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May 30, 2023

Here's a health scenario almost any parent can relate to: It's late at night, your child is sick and you need help. The pediatrician's office and the urgent care clinic are both closed. You could go to the ER, but you're not really sure if it's warranted. You also know those visits can be very expensive. What should you do?

In situations like this, and in many others, virtual care is a great option. As long as you have access to the Internet, you can connect with a provider within minutes from wherever you are. The provider can diagnose, treat and prescribe medications as necessary. They can also refer you to in-person care if needed. However, a recent study found that the majority of primary care-related telehealth visits don't need an in-person follow-up visit.

Best of all, virtual visits usually cost much less than being seen in-person. Some Asuris plans even cover urgent telehealth visits with no out-of-pocket costs.

Virtual providers can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, such as:

• Allergies
• Cold and flu
• Constipation
• Ear problems
• Headache
• Minor infections
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pink eye
• Rashes
• Sinus infection
• Sore throat
• Sunburn
• UTI

Virtual providers can also offer care for a variety of mental health needs, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Relationship issues
• Grief and loss
• Trauma and PTSD
• Stress management
• Overcoming addictions

Some conditions require in-person treatment and wouldn't be appropriate for virtual care. Here are some examples:

• Severe pain in any part of the body, such as abdominal pain or chest pain. Severe pain can be a sign of a life-threatening condition, such as a heart attack, appendicitis or pulmonary embolism.
• Injuries and physical trauma, such as from a car accident or bad fall. These injuries may require stitches, a cast, X-rays or other in-person care. Plus, a provider may need to thoroughly examine the patient to check for internal injuries.
• Prescriptions and renewals for controlled substances, like opioids. An in-person visit is required by law for certain prescriptions.
• Conditions requiring in-person drug administration, such as an injection or IV medication.

Members can sign in to their account on asuris.com to learn what virtual care options are included in their plan. They just select the virtual care provider, register and set up an account on the provider's website. Then they can go straight to seeing a provider. It's a good idea for members to register and set up an account now so they don't have to worry about it when they're sick and need care quickly.

If a member needs emotional support or mental health care, we can help them find the behavioral health care option that fits their needs. Most of our health plans offer virtual mental health treatment options from providers such as AbleTo Therapy+, Doctor On Demand, Talkspace, Charlie Health and more. No referral is needed. Members can visit the provider website and schedule an appointment.

To get help finding and accessing virtual care options, members can sign in to their account at asuris.com and use the chat feature. Or they can call us at the number on the back of their member ID card. Questions? Contact your account representative.