Telehealth isn’t a fleeting trend. It is a powerful tool that makes health care more available, accessible and affordable for employees while reducing costs for businesses. 

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina offers Blue CareOnDemand℠ Powered by MDLIVE^®. Here’s what employers need to know about our telehealth product.

What is the benefit of our telehealth offering? 

Both members and employers benefit from telehealth options. The data is clear. There are cost savings with telehealth. There is an average savings of $60 – $289 per telehealth visit versus urgent care clinics and emergency departments. 

It’s about more than dollars, though. Telehealth reduces gaps in care. About 16 percent of our members say they would have delayed care if telehealth wasn’t an option. Delaying care can lead to poor health outcomes and high health care costs. 

Another benefit of telehealth is the access it provides. This can be important in South Carolina. It allows members in rural areas or those without transportation to more easily see a doctor. People say they love the convenience of having a doctor on demand. 

Telehealth doctors can send prescriptions to the member’s preferred pharmacy, order lab work at a facility close to the member and make in-network referrals.

How does telehealth help my business? 

Aside from cost savings, telehealth can be good for employers. It gives workers access to care on their schedules. It can reduce absenteeism and increase productivity. 

It can also be an added value for your company, helping you attract and retain talent. Members who use virtual care are twice as likely to be satisfied with their health plan. 

What services are available? 

Our telehealth option gives members access to virtual urgent care so they can see a doctor without leaving home. It has a national network of 2,400 board-certified doctors with an average of 15 years of experience. 

Many of these doctors have worked in emergency rooms. They are well suited to care for more than 80 common, nonemergent conditions such as cold and flu, pinkeye, urinary tract infection, ear pain, and more.  

Blue CareOnDemand offers primary care, behavioral health (to include therapy and psychiatry) and dermatology. Adults over 18 can get virtual primary care. Therapy is available for children and adolescents older than 10. Members of all ages can get urgent care and dermatology.

How easy is it to access? 

Members access Blue CareOnDemand through our member portal, My Health Toolkit^®. They don’t have to download another app or remember another login. 

We’re facing a doctor shortage. It often takes weeks or months to gain access to a specialist or primary care doctor. With telehealth, members can speak to a psychiatrist or primary care doctor within five business days. Blue CareOnDemand offers same-day appointments. The average callback time for urgent care is 7.7 minutes.  

Our dedicated team looks for ways to help members find care at the right time through personalized messages. 

Is telehealth going to continue to grow? 

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid increase in telehealth use. Now that the pandemic is over, that trend doesn’t seem to be decreasing. More than 116 million users worldwide had online doctor visits in 2024, up from 57 million in 2019. 

People have come to rely on the service, especially if they have young children, are single parents or are on shift work. A remote care option supports many of the social determinants of health. 

The most common uses in the U.S. were for prescription refills and minor illnesses. More people say* they would rather receive this type of care virtually.  

With member satisfaction so high, telehealth isn’t going away. About 75 percent of our users give Blue CareOnDemand an “excellent” rating, and another 10 percent rate it “very good.” 

How can I find out more? 

Talk to your account representative to learn more. We have flyers, posters, videos and open enrollment materials to help you tell your employees about Blue CareOnDemand. 

*This links to a third-party website. That organization is responsible for the content and privacy policy on its site.

MDLIVE is an independent company that provides a telehealth platform on behalf of BlueCross.