Life is busy. And it seems busiest when you need to fit in an appointment with your primary care doctor or clinician. But that’s where our telemedicine options like video visits and other virtual care offerings come in.

Get a quick overview of what telemedicine is, then learn what can be treated virtually through primary care (and how our virtual care tools help save you time during in-person visits). Start scrolling or use one of the links below to jump to the section you may be most interested in.

First, what is telehealth?

When we say telehealth (sometimes called “telemedicine”), we mean using technology to provide health care remotely rather than in person. Virtual appointments like video visits and online visits are examples of telehealth.

What are the benefits of telehealth?

Telehealth gives you more ways to get the health care you need. It can also make that health care easier to access and fit into your busy schedule. That’s because you can use a phone, computer or mobile device to get care at home, work or wherever is most convenient for you. Plus, you save travel time to and from an appointment.

Is telehealth different from virtual care?

Telehealth is a central part of virtual care at HealthPartners. But virtual care also includes tools and technologies that help us enhance your health care experience such as:

  • Mobile check-in allows you to confirm your appointment, pay your copay, update your medication list and more. This cuts down on the time you need to spend standing in line or filling out paperwork at the clinic, so you can get in and get on with your day. This also helps clinicians get through routine questions more quickly, which means you can get to the main purpose of your visit as soon as possible.
  • Quick schedule makes it easy for you to schedule follow-up appointments with a click of a button from your mobile smart phone.
  • myHP mobile app helps you schedule new and track upcoming appointments, view test results, manage your health plan and more.

How is telehealth different from in-person care?

There are times when in-person care will be the best option such as when you need a physical exam, an X-ray or other screening, blood tests, or a procedure.

However, there are still many cases when you can start with a virtual appointment, which we cover below.

How do video visits work?

At HealthPartners, you can simply schedule a virtual video appointment online. If you aren’t sure if you should choose a virtual or in-person appointment, you can call to ask and we’ll help get you scheduled. For more information, we included a guide below to help you choose a video or in-person doctor appointment.

Using telehealth: Types of doctor visits when you can schedule a video appointment

Easy to access. Safe to use. Convenient for your schedule. Learn when video visits can help you skip a trip to the clinic or when an in-person appointment may make the most sense.

Best for new cold, flu or sinus symptoms, mental health concerns, sleep issues, headaches, follow-up visits for chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, nutrition, weight concerns, and more. Best for preventive care such as annual physicals and health screenings, immunizations, health monitoring, and more. In-person visits are also a good idea if testing or an examination may be needed to diagnose conditions like ear infections.

Best for behavioral, developmental or mental health concerns, headaches, skin conditions like diaper rash, hives, insect bites or stings, and more. Best for newborn and well-child checkups, childhood and adolescent immunizations, asthma, and more. Illnesses that require testing or an examination for an official diagnosis like strep throat or ear infections are also good reasons to make an in-person appointment.

Best for birth control questions and prescriptions, preconception counseling, infertility concerns, painful, irregular or heavy periods, prenatal or postpartum depression and anxiety concerns or questions, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), menopause symptoms, and more. Best for women’s preventive care such as annual physicals and cervical cancer screenings, prenatal care, postpartum exams and C-section checkups, chronic bladder infections or UTIs, and more.

Best for cold, flu or sinus symptoms, eye infections like pink eye, insect bites or stings, digestive trouble, muscle pain and more. Best for strep throat, stitches, cuts, sprains, strains, asthma and abdominal pain.

Using telehealth: When it makes sense to use Virtuwell

Fast, affordable care from anywhere. That’s Virtuwell.

Virtuwell can be one of the quickest ways to get treatment for common conditions such as the flu, pink eye, sinus infections, UTIs and STIs. You can start an online visit at any time by answering a few questions about your symptoms. Once a nurse practitioner gets a chance to review your answers, you'll get a customized treatment plan.

Is telehealth covered by insurance?

Most insurance plans offer coverage for telehealth visits, but there can be limitations as to what type of virtual appointments are covered. Be sure to check your insurance before scheduling a telehealth appointment.

If you’re a HealthPartners member, check your insurance here.

What would you do with more time?

Simple, safe and convenient access to quality primary care is important for staying healthy and happy. That’s why we’ve invested in telehealth options like video visits and online visits through Virtuwell. And it’s also why we continue to expand virtual care offerings like mobile check-in and quick schedule.