Optimizing Virtual Care in the New Better

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated the virtualization of care globally. Governments, providers, consumers, payers and employers all quickly adopted and enhanced virtual care services to ensure safe access to care. This laid the foundation for a fundamental change in how providers deliver healthcare services, employers design health plans and individuals engage with their health — a change marked by an evolution from individual virtual care health solutions to new models that integrate virtual care services with in-person healthcare providers.

The growth in virtual care, however, has led to a parallel ecosystem of disconnected services and platforms.

But virtual care isn’t going away — nor should it. Done well, virtual care can reshape healthcare delivery to be more accessible, personalized and effective at a lower cost, while allowing individuals to participate in their health more fully. Optimizing the value of care offered, however, requires completely integrating virtual care services into healthcare benefits. Virtual-directed health plan models are emerging to do just that — connect virtual and in-person care, all supported by advanced technology.

Aon estimates that virtual-directed health plans could reduce medical plan costs by up to 15%.

For employers to realize these benefits, though, they must first integrate virtual care into their healthcare benefits and plan design via a virtual care strategy. Read the full article above.

For questions or more information on virtual-directed health plans, please email health@aon.com.