Full-text transcription of the infographic:
Telemedicine (also known as virtual visits, telehealth and e-health) is a form of technology-based communication that allows individuals to connect and communicate with a doctor without being in the same physical space. Since its introduction into the health care landscape, telemedicine has grown at a rapid pace—and it continues to do so.
In early 2021, employers across the country were surveyed about various employee benefits-related topics, including telemedicine, and roughly 150 employers responded. Their responses help provide insight into employers’ opinions and use of telemedicine.
Telemedicine Trends
Simply put, the survey results reinforce the prevailing market trend that many employers are offering telemedicine to round out health insurance plans and better support employees with their preventive care, chronic health condition management and mental health care.
Nearly 90% of surveyed employers currently offer a plan that covers telemedicine. Of those employers:
- 38% believe telemedicine plays an important role in their health care offerings.
- 53% view telehealth as one of many tools to supplement their traditional health care offerings.
These findings align with recent trends of employers viewing employee health and wellness as a competitive advantage to maintain their employees’ overall wellness, retain top-performing employees and attract the best talent. Many employers are taking a holistic approach to employee wellness and focusing on ways to support employees’ physical, mental and financial health. Telemedicine usage skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it one of the most popular ways to receive health care, and stats prove that it’s here to stay.
Employer Benefits of Telemedicine
Telemedicine offers numerous advantages for both health care professionals and patients, but there are also benefits for employers who offer telemedicine:
- Reduced health care costs
- Lower employee absenteeism
- Higher employee productivity
- Competitive advantage for talent
As technology continues to evolve and the price of traditional health care steadily increases, employees will be more likely to choose telemedicine as a routine health care option. To learn more, contact TIG Advisors.
The 2021 Telemedicine Benchmarking Overview is a portion of a larger survey conducted by Zywave for informational purposes. © 2021 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
