When you aren't feeling well, sometimes the hardest question isn't whether you should talk to a medical professional. It's figuring out where to start.
Do you need help with a sudden illness? Are you looking for access to a Primary Care Physician? Is your concern something that can be handled virtually, or should you seek in-person care?
For OneShare Health Members, Virtual Urgent Care (Telemedicine) and Virtual Primary Care through Clever Health offer two convenient ways to connect with medical professionals.
Virtual Urgent Care, also referred to as Telemedicine, is designed for common and acute health concerns that need timely attention, while Virtual Primary Care provides another way to access a Primary Care Physician.
Understanding the difference can help you make a wiser, more informed decision about where to begin.
Think of Virtual Urgent Care (Telemedicine) as an option for common, acute health concerns that need timely attention but aren't emergencies.
Maybe you wake up feeling unwell. Perhaps you're traveling and don't have convenient access to your usual Provider. Or something comes up after normal office hours and you'd like to speak with a medical professional.
That's where Virtual Urgent Care can be especially useful.
OneShare Health Members have access to Virtual Urgent Care through Clever Health 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Virtual Urgent Care is immediately available and is 100% shared at no additional cost to Members.
That accessibility can make it a practical first step for appropriate non-emergency health concerns, particularly when getting to an in-person Provider isn't convenient.
Virtual Urgent Care is made available by Clever Health and is not owned or operated by OneShare Health.
Virtual Primary Care serves a different purpose.
Rather than focusing primarily on an immediate, acute concern, Virtual Primary Care provides another way to access a Primary Care Physician.
Through Clever Health, OneShare Health Members can use Virtual Primary Care for a reasonable cost. These visits are Not Eligible for Sharing, so it's important to understand that distinction before scheduling an appointment.
Virtual Primary Care may be especially useful when you want streamlined access to a Primary Care Physician, including situations where your Program doesn't provide eligibility for Primary Care Physician visits or you've reached the maximum number of Eligible Primary Care visits available under your Program.
In other words, Virtual Primary Care can give Members another way to access Primary Care when they need it.
An easy way to understand the distinction is to start with the kind of health care need you're experiencing.
Virtual Urgent Care is focused on something happening now. It's an accessible option for appropriate common and acute ailments, with availability around the clock.
Virtual Primary Care gives you access to Primary Care. It provides another avenue for connecting virtually with a Primary Care Physician when that type of care better fits your needs.
There's also an important difference in how the services relate to your OneShare Health Membership.
Virtual Urgent Care through Clever Health is immediately available and 100% shared at no additional cost to Members.
Virtual Primary Care through Clever Health is available for a cost, and those visits are Not Eligible for Sharing.
Understanding those differences isn't just helpful when you're deciding where to seek care. It can also help you practice thoughtful stewardship by choosing the resource that best fits your health care needs and making wise use of the Membership resources available to you.
Knowing those differences before you need care can make the decision much easier when the time comes.
Virtual Urgent Care may be a good place to start when you're dealing with a common or acute concern that isn't life-threatening or life-altering and you'd like timely access to a medical professional.
Its 24/7 availability can be particularly convenient when something happens outside normal office hours or while you're away from home.
And because Virtual Urgent Care is immediately available and 100% shared at no additional cost to OneShare Health Members, it's a valuable Membership resource to remember before automatically heading to an in-person Urgent Care Facility for an appropriate non-emergency concern.
Consider Virtual Primary Care when your need is better suited to a Primary Care Physician rather than an urgent consultation.
It can also provide another option if your OneShare Health Program doesn't provide eligibility for Primary Care Physician visits or you've already reached your Program's maximum number of Eligible Primary Care visits.
Because Virtual Primary Care visits are Not Eligible for Sharing, consider the associated cost as you decide which resource is appropriate for your situation.
Virtual care isn't the right choice for every situation.
If you're experiencing a life-threatening or life-altering medical emergency, seek Emergency Care immediately.
Don't delay appropriate Emergency Care while trying to determine whether a virtual visit will be sufficient.
For concerns that aren't emergencies but may require an examination, testing, imaging, or other in-person services, you may also need to seek appropriate in-person care.
Scripture reminds us that stewardship reaches into many areas of our lives. We're called to be thoughtful about what God has entrusted to us, and that can include how we care for our bodies and how wisely we use the resources available to us.
OneShare Health's Statement of Beliefs reflects that responsibility by encouraging accountable, healthy living among Members.
That makes understanding your Membership resources about more than convenience. Knowing which resource is appropriate for a particular situation can help you approach your health care decisions thoughtfully.
Before automatically heading to an in-person facility for every concern, consider what kind of care you actually need.
Could an appropriate acute concern begin with Virtual Urgent Care? Do you need access to a Primary Care Physician? Does your situation require in-person attention? Or are you experiencing an emergency that requires immediate Emergency Care?
Wise stewardship doesn't mean choosing the least expensive option regardless of the circumstances. It means understanding the resources available to you and making an informed decision based on your needs.
Taking time to learn those options before you're sick can help you feel better prepared when a health care need arises.
You don't need to memorize every detail to remember the basic distinction:
Virtual Urgent Care = “I need help with something happening now.”
Virtual Primary Care = “I need access to Primary Care.”
Both give OneShare Health Members convenient virtual access to medical professionals through Clever Health, but they serve different purposes and have different sharing eligibility.
Taking care of our health sometimes begins with something as simple as knowing where to turn. By understanding your Membership resources and using them thoughtfully, you can approach those decisions with greater confidence and good stewardship.
At OneShare Health, that responsibility exists within a larger community of Members committed to caring for their health and sharing in one another's Eligible medical expenses. It's one more way we live out the belief that we are Better Together.
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Get a quote and speak with a OneShare Health specialist to find the right Program for you.
Virtual Urgent Care through Clever Health is immediately available to OneShare Health Members and is 100% shared at no additional cost. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
No. Virtual Primary Care visits through Clever Health are Not Eligible for Sharing and are available for an additional cost. Virtual Primary Care can provide Members with another convenient way to access a Primary Care Physician.
Think about the reason you're seeking care. Virtual Urgent Care is designed for appropriate common and acute health concerns that need timely attention, while Virtual Primary Care provides virtual access to a Primary Care Physician.
An easy way to remember it is: Virtual Urgent Care is for “something happening now,” while Virtual Primary Care is for “I need access to Primary Care.”
Virtual Urgent Care is not a substitute for Emergency Care. If you're experiencing a life-threatening or life-altering medical emergency, seek Emergency Care immediately. Don't delay appropriate Emergency Care while attempting to use a virtual service.
Virtual Primary Care can provide another convenient option for accessing a Primary Care Physician. It may also be useful if you've reached the maximum number of Eligible Primary Care visits available under your Program. Because Virtual Primary Care visits are Not Eligible for Sharing, Members should consider the associated cost and their individual health care needs when deciding which resource to use.