Top 5 Reasons to Add Virtual Care to Benefit Plans
Using technology to help your employees thrive
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on April 25, 2024
Top 5 Reasons to Add Virtual Care to Benefit Plans
Using technology to help your employees thrive
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on April 25, 2024
Your employees are your most valuable asset. So, how can you help make sure they’re at their best? The answer may be in the palm of their hands. M-health technologies (the “m” being short for mobile), such as apps, fitness trackers, smartwatches and other wearable devices, are just a few of many tools in the digital toolbox to help employees take charge of their wellbeing ― and on their terms.
These digital devices, along with wellness portals and other connected care services, can help employees count their calories, monitor their sleep patterns, track their steps, calm their minds, and develop healthy habits for life.
More than ever, working Canadians recognize the benefits of virtual care and want these services included in their group benefits plans. That’s according to studies like the 2024 State of Workplace Health and Wellness in Canada, which showed that the vast majority of respondents (82%) believe employers should provide virtual health and wellness options, with both employees and HR professionals citing these positive health outcomes and workplace impacts:
- Enables faster access to healthcare (84%)
- Prevents work absences (82%)
- Allows proactivity for individual and family health (79%)
- Increases productivity at work (75%)
The report concludes that adding virtual care solutions to benefit packages is increasingly important in creating a thriving workplace that attracts and retains top talent.
We couldn’t agree more, and here’s why.
Virtual Care Benefits and Advantages
Relevant and Responsive to Today’s Realities
There’s no question the pandemic fuelled the significant uptake of virtual care, but that’s only one reason for its new popularity. Advancements in technology and maturing consumerism have created an expectation for the on-demand, round-the-clock, one-stop access Canadians can get from virtual care, similar to their online shopping and banking experiences. A modern plan with technology-enabled solutions will help meet the needs of today’s digital-savvy workforce and, by extension, support retention and recruitment efforts.
Faster Recovery, Return to Work
We all know timely treatment can make a major difference in a patient’s recovery and return to work. Unfortunately, the Fraser Institute’s annual survey of physicians reported patients in Canada now face the longest wait times on record. The median wait time between referral from a family doctor to treatment is 27.7 weeks. However, by leveraging technology, we can ensure patients get early and timely access to treatment that prevents minor health issues from escalating into major ones and, in doing so, reduce the number and duration of disability claims.
Virtual Care Benefits and Advantages
Relevant and Responsive to Today’s Realities
There’s no question the pandemic fuelled the significant uptake of virtual care, but that’s only one reason for its new popularity. Advancements in technology and maturing consumerism have created an expectation for the on-demand, round-the-clock, one-stop access Canadians can get from virtual care, similar to their online shopping and banking experiences. A modern plan with technology-enabled solutions will help meet the needs of today’s digital-savvy workforce and, by extension, support retention and recruitment efforts.
Faster Recovery, Return to Work
We all know timely treatment can make a major difference in a patient’s recovery and return to work. Unfortunately, the Fraser Institute’s annual survey of physicians reported patients in Canada now face the longest wait times on record. The median wait time between referral from a family doctor to treatment is 27.7 weeks. However, by leveraging technology, we can ensure patients get early and timely access to treatment that prevents minor health issues from escalating into major ones and, in doing so, reduce the number and duration of disability claims.
Engaged, Empowered Employees
Putting health care at employees’ fingertips empowers them to take a direct and active role in their health. Virtual care can also help address two leading and costly health care challenges: mental health and chronic disease. Plan members struggling with mental health issues can connect with a mental health practitioner for one-on-one counselling, just as easily as those dealing with a chronic condition can access technology-enabled guidance and support services of a health coach.
Greater Flexibility
One-size-fits-all benefit plans are giving way to packages that offer flexible, customizable benefits for all budgets that are easy to administer and access. Self-service models, self-managed care solutions, and personalized coverage options can all be enabled through AI, digital technologies, and new delivery channels, giving employees great choice and control over how they use and spend their benefit dollars.
Increased Productivity
Virtual care allows plan members to skip the wait lines and connect with a health professional within minutes, anywhere, anytime. The returns on investment for employers and their employees include improved health literacy, greater self-care, and adherence to treatment. Ultimately, this leads to better organizational health and boosts the bottom line with lower absenteeism and greater productivity.
Virtual Care at Medavie Blue Cross
Our digital storefront, Connected Care, draws on the latest technologies and innovations to offer plan members premium access to the best, most immediate care possible at preferred pricing. The platform supports a suite of innovative health care services, including:
- online doctors (virtual doctor visits)
- mental wellness (digital, live, and text therapy),
- personalized medicine (pharmacogenetic testing)
- complimentary access to Health Connected (personalized health assessments and recommendations)
- 360 Total Care (virtual coaching for diabetes, hypertension and obesity)
Blue Cross Mobile App: One of the highest-rated apps of any insurance company with unique built-in functionalities to help members manage their benefits and their health on the go, including easily submitting claims, managing their prescription drugs, and connecting with health professionals in their communities.
Plan Member Centre: Our online Plan Member Centre also helps members manage their benefits and health anywhere, anytime. Once they’re logged onto the portal, they can use their personalized dashboard or download a PDF of their plan booklet to better understand and make the best use of their benefits.
Visit the Medavie Blue Cross Plan Member Centre
Health Coaching and Chronic Disease Management: Offers expert support to self-manage asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, smoking cessation, and menopause symptoms. It connects plan members with accredited health professionals for one-on-one coaching and valuable education services.
Learn more about Health Coaching and Chronic Disease Management
Healthcare Navigation: Connects select plan members on disability with MedExcellence – a personalized healthcare navigation service that can reduce the wait time to see a specialist.
Rx Home Delivery: Enables members to access their prescriptions regularly through home delivery services free of charge to themselves and their families.
Learn more about Rx Home Delivery
Health Connected: A platform that gives members an overall snapshot of their health, identifies risk factors, and provides the member’s adjusted health-based age according to the assessment.
Learn more about Health Connected
Optional Benefits: A comprehensive, value-add and turnkey solution that offers members a seamless path to purchase. Members can explore their options (critical illness, life insurance, AD&D) calculate rates and sign up within minutes, entirely online — and with virtually no work and no cost for their employer.
Get Started with Virtual Care
To learn more about our virtual care services and solutions, connect with your Medavie Blue Cross representative and explore our website.
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...