Employees choosing workplace health benefits for next year will probably not see a major change in their premiums. But they are likely to encounter more options for “virtual” doctor visits.
As the annual open enrollment season for health benefits gets underway, more large employers are offering services that let patients consult doctors who are in a separate location, using technology like secure video chats or remote monitoring. About three-quarters of large firms that offer health insurance now cover such “telemedicine,” a recent survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found. That is up from 27 percent three years ago.