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If You Want Cheaper Health Care, You May Have To Visit Your Doctor On Your Phone

University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine
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Via the South Florida Sun Sentinel
Dr. Anne Burdick, professor of dermatology and associate dean for telehealth at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine, treats patients via teleconference.

Seeing your doctor in person could wind up costing you a lot more than another option insurance companies are starting to push: unlimited 24/7 access to primary care doctors via smartphone, tablet or computer, with zero out-of-pocket co-pays, as reported by the Sun Sentinel.

Welcome to the future of telemedicine, also known as telehealth.

Insurance giant Humana is betting many will be happy with such a trade. The company has partnered with a telemedicine provider called Doctor on Demand to offer a discount-priced teledoc-based health insurance plan it calls On Hand. The plan, which costs employers up to 20 percent less than traditional plans, became available in Florida on June 1.

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