It’s happened to all of us at some point. You need to visit your doctor, but they don’t have any available appointments. Or, the appointments they can offer won’t fit into your busy schedule. Maybe you feel under the weather, and just don’t have the energy to drive all the way to the office and wait for a long time in a crowded waiting room. And at times, many of us lack childcare that makes going to the doctor convenient for parents.

So you might be happy to hear that you do have other options for scheduling an appointment with a doctor. For minor illnesses or consultations on bothersome symptoms, you can access virtual care benefits through your regular healthcare plan.

With virtual care, you simply fill out a few forms on a computer or mobile device. These are the same type of forms you normally complete at a medical office. Then you might be asked to undergo a screening questionnaire, so that the doctor can assess your symptoms. Finally, you will consult with your doctor via instant messaging, video call, or regular phone call.

If you doctor feels comfortable with diagnosing you over the phone, you’ll never have to set foot in an office. Simply visit your preferred pharmacy, pick up the prescription called in by your doctor, and follow any other instructions he has given you.

The whole process of virtual care is much faster than a typical doctor appointment, and more convenient for the vast majority of us. It might even help to reduce the spread of common illnesses like colds, flus, and covid variants, because sick people are no longer required to show up for in-person appointments. That’s great news, because now you don’t have to worry about picking up a second infection while you sit in a waiting room.

For more information on your virtual care benefits and how the system works, call your plan’s customer service line. And as always, let us know if you have questions about healthcare plans in general. We can help match you to the plan that best fits your needs.