Insight Life Care - Blog #telemedicine

Concierge primary care for busy professionals

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 18:24:52 +0000

The bulk of America’s workforce is found in the services sector. Around 21.5 million Americans work in the professional and business services sector. Additionally, another 16 million Americans are self-employed. This group of people has a unique set of needs when it comes to health care. The working professional needs:

Health care that is affordable.
Access to a doctor at their convenience.
Occasional interaction with a doctor in a non-clinical setting, especially via telehealth.
To be able to get access to testing and health monitoring in a convenient manner.

Access to a doctor when you need it

Concierge medicine offers the working professional access to a doctor when they need it. In typical primary care scenarios, a patient has to wait an average of about two weeks before they can see a doctor. In some areas of the country, like Boston, patients wait about 45 days in extreme situations. Once someone has an appointment scheduled, they will likely wait for 15 minutes or longer at a clinic before they actually see a doctor. Insight Life Care, a concierge medicine provider, can get patients an appointment within 24 hours.

For workers with limited time off, this means that concierge medicine is a viable option for them. You can see a doctor during a longer lunch break, take a quick call during a break to get a prescription refill, or just have a routine check-in appointment. For busy working professionals, the average telehealth session with their concierge doctor will take about 15 minutes, while an in-person visit to a family practice, including wait time, can take as much as an hour or more.

Concierge care is often more affordable

For the underinsured or uninsured, a concierge doctor is often a more affordable option than a visit to the doctor’s office, which can range from $150 to $200. Primary care physicians and concierge doctors using a monthly-based membership are often more affordable. With a $150 membership, Insight Life Care can schedule an appointment with you at the time of your liking.

This is also a more affordable option for even the insured. Sometimes, because of the long wait to get an appointment at a clinic, patients will go to an urgent care center. Urgent care may be totally out of pocket depending upon your insurance, and will cost between $100 and $200.

Concierge care allows you to interact with your physician outside of the clinical setting

According to the U.S. Travel Association, there are more business trips taken each year than there are people in the United States. In 2019, US residents logged 464.4 million person-trips (a trip involving paid accommodations like airfare and lodging) for business purposes. When a person is on the road, they might occasionally need to interact with their doctor via telehealth.

In addition to telehealth, patients might also need remote monitoring, which is another type of care that is available from a concierge provider outside of the clinical setting.

Telemedicine is one of the biggest benefits of concierge care for busy professionals

Even though more Americans are using telehealth over the last calendar year because of the pandemic, patients and physicians alike are finding that it is very convenient for a wide variety of reasons. As of October 2020, 80% more physicians were using it. Physicians reported that, from a doctor/patient perspective:

That it was convenient to use as an option for renewing prescriptions.
That it was a great way for regular chronic care check-ins.
That it was also a convenient way to follow up with patients after check-ins or hospital stays.

Patients who use telehealth also found that it was viable to them for the same reasons. Here are some numbers that indicate patients are extremely satisfied when they work with their doctor in a concierge setting:

According to JD Power and Associates, the level of customer satisfaction with telemedicine is quite high, in comparison to other service industries.
According to a Harvard Business Review survey of 1 million patients, 89% of patients would recommend their telehealth provider after their telemedicine visit.
Studies also indicate that patients are more likely to be compliant if they are taking a prescription or require a routine checkup.

Concierge medicine is one of the ways that patients can take advantage of telemedicine. By and far, this type of service lets patients take care of routine things like checkups and prescriptions. Insight Life Care offers our concierge medical services to working professionals, which includes 24/7 access to a doctor, no waiting for an appointment, and telemedicine when you need it.

MEET DR. NUSSBAUM

Chris Nussbaum, MD, FHM founded Insight Life Care after 25 years of primary care and hospital practice in order to create an environment where patients are at the forefront of care. Click here to learn more »

What is Concierge Medicine?

What is Internal Medicine?

Benefits of Concierge Medicine

Employer Sponsored Direct Primary Care

Why Membership Based Care?

INSIGHT LIFE CARE

Our Philosophy

Our Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Membership Options

Employee Health Plans'

Patient Testimonials

Schedule an Appointment

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APPOINTMENTS

Why you should offer your employees a primary care benefit option

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 18:56:00 +0000

During the pandemic, a large portion of workers in the United States lost access to their health insurance. Between February 2020 and June 2020, 7.7 million workers lost access to some sort of employer-sponsored health care. Moreover, these workers also provided health care for 6.9 million dependents. In all, a total of 14.6 million individuals lost access to affordable health care. Many of these people are coming back to work and may have started new jobs, some of which do not offer any sort of health care. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why it may be beneficial for your business to start offering a primary care option for employees as people start going back to work.

Attract potential employees

According to a recent editorial in the New York Times, there is a labor shortage as America returns to work. Employers are posting new positions in record highs, but applicant activity remains relatively low. One way to make a job seem more attractive to potential applicants is to add a primary care benefit or even some sort of concierge care benefit. Employees looking for a career change may be looking for a job that has similar health benefits to what they had before. Companies like Insight Life Care offer a primary care benefit option in the form of concierge medicine. Even if your company is not in a position to offer health insurance, a primary care benefit can help bring people back to work.

Retain high quality employees

A primary care benefit option can help keep your employees loyal to your company for years down the road. Not only can a robust health package attract new employees, but you will also have dedicated, loyal employees who stay with your company for years. With access to primary care, you will also have employees who are healthier, taking fewer sick days.

Direct primary care is better for your employees

Employees, with their traditional health care, might avoid going to the doctor:

It can take weeks to get on the doctor’s schedule.
They often have to wait in the waiting room and then for a doctor in the exam room.
Their time often feels rushed with the doctor and they may end up seeing a physician’s assistant or an advanced nurse practitioner, not an actual doctor.
There is a co-pay, possibly another referral, and insurance process.

Primary direct care is more affordable and convenient for your employees. If you work with a membership-based service like Insight Life Care, you can get your employees a health care setting where:

They get access to a doctor, not a doctor substitute.
They have access to their personal physician 24/7 via telemedicine
They can have an appointment within 24-48 hours that is convenient for their schedule.
For a simple monthly membership, they don’t have to worry about confusing costs like they would at a typical primary care practice.

Insight Life Care direct primary care and concierge medicine benefits to patients

Concierge medicine is a great way to provide your employees with a more convenient way to access direct primary care. Some of the benefits of our membership-based concierge direct primary care model include:

Your costs are controlled: For a fixed monthly amount, you have unlimited access to a doctor with over 30 years of experience practicing internal medicine in Tampa Bay. In our office, we can cover 80-90% of your healthcare needs. If we encounter an issue that needs specialist intervention, we will schedule, manage, and follow up with all outside providers for you.
More time with your doctor: Developing a personal relationship with your doctor enables you to truly engage in your healthcare. Also, having a doctor you can call 24/7 helps to keep you out of urgent care clinics and emergency rooms. It’s like having a doctor in the family!
No health insurance needed: We provide the same level of care to our patients regardless of their health insurance status. Although our services are not a replacement for health insurance, we can meet most of your healthcare needs in our office for a low monthly cost. For our uninsured patients, we have negotiated cash prices with outside providers to make your entire healthcare experience more affordable. Contact us to learn more.
Accessible visit options: Our doctor and nurse will see you wherever you are, whether via telemedicine, an in-office visit, or a home doctor visit in Tampa. We understand that traveling to our office is not always convenient or available to you - just let us know which visit option works best for you.

Benefits of direct primary care to you as an employer

Reduce healthcare costs: There will be no more claims for primary care visits, a dramatic reduction in emergency room and urgent care visits, fewer unnecessary specialist referrals, and reduced imaging and lab costs. Up to 90% of employees’ healthcare needs will be satisfied through our concierge group healthcare services.
Increase attendance: With 24/7 access to their physician and bi-annual in-house wellness checks, employees are healthier which makes them less likely to take time off of work for healthcare visits and illness.
Increase job satisfaction: Our services allow employers to offer unlimited primary care at no additional cost to employees. A benefit that employees will actually use and value for their improved healthcare access.
Increase employee wellness: Our concierge medical services will help patients learn about health lifestyle habits, such as diet and exercise, thus increasing your employee productivity.

Check out the following articles to learn more about the benefits of a direct primary care membership for your business:

MEET DR. NUSSBAUM

What is Concierge Medicine?

What is Internal Medicine?

Benefits of Concierge Medicine

Employer Sponsored Direct Primary Care

Why Membership Based Care?

INSIGHT LIFE CARE

Our Philosophy

Our Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Membership Options

Employee Health Plans'

Patient Testimonials

Schedule an Appointment

LET'S CONNECT

APPOINTMENTS

Employee health care options that supplement health insurance

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:03:53 +0000

For individuals, health insurance premiums have spiked in recent years. In 2020, the average person paid $380 per month for single coverage premiums. That number is even higher for families, with the average family paying $1,500 or more for their monthly premium. Even if some people can afford this, there are other issues with some health insurance policies, like hefty premiums and procedures that are not necessarily covered by one’s insurance policy. For employers, health insurance is also costly. On average, an employer will pay around $6,000 for single person coverage while family coverage will cost an employer around $15,000 per year.

Health savings accounts

There are three different types of health savings accounts that can be driven by both employer and employee contributions. These include HSAs (health savings accounts), FSAs (flexible spending accounts), and HRAs (health reimbursement arrangements).

If you have a high deductible health plan, you may set up an HSA through your employer or through a third-party provider. This allows you to contribute up to $3,600 per individual or $7,200 for your family. This money is pre-tax, can earn interest, and is not subject to taxes if used for qualified medical expenses.

Flexible spending accounts allow individuals and their employers to contribute up to $2,750 per year. This is typically a payroll deduction that is used to reimburse employees for their qualified medical expenses.

Lastly, an HRA is a benefitted plan that is solely eligible through an employer. Only employers contribute to these benefitted plans and an HRA is used to help an employee offset out-of-pocket health expenses.

Membership-based medical services

There are two primary options available for medical care for individuals who don’t have insurance: direct primary care and concierge medicine. Some primary care physicians offer a monthly membership fee that includes visits to a doctor’s office (where you might be seen by a nurse practitioner or other medical professional who is on hand). Sometimes, it can take quite some time to get an appointment set up. Also, these types of services do not always include monitoring, testing, and other needed health care services.

Concierge medicine is a type of service that is very affordable, costs start at $150 per month with Insight Life Care, that gives you all the treatment options that you need. Insight Life Care’s concierge medicine model includes:

Doctor appointments available within 24 hours
Unhurried appointments with a doctor, not a nurse or physician's assistant
Telemedicine whenever your need it, if you can't visit us in our private doctor's office
Remote monitoring of your blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, and EKG readings
Expedited appointments with specialists when the need arises
Hospital admission and in-hospital care by Dr. Chris Nussbaum, a Fellow of Hospital Medicine
Your physician's personal cell phone number, which you can text, call, and video chat anytime of day
Home/office visits - your doctor will come to you

Another benefit of Insight Life Care’s concierge medical service is that if you prefer your privacy, patient visits at the clinic are truly private, as you will be the only patient in the clinic for the duration of your visit.

Short-term health insurance

For some people who are in between health insurance, there are plans available that are known as short-term health insurance. Sometimes, short-term health insurance is less expensive than comprehensive health plans, with some plans costing as little as $60 per month. Generally speaking, short-term health insurance is not a good fit for people who have pre-existing conditions.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine is an option that is included with most concierge medical services, but some healthcare providers offer telehealth as a standalone option. There are many benefits to telemedicine:

Some healthcare providers offer telemedicine as a lower-cost alternative to an in-person visit.
For people who are just needing a doctor’s consultation or a prescription, telemedicine is often more convenient.
Patients don’t have to be in a waiting room before their telemedicine appointment.

Many telemedicine companies accept insurance if you have it. The price of a virtual doctor visit is often far less. In 2017, a study found that the average cost for a telemedicine appointment was about $80 compared to $150 or more for a doctor’s appointment.

Insight Life Care offers unlimited telemedicine appointments to membership patients at no additional cost, which means you can have an appointment from the comfort and ease of your own home or while you are traveling out of state or country. Individuals who are not members of Insight Life Care can schedule one time telemedicine consultations for only $50. Click here to schedule an appointment today!

Health and wellness education

If you use a concierge medicine service, your provider can educate you on health and wellness decisions that will improve your overall health and reduce the likelihood of illness. Offering an employee wellness program can help improve the health of a workforce. In 2019, about 84% of employers had some sort of employee wellness program that helped educate employees on:

Healthy diet and nutrition.
The benefits of stopping unhealthy habits, like smoking.
Habits like good posture, exercise, as well as other lifestyle and behavioral coaching.

Some people who lack adequate health coverage also will sometimes make lifestyle choices that improve their overall health. A healthy diet can reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancers.

Finding a health care option that is right for you

Finding the balance of affordable health care that is convenient and hassle-free will take a little bit of time and vary based upon your needs. A concierge medical service can often meet all of your needs whether or not you have insurance.

Insight Life Care takes the guesswork out of your costs. We offer a membership-based primary direct care model that makes healthcare affordable and convenient. We have plans that cost $150/month, $250/month, and we even have a program for employers to help their employees get the healthcare that they need. Some of the benefits of our membership-based concierge direct primary care model include:

Your costs are controlled: For $150/month, you have unlimited access to a doctor with over 30 years of experience practicing internal medicine in Tampa Bay. In our office, we can cover 80-90% of your healthcare needs. If we encounter an issue that needs specialist intervention, we will schedule, manage, and follow up with all outside providers for you.
More time with your doctor: Developing a personal relationship with your doctor enables you to truly engage in your healthcare. Also, having a doctor you can call 24/7 helps to keep you out of urgent care clinics and emergency rooms. It’s like having a doctor in the family!
No health insurance needed: We provide the same level of care to our patients regardless of their health insurance status. Although our services are not a replacement for health insurance, we can meet most of your healthcare needs in our office for a low monthly cost. For our uninsured patients, we have negotiated cash prices with outside providers to make your entire healthcare experience more affordable. Contact us to learn more.
Accessible visit options: Our doctor and nurse will see you wherever you are, whether via telemedicine, an in-office visit, or a home doctor visit in Tampa. We understand that traveling to our office is not always convenient or available to you - just let us know which visit option works best for you.