US employers, insurers push to make virtual visits regular care

Medical director of Doctor on Demand Dr Vibin Roy waves good-bye to a patient at the conclusion of an online primary care visit conducted from his home in Keller, Texas. Some US employers and insurers want people to make telemedicine their first choice for most doctor visits. — AP

Make telemedicine your first choice for most doctor visits. That’s the message some US employers and insurers are sending with a new wave of care options.

Amazon and several insurers have started or expanded virtual-first care plans to get people to use telemedicine routinely, even for planned visits like annual checkups. They’re trying to make it easier for patients to connect with regular help by using remote care that grew explosively during the Covid-19 pandemic.