Understanding how to use an online doctor

In the digital age, it has become routine for people to visit an online doctor. Telehealth is a booming industry that has already proven its worth.
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Online doctor appointments can be both easier and faster than seeing a physician in person. Not only that, telehealth is often cheaper and more widely available to Americans in a wide variety of settings. In short, it's an immensely valuable tool for meeting your and your family's health needs quickly, easily, and affordably.

What is an online doctor?

Online doctors are changing the world. Now you can get a diagnosis or a referral, be prescribed medications, or get treatment for mental health issues all online. So how does it work?
Understanding telehealth is not as daunting as it might sound. Think of a telehealth visit as a regular doctor appointment, just one that you are doing from your computer or smartphone. Like an in-person physician, an online doctor meets with patients, diagnoses their health issues, and then comes up with a treatment plan. The only difference is they do it all virtually.
Online doctor services can provide visits with primary care doctors, specialists, psychiatrists, and more.
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Choosing an online doctor vs. an in-person doctor

So you're experiencing sharp abdominal pain, or you broke out in a rash. Should you make an appointment with an online doctor or an in-person doctor?

An online doctor

An online doctor appointment doesn't look all that different from a traditional one. As an in-person healthcare provider would, your online physician will begin your appointment by asking about your symptoms and how long you've been experiencing them. They'll likely also inquire about your medical history, any allergies you have, and the medications you're currently taking.
Online doctors are able to diagnose a wide variety of conditions based on your self-reporting, visual assessments via a smartphone camera or video conferencing app, self-testing (e.g., taking your own temperature), and image uploads. Even conditions like strep throat — which traditionally require a throat culture — can be successfully diagnosed during an online visit. If you can shine a light down your throat and describe how it feels when you probe your lymph nodes, an online doctor can help you get the answers you need.
Like an in-person doctor, an online doctor can follow a diagnosis with the correct treatment plan, including prescribing any necessary medications. If a specialist is indicated, they can make a recommendation.
Perhaps the chief benefit of a visit with an online doctor is that it can take place while you're on a break at work or in the comfort of your own home. There's no need to take time off from your job, secure childcare, or spend time and money getting yourself to the doctor's office. When it comes to virtual healthcare for older adults, this can be a huge benefit. Furthermore, an online doctor can typically see you sooner than an in-person provider can — even the same day. While your out-of-pocket costs will vary based on your insurance plan (if any), a telehealth appointment typically costs less than an in-person one.

An in-person doctor

You probably don't need to be told what seeing an in-person doctor involves. You make an appointment, which could be days, weeks, or even months away. Then you go to the doctor's office, arranging whatever transportation and taking however much time off work or away from caretaking that that entails. Sitting in a waiting room with other sick people, you hope it won't be too long until you can be seen.
Your doctor will begin by asking you to describe your symptoms and how long you've had them. In addition to asking the usual queries about medical history, allergies, and current prescriptions, an in-person doctor (or, more likely, a nurse) will record your height and weight, take your blood pressure, and perhaps check other vital signs.
If diagnosing your condition requires medical equipment or palpation (i.e., examination by touch), an in-person visit is preferable. It's unlikely you can listen to your own lungs or examine your own ear canal, after all! If your doctor requires a blood or urine sample to discover what ails you, it can be taken on the spot.
Even when visual assessment of an area is possible via video, it can be awkward. You may prefer to have a doctor check your tonsils directly rather than attempting to shine a light down your throat while correctly aligning yourself with your webcam. While great virtual care bedside manner matters, you may find it easier to establish a rapport with your doctor when seeing them in person.
That said, these advantages come with a price. For one, there's the strong likelihood that your in-person appointment will be more costly than a telehealth visit. And again, you'll spend more time and money getting there — if you're able to take the time off at all.

Benefits of online doctor visits

Online physician appointments can be hugely beneficial. They work with your schedule and are accessible from anywhere. More specifically:

  1. Visits may cost less

    If you don't have insurance, virtual visits can be significantly cheaper than in-person ones. For example, researchers found the average cost of a telehealth visit for a respiratory infection was $79, compared with $146 for an in-office visit. If you don't have insurance, that cost differential can make a huge difference, especially when you add in the cost of transportation, childcare, and other factors.

  2. You can make anytime, anywhere appointments

    Anytime your physician is online, you can make an appointment. That means you can visit a doctor from your home or the office, or even on the go. If your doctor's office or the telehealth provider is open on weekends, there's no need to wait until Monday.

  3. People in rural areas can gain better access to healthcare

    As long as you have an internet connection, it doesn't matter how close to a city you are. If you live in a rural area with few primary care providers and even fewer specialists, video visits offer improved access to the healthcare you need. This makes telehealth an appealing option for those who might otherwise have to drive hours to get care beyond what a small clinic can provide.

  4. They offer more flexible scheduling

    In-person doctor visits can be difficult to arrange for people who have day jobs or are taking care of others. A lack of transportation poses an additional challenge. Online doctor visits remove these barriers. You can see a doctor at a time that works for you while avoiding the cost and hassle of getting in a car or hopping on a bus.

  5. You can get ongoing prescriptions

    Online physicians can prescribe most medications on an ongoing basis. Once you receive your prescriptions, you can manage them through an online portal that makes it simple.

  6. They increase follow-up rates

    Studies show that telehealth increases the frequency and effectiveness of follow-up appointments. Because online doctor appointments don't require taking time off work or arranging childcare or transportation, more people make — and keep — these important follow-up visits.

How does an online doctor diagnose and treat conditions?

Online doctors can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, from a case of the hives to a urinary tract infection to anxiety or depression.
Depending on patient preference and the organization's capabilities, these virtual consultations can take place via text, phone call, or video chat. Some providers have dedicated mobile or web-based videoconferencing apps to facilitate visits and enable more effective visual assessments of patient symptoms.
Patients are hardly passive participants in online doctor appointments, either. In addition to having the right tech in place, patients may be asked to take their temperature and/or blood pressure, weigh themselves, and take their own pulse. They might need to upload images or engage in some physical show-and-tell to enable the online provider to draw the right diagnostic conclusions. The payoff for these efforts is getting the diagnosis and treatment they need at a time and place of their choosing.
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Can you get a prescription from an online doctor?

As noted earlier, doctors can prescribe most medications and refills through telehealth visits. Online prescription protocols allow the filling of scripts for most medications for flu, bacterial infections, chronic care management, and more.
As long as your medication is approved for online prescription, and your doctor determines you need it, they will prescribe it for you during your visit. They can also prescribe refills of most or all of the medications you are currently taking.
Many healthcare organizations provide an online portal for managing prescriptions. There you can request an online prescription refill sent to your local pharmacy or mail order pharmacy of your choice. If you need to change a prescription, simply set up an online appointment with your healthcare provider
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Are there any prescriptions a doctor can't prescribe online?

Without seeing you in person, doctors typically cannot prescribe the following:

Do online doctors accept insurance?

Yes, online doctors almost always accept health insurance. But while having insurance will likely reduce the out-of-pocket costs of your virtual appointment, it's not necessary to have an insurance plan for telehealth services.
To find out whether an online doctor accepts your health insurance, contact the healthcare provider. Typically, an online visit requires only a copay if you have health insurance. Note that copays for specialist visits usually cost more. Many online doctors accept both Medicaid and Medicare, just like in-person physicians.
Paying for a telehealth visit works the same as for an in-office visit. If you have health insurance, you will pay any required copay, and the online doctor will bill the health insurance company for the remainder. If your plan requires coinsurance for certain services, you will pay the specified amount. If you don't have health insurance, you will receive a bill from the provider to pay in full.
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Can I get an online doctor's note for work or school?

If you're worried about missing work or school due to an illness or medical condition, you might need a doctor's note to have your absence excused. Fortunately, an online doctor can write you a sick note just as easily as an in-person doctor can.
An online doctor's note contains a few basic pieces of information:
  • Your illness or medical condition
  • What you need to be excused from
  • How long you need to be excused
  • The date you can resume normal activity
  • The doctor's name and the medical organization
To use an online doctor's note, simply print it out and take it into work or school. Alternatively, you can email it to your boss or teacher to request sick leave.
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How does an online doctor appointment work?

An online doctor visit is very similar to a traditional doctor visit, minus the time and effort to get there. An online doctor appointment is simply one that happens online, between you and a trained doctor. You schedule it ahead of time, as with any appointment. Then you meet by text, phone, or video visits rather than in person.
Now you can gain access to doctors online 24/7 through the HealthTap App, available through both the Apple Store and Google Play. Schedule your online doctor visit today, or read on to learn more about how it works.
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Who can take advantage of telehealth provider appointments?

Telehealth provider appointments are available to anyone who needs medical care. You do not have to have health insurance or a primary care provider. You don't need to have had a previous appointment through the provider in order to be seen. Appointments are available to:
  • Women, men, and transgender or nonbinary individuals
  • Children, adults, and the elderly
  • People in all locations, both urban and rural
  • People with all medical conditions, although you may need an in-person visit to get proper care for some
Generally, a virtual doctor appointment requires an internet connection and a computer, tablet, or other device. Even a smartphone will work. Your doctor will tell you before the appointment whether you need to have anything else set up. Note that while there is no minimum internet speed, you generally want at least 1.5 Mbps to ensure a reliable connection.
Also, it's important to keep in mind that some appointments really are best conducted in person. Video visits don't work when:
  • You have complex medical conditions that may require care in a hospital.
  • A doctor must palpate the area in order to provide a diagnosis.
  • You need immediate physical care, such as stitches or a cast.

Online doctor FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about getting care from a virtual provider.

How much do online doctors cost?

Typically, you can see an online doctor for a copay, but rates will vary by provider. HealthTap members pay $44 for primary care visits and $59 for urgent care visits.
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How can you talk to a doctor online?

You can schedule a telehealth appointment with your primary care doctor or a referred specialist through your healthcare system. If you don't have a primary care physician, you can use a telehealth service, which can schedule an appointment with an appropriate online provider at any time.

Are online doctors legal?

Yes. Online doctors are simply MDs who provide care over the web or the phone. There are no additional training or licensing requirements needed for them to provide complete medical care online.

What training do online doctors have?

Telehealth providers have the same educational credentials that any doctor does. They must also meet the same residency requirements, pass the same boards, and apply for the same licenses.

Can online doctors make referrals?

Yes. Provided the physician can make an accurate diagnosis, they can refer you to a specialist as needed. You can then see that specialist online or, if the diagnosis requires it, in person.

How safe are online doctors?

Very safe. Neither your safety nor your information is in danger with an online physician. If you ever feel threatened in any way, you can report the incident to the healthcare organization, but it is not a common problem in the field.

Can you be diagnosed by a doctor online?

Yes. Telehealth is a great way to get a diagnosis for mental health issues, typical aches and pains, minor injuries, and general care. Online doctors can't provide every service from afar — full physicals and internal examinations require in-person visits, for example — but they offer many.

What's the difference between a virtual doctor and an online doctor?

There is no difference; it's only terminology. Virtual just means that the referenced event takes place in an online environment.

Is my health information safe with a telehealth provider?

Absolutely. Online providers have to follow the same HIPAA guidelines that any doctor must, guaranteeing the privacy of your sensitive information.

Your doctor.
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What is an online doctor?
Choosing an online doctor vs. an in-person doctor
Benefits of online doctor visits
How does an online doctor diagnose and treat conditions?
What type of healthcare and conditions does HealthTap treat?
Can you get a prescription from an online doctor?
Do online doctors accept insurance?
Can I get an online doctor's note for work or school?
How does an online doctor appointment work?
Online doctor FAQs
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