The fever, sore throat and loss of appetite struck the Exchange associate’s youngest daughter—only 4 years old—around 10 p.m. Naturally concerned, the mother didn’t know what to do, especially at that time of night. All the doctors’ offices were closed.
So, she called Teladoc at 1-855-Teladoc and got her questions answered.
Teladoc, offered through the Exchange’s DoD NAF health insurance plan with Aetna since 2015, lets patients talk with board-certified doctors via mobile app, telephone or video chat 24 hours a day for a $10 co-payment.
But what can they treat?
The physicians can treat:
- allergies
- bronchitis
- colds
- flu
- respiratory infections
- sinus and skin problems
- other non-emergency conditions
They can even call in prescriptions, including antiviral for flu, steroids for inflammation and cough medication, to pharmacies.
‘Awesome’
With more than 1 million consultations, a national network of 3,100 experienced doctors and an average callback time of 10 minutes, the service is available in most states, but not overseas.
“The Teladoc service is awesome,” said the associate, whose name is being withheld for privacy concerns. “I received a call from the doctor within 10 minutes. He was genuinely concerned with my daughter’s illness and called in an antibiotic to my local 24-hour pharmacy.
“This service has proven to be of great value when sickness strikes late at night on your little ones and the pediatrician’s offices are closed. I’m thankful to have Teladoc as part of my insurance plan.”
Valuable alternative
From January through March, nearly 225 Exchange associates, retirees or dependents who are covered by the DoD NAF health plan, have called Teladoc. Most called between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., while 10 percent from midnight to 8 a.m.
“I received a call from the doctor within 10 minutes. He was genuinely concerned with my daughter’s illness.”
– Exchange associate
“Teladoc provides its subscribers with a valuable alternative to waiting at the doctor’s office or urgent-care facility,” said Julie Emory, the Exchange’s benefits director. “It’s an especially valuable service when you need healthcare answers when all the doctors’ offices are closed.”
However, Emory cautioned, never use Teladoc for life-threatening conditions, such as when you believe you or a loved one are having a heart attack or stroke or fractured a bone. In those cases, head straight for your closest emergency room.
Register — before you get sick
People must first register and set up an account, including providing credit-card information for the $10 copay before talking to the doctor.
“The registration doesn’t take long, but it’s not necessarily something you want to mess with when your child, or you, are sick at 10 o’clock at night,” Emory said. “When I’m talking to people about Teladoc, I recommend that they register ahead of time when they’re not sick, so that when they need to use Teladoc, all of that administrative work is completed.”
Check out these FAQs about Teladoc.
Download the Teladoc app.
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