Telemedicine

Telemedicine refers to medical consultations and treatment via video, phone, or app—without an in-person visit to the doctor’s office. In modern supplemental health insurance plans, it is part of the standard coverage and can usually be used without affecting the coverage limit.

What Forms Are Common

• Video medical consultations: general medical advice, often with extended office hours
• Online Dermatologist: Assessment of Skin Lesions Based on Uploaded Photos
• Symptom Checker: App-Based Initial Assessment Before Seeing a Doctor
• Medical Hotline: telephone consultation, available 24 hours a day in some cases
• Digital issuance of prescriptions and referrals, to the extent provided for in collective bargaining agreements

Why the performance is so well-received

Telemedicine solves an everyday problem that has nothing to do with money: the wait time for an appointment and the half-day it takes to visit a doctor’s office. Especially for minor issues—a rash, a question about a medication, or a consultation over the weekend—the benefits are immediately apparent.

For employers, there's an additional benefit: If an employee can resolve an issue via video during their lunch break, they don't have to take half a workday off to do so.

Borders

Telemedicine is no substitute for an examination that requires a physical assessment. It is suitable for initial assessments, follow-up consultations, and clearly defined issues—not for complex diagnostics. This should be made clear in all communication to avoid raising false expectations.

What to Look for When Comparing Options

• What services are included —just the hotline, or also video consultations and teledermatology?
• Does this use come out of the budget, or is it available in addition to it?
• Is there a limit on the number of uses per year?
• Does this offer also apply to family members?
• How is access handled —through the bKV app or through a separate service provider with its own login?

In practice, this last point is what determines usage. An additional registration step noticeably reduces reach.

Conclusion

Telemedicine is one of the services that offers the best cost-benefit ratio. It generally does not place a burden on the budget, is needed in everyday life, and ensures that employees take advantage of their supplemental health insurance even when no bills are currently due.