According to a recent Elevance Health survey, the majority of Americans who used virtual primary care reported that their experiences were positive and that the program helped them manage their health successfully. Elevance Health is a leading health insurer that provides support to over 119 million individuals through a broad range of innovative medical, digital, pharmaceutical, behavioral, clinical, and complex care solutions.The survey was conducted by the insurance provider in order to gather information on virtual primary care, its results, and patient’s thoughts.The data was based on an online survey consisting of over 5,000 American adults.
Although just 48% of survey participants said they are familiar with virtual primary care, the majority find the service attractive.The research also concluded that Americans were most drawn to virtual primary care for its accessibility and convenience, with 35% and 31%, respectively. Additionally, 30% of respondents said they like how simple it is to utilize the service in general. However, some Americans are still apprehensive about adopting online primary care services. An in-person visit is thought to be necessary in about 31% of cases when virtual primary care has not been used to thoroughly identify a medical condition. Additionally, according to 21% of respondents, their insurance will not cover the price of the care, resulting in an increase in out-of-pocket expenses. On the other hand, those who were dealing with chronic conditions reported having good experiences with virtual primary care. Despite the fact that 82% of Americans believe their health is excellent or good, 63% are living with chronic health conditions. Among individuals who have a chronic condition, 62% think that virtual primary care can help them manage their health.
Furthermore, the survey’s results indicated that Americans with chronic conditions are more likely to be familiar with virtual primary care than those without them. Compared to their counterparts, patients with chronic conditions are over 30% more likely to have utilized virtual primary care in order to address non-urgent medical issues, to access medication, and receive general treatment plans.
“Consumers are using digital technologies at an accelerating pace, and consistent with this, we’re seeing at Elevance Health use of telehealth that is nearly 20 times greater than pre-pandemic levels,” said Rajeev Ronanki, President of Digital Platforms at Elevance Health. “Virtual primary care gives individuals the opportunity to work with innovative services that make healthcare more convenient, accessible, and fit into their increasingly busy schedules. The study’s findings reiterate the desires of consumers to use digital technology – along with using traditional in-person care options – to take control of their health.”
