You aren’t feeling well. Is it serious? Do you need medication? What about that injury; should you get it checked? Or are you just looking for advice to help you live a healthier life to prevent following in your family history of diabetes and high blood pressure?
For any of these day-to-day situations, it’s great to make a quick appointment with your primary care provider – the one you can count on to answer your questions and direct you to the healthcare services you and your family need. But what if, like one out of every five Canadians, you don’t have one, as noted in The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) recent findings in their report Strengthening Canada’s Health Care Systems With Data-Driven Insights? That’s when your health insurance can help – with virtual health care.
What kind of healthcare can I get with virtual health care?
Virtual health care is important in Canada because it offers a convenient way to access medical services without having to visit a medical clinic (and sometimes the emergency room) in person. It’s easy to use – you can have video calls or phone consultations with a medical practitioner from the comfort of your own home, from work or wherever you are for a wide variety of health issues like
- professional medical advice on taking care of your physical health
- discussing mental health issues
- diagnosis and treatment of health concerns, like pain assessment or reviewing infections and skin problems
- get prescriptions renewals for conditions like diabetes
- lab and imaging requisitions for sprains and strains
- check on sinus pain and sore throats, eye redness and changes in your vision
- get referrals to specialists like rheumatologists or neurologists and other health professionals
- talk privately about sexual health
- review your need for travel-related healthcare
- follow up on conditions monitored with home devices and/or lab tests, and
- review test results and specialist reports.
For people in rural areas or if you don’t have a primary care provider, virtual care can provide access to healthcare services that might be far away or hard to reach otherwise. It’s also helpful if you have mobility issues, as it eliminates the need for travel and helps make it easier to get medical advice and treatment. While virtual health care can be very useful, it’s important to remember that it might not be suitable for all types of medical issues or emergencies.
You can be referred to the exact type of healthcare provider you need
Depending on the service that you need, did you know that you can even be referred to another health practitioner that offers private, confidential virtual care including
- dieticians
- psychologists
- social workers
- speech therapists
- audiologists
- chiropractors
- naturopaths
- occupational therapists
- physiotherapists.
Therapy appointments like these can be an eligible expense under your health insurance, as well as the cost of any prescribed medication.
Make the most of your virtual visits
Here is what you will typically need for your virtual care visit:
- A smartphone, tablet or laptop with a front camera and microphone.
- Access to a power source and your device fully charged.
- An internet connection.
- Your email address.
- Good lighting in your space so you can see each other clearly.
- A quiet space so there is little distraction and your privacy is protected.
Often, your healthcare provider will use headphones for clear audio and for privacy.
Like any appointment, it is important to join the video/virtual meeting on time. This appointment will be recorded in your medical record, just like any other. Your provider will usually start the appointment a few minutes early to greet you and help you connect. For more information, read the Canadian Medical Association’s How To Navigate Virtual Care Patient Guide.
Is there a ‘virtual’ gap in your current health coverage?
Does your employer health coverage or your own health and dental plan offer virtual care? If the answer is no, consider one of these health and dental insurance options to bridge the gap if you don’t have a primary physician.
Manulife Makes Virtual Medical Consultations Free and Easy with Akira
Manulife health and dental plans include Akira, the on-demand virtual care solution by TELUS Health. You get direct unlimited 24/7 access without an appointment to secure medical consultations with friendly, knowledgeable clinicians. Akira is available in French and English, via smartphone or computer.
Flexcare, FollowMe, Association and Guaranteed Issue Enhanced health insurance plans from Manulife plans bridge the gap for healthcare service costs that fall outside provincial insurance by covering services like
- Prescription drugs
- Routine dental care visits
- Registered therapists like speech therapists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, foot care specialists, naturopaths, osteopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and more
- Home support services
- Medical equipment
- Ambulance transportation
- Hearing aids
- Vision care, including eye exams, glasses and contact lenses
- Travel insurance
- Private and semi-private hospital rooms
- Accidental death and dismemberment
You can apply for coverage if you are a Canadian resident and have valid provincial health insurance in place. Some Manulife plans offer guaranteed acceptance with no medical questions. Coverage is only dependent upon receipt of your first two months’ premium payment.
GMS Care Network is an assistance program with services to help you with your physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing so you can be your best and most productive self. You can access help any time of day, any day of the year just by using your phone or go online from wherever you are. You can talk to a Canadian-licensed general practitioner for minor medical needs, digital prescriptions, and more. For your mental health, you can talk to an expert about stress, anxiety, or depression, or seek advice on legal matters, financial planning, professional and personal growth. You can also access an online self-directed program for cognitive behavioural therapy to help.
GMS offers Personal Health Plan for everyday health needs and medical emergencies not covered by provincial health plans. Benefits include services of chiropractors and physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and speech therapists, prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, casts, and crutches. You can add prescription drug and dental benefits and travel for even more protection against out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
If you no longer have health coverage through your employer, GMS Replacement Health plans help you maintain your lifestyle without interruption. Like Personal Health plans, they are bundled to include coverage for prescription drugs, glasses, and contacts, dental, travel and more. And if you run a business with 3 to 49 employees, the GMS Group Advantage Plan allows you to mix and match and deliver a group benefits plan that requires no medical questions and provides quick coverage.
PRISM health plans with GreenShield+
GreenShield+, a first-of-its-kind integrated solution where in one easy-to-use place, you can search for health care providers, check your benefits coverage, access health care services, connect with thousands of health care professionals, and seamlessly submit their benefits claims, anytime, anywhere.
GreenShield+ is included with PRISM health plans, exclusively from SBIS. With PRISM health insurance plans, you have access to digital service options like
- The Health Depot that ‘brings the pharmacy to you’ while monitoring your medication safety and, when needed, to help you to optimize your medication therapy
- Maple Telemedicine online access to a Canadian-licensed doctor for medical care within minutes, 24/7 Beacon (iCBT program) no-cost digital therapy for mental health management
- Phzio Canada offers an easy and cost-effective physiotherapy treatment virtually – for qualifying injuries or conditions through the Phzio platform using your computer or mobile device.
Some solutions may be partially or fully covered under your benefits plan – and, where solutions aren’t covered, as a PRISM plan member you still have access to discounted rates for all these digital clinic services, plus hearing aids, eyeglasses, and vision correction from our partners. Best of all, eight PRISM plans offer guaranteed acceptance – with no medical exam or questionnaire required regardless of your current health status – an important consideration if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.
SBIS provides real healthcare solutions
For more help selecting the health and dental plan best suited to your health care needs, contact us as 416.601.0429 or 1.800.667.0429 toll-free. Want to learn more about any of our plans? Just click here.
