Many Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) health plans cover in-network Virtual Visits and telemedicine at no cost to participants or at a lower cost than a typical doctor’s office visit.

Some people might use the terms interchangeably, but there’s a difference between Virtual Visits and telemedicine:

• Virtual Visits allow you to see a licensed doctor through your smartphone or computer, with providers such as Doctor on Demand and MDLIVE. The HealthSelect^SM plans administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas offer Virtual Visits at no cost to participants or at a lower cost than a typical office visit.
• Telemedicine Visits. Many health providers now offer telemedicine visits as an alternative to going to the doctor’s office. A telemedicine visit is covered by your GBP health plan and may be referred to as an e-visit, video visit or another name established by your health provider. Your health provider will initiate a telemedicine visit.

No cost for in-network Virtual Visits not related to COVID-19 until May 31

Through May 31, in-network Virtual Visits not related to COVID-19 are covered at no cost for all HealthSelect participants, including Consumer Directed HealthSelect^SM.

Unless otherwise noted, beginning June 1:

HealthSelect of Texas^® and HealthSelect^SM Out-of-State participants

• Pay a $25 copay for mental health Virtual Visits but have no cost for medical Virtual Visits

Consumer Directed HealthSelect participants

• Pay their regular deductible and coinsurance for medical and mental health Virtual Visits

Source: ERS Employee News (March 2021)