The rise of virtual healthcare and its convenience has revealed significant benefits for retirees extending far beyond convenience. With its multilayered solutions, virtual care can be an important and integral part of the retiree population’s care ecosystem, and one that employers should pay close attention to.
Retiree Adoption Of Virtual Healthcare
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare telehealth flexibilities were expanded to allow for increased access and adoption. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, many Medicare telehealth policies were broadened to help people retain access to health coverage, and some were even made permanent.
According to a nationwide study involving over 36 million individuals, telehealth usage increased by 766% during the first three months of the pandemic. Although usage rates have slowed, they remain significantly higher than pre-2020 levels. Studies show that most people are able to get the care they need through virtual care, with more than half of Medicare and Medicaid patients (55%) reporting they did not need an in-person visit after a telehealth appointment.
This change in healthcare accessibility means employers should tackle any obstacles that seniors may encounter in adopting and utilizing virtual care. Engaging trusted partners like Anthem who are leaning into digital-first options like the SydneySM Health app, which facilitates virtual care appointments through a convenient mobile app, can help.
Making Living With Chronic Conditions Easier
For those living with chronic conditions, there are times when in-person visits are necessary. Other situations can be handled more efficiently and effectively with virtual care and digital therapeutics, such as:
- Remote patient monitoring of symptoms.
- Care provider to care provider discussions.
- Follow-up appointments.
- Discussions around imaging or test results.
- Regular check-ins and primary care visits.
Hybrid care keeps retirees engaged with their condition management while easing the time and cost burden of doing so. Depending on the nature of the appointment, they can choose accessing care in a way that works for them.
Reducing The Impact Of Care Provider Shortages
The healthcare industry is currently facing substantial workforce challenges, with studies indicating that the U.S. will experience a significant provider shortage by 2034. This includes a reduction of 134,000 physicians, of which 48,000 will be primary care providers.
Digital healthcare benefits both care providers and patients by offering potential efficiencies, convenience, and expanded access to care. Patients are able to interact with a healthcare provider regardless of geographical constraints. Supporting retirees with virtual options can not only lower the impact of the healthcare workforce changes, but also promote their overall well-being through continued access to high-quality care.
Accessing Behavioral Health Support
Behavioral health is another important consideration for retiree health and well-being. Reports show that one in four adults live with a behavioral health condition, and two-thirds of older adults are not getting the care they need. By leveraging virtual behavioral healthcare, retirees could potentially see lower health costs, a reduction in fatal overdoses, and improved access to support resources and help when it’s needed most.
Additional Benefits Of Virtual Care
Retirees may also encounter significant obstacles in receiving consistent healthcare that virtual care can help address. Social drivers of health, such as access to nutritious food, reliable transportation, quality housing, and financial stability, can affect a person’s ability to get healthcare.
Virtual care can provide care alternatives for seniors who are “snowbirds” or spend the winter months living in a different state. Digital-first solutions play a crucial role in bridging these gaps, ensuring a more accessible, consistent, and equitable care experience.
Integrating Data To Provide Connected Support
Virtual care creates the opportunity for a single-entry point for everyone, increasing the simplicity of giving and receiving care and integrating health data to treat the whole person rather than one condition at a time. Communication between care providers has a significant impact on patient adherence to their prescribed treatment plans.
Using real-time data, providers can access the most up-to-date, accurate information to provide increasingly personalized and customized health recommendations through virtual platforms. Virtual care can also serve as a front line of the health system and help direct retirees to the most appropriate care or in-person services, if needed.
Virtual healthcare has evolved to become an important cornerstone of the healthcare ecosystem. By giving retirees the ability to access high-quality care anytime and anywhere, and empowering providers and care managers to advocate for their patients, the outcomes are a harmonized, well-coordinated, and cost-effective approach to healthcare. Employers should ensure their retiree health insurance solutions encompass a hybrid care model by including virtual care benefits.
Sydney Health is offered through an arrangement with Carelon Digital Platforms, a separate company offering mobile application services on behalf of your health plan. ©2023 The Virtual Primary Care experience is offered through an arrangement with Hydrogen Health.