Elder Care
PHOTO COURTESY BPT Navigating your health from home is
just a call, click or doorbell away
You feel it again - that nagging back
pain. Or maybe it’s an earache that
won’t go away. With COVID-19
restrictions making many of us reluctant
to leave the comforts of home, it’s good
to know there are other ways to see your
health care provider and get your medical
questions answered.
Making digital connections with your
health care provider has become more
common - and many older adults are taking
advantage of this option. In the fi rst
three months of the pandemic, 1 in 4 older
Americans completed a telehealth visit.
That far exceeds the 4% of people over 50
who reported they had ever had a virtual
visit with a physician in a 2019 survey.
Most health plans now offer choices on
how and where to access medical information
and care. That convenience is important
- but knowing we may be able to lower
our risk of infection by avoiding public
places may be even more valuable now.
Consider these alternatives for getting
the answers you need for health concerns:
Phone lines staffed
by nurses
Many health plans offer access to a
telephone-based support line staffed 24/7
by registered nurses - often referred to as
“24/7 nurse lines” or “nursing hotlines.”
The nurses take note of your symptoms,
and together, you can discuss next steps.
There is typically no additional charge to
use this service.
Online or virtual office visits
Some Medicare plans allow you to visit
with your doctor without leaving your living
room; in fact, Medicare has expanded
coverage of telehealth services for the duration
of the pandemic. During a virtual visit,
the clinician can see and talk with you via
your cell phone, computer or tablet. These
visits sometimes even allow physicians to
bring in specialists, also virtually, if needed.
While in-offi ce visits may still be the best
option when it comes to serious illnesses,
virtual visits may work well for follow-ups
and for more common illnesses and injuries
like colds, sprains, rashes, and so on. In
some states, online doctors can write and
submit prescriptions after a virtual consultation.
If covered, these visits may be
subject to a copay or coinsurance.
In-home visits by a health care
practitioner
Gone are the days when doctors routinely
made home visits, but some providers
still do offer this convenient service.
Today’s in-home clinicians are often nurse
practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants
(PAs) who spend 45 to 60 minutes with
each patient. They review your health
history and current medications, perform
a physical exam, offer health education
and coordinate care with your primary
care provider. The visit allows the health
practitioner to spend a great deal of time
with you in an environment where you are
comfortable. These appointments are so
popular that UnitedHealthcare’s House-
Calls program completed more than 1.6
million visits for its members in 2020.
The right care in the right
place at the right time
Staying on top of your health has never
been more critical, and the options available
to us today can help make that more
convenient than ever.
Of course, if you have a serious illness
or injury, do not hesitate to go to the
emergency room or urgent care, where
care teams are working to ensure your
continued health and safety. And whatever
you do, don’t delay or skip critical in-person
preventive visits and screenings, like colonoscopies
or mammograms, which may
have unintended consequences - especially
for older adults.
But the next time you want to speak with
someone about a medical issue from the
safety of your home, pick up your phone
or tablet, get comfortable and dial up the
personalized support you want.
To fi nd a UnitedHealthcare plan that
offers these services, visit UHCMedicare-
HealthPlans.com.
Courtesy BPT
10 January 28, 2021 Schneps Media
/HealthPlans.com
