., said access to audio and video appointments for simple medical needs such as flu, colds and sinus infections would be provided to as many as 20 million people in 2016.

The virtual visits are in the pipeline this month for launch to provide an in-network benefit to some of its nationally-based self-insured corporate client. By the end of May, nearly one million people would be able to have a virtual visit.

The company will eventually expand the service to some self-funded clients later this year. Customers with commercial insurance will be provided access in 2016. Nearly 430,000 people in Tennessee are being provided with the commercial insurance cover by UnitedHealthcare.

The structure of the insurance plan will be the basis to determine how much a consumer pays for a virtual visit.

Scott said, "We are very excited to expand access through this and we believe that virtual visits are a potential affordable way to meet needs".

He said the experience for consumers would be no different than going personally to a doctor. A patient will be required to complete same registration paperwork formalities and indicate what the visit is meant for. The person will be referred to see a doctor in-person if the issue appears beyond the scope of the virtual visit parameters.