Telemedicine is a convenient, cost-effective and timesaving alternative to the emergency room, urgent care center or your regular doctor for simple common concerns.

When you use telemedicine services, you can access the care you need—including most prescriptions—for a wide range of minor conditions by connecting with a board-certified
doctor via video chat or phone, without needing to leave home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can use the telemedicine services for conditions such as:

  • sore throat
  • headache
  • stomachache
  • fever
  • cold and flu
  • allergies
  • rash
  • acne
  • urinary tract infections and more

Telemedicine services are also available to help members address substance abuse issues and for mental health treatment.

Effective October 1, 2017, the Health Insurance Trust covers telemedicine services for all members enrolled in Blue Shield of Northeastern New York coverage. Blue Shield of Northeastern New York has partnered with one of the major national firms in this field, Dr. on Demand, to offer this convenient service.

Telemedicine services have no copay; they are covered 100% by the Health Insurance Trust for members enrolled in a Blue Shield of Northeastern New York plan. Not only can the telemedicine doctors prescribe medications, you can ask them to notify your primary care doctor about your visit, their findings and their advice. Please note that you must ask them to contact your doctor if you want them to do so.

You can contact Blue Shield of Northeastern New York (800-888-1238 or www.bsneny.com) or Dr. on Demand (800-997-6196 or www.doctorondemand.com) for more information about how to use this service.

If you have coverage through MVP, you can use MVP’s myVisitNow telemedicine program. Please note that there is a copay for telemedicine for members enrolled in an MVP plan. The copays for visits are the same as your Urgent Care visit copay for sick visits and the same as your PCP visit copay for behavioral health visits. For more information, go to myvisitnow.com or download the free myVisitNow mobile app from your app store or call 855-666-9557.

If you have coverage through Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP), you will have access to the CDPHP telemedicine program in 2018. Keep your eye out for more information from CDPHP. Please note that there is a copay for telemedicine for members enrolled in a CDPHP plan.