American-Community Mutual Insurance Co. aims to make health care more affordable and accessible as the first health insurer to offer 24/7 TelaDoc medical consultations to its policyholders.  The 24-hour/365-day-a-year physician call-in service uses a network of licensed, primary care physicians to diagnose individual medical problems, recommend treatment, and prescribe medication as appropriate.  The service is included with all of the Company’s “Precedent” health insurance plans — new consumer-directed health insurance programs recently introduced by American-Community.

One of the nation’s first health insurers, founded in 1938, American-Community has historically focused on small groups and individuals, said Gerald E. Meach, American-Community’s president and CEO.  “TelaDoc allows our policyholders to get fast, expert medical help at a cost that is less than most office visits.  It also avoids the need to take time off work, interrupt a vacation, wait for a doctor’s office to open, or spend time in a waiting room to obtain prompt medical care for minor illnesses, conditions and prescriptions.  Medical care is just a phone call away,” said Mr. Meach.

“TelaDoc is a vital component in the company’s latest venture in creating innovative programs for people who’ve felt priced out of the health insurance market and have not been provided options to control their health care expenses,” he added.  “Those consumers willing to become more engaged in their health care decisions will receive the benefit of their efforts — more affordable health insurance and less healthcare expenses.  The individual and small group markets have, in particular, struggled with these rising costs.  We believe Precedent is the answer to the problem.  We also believe that these plans are so affordable that they present a viable solution to those who are uninsured or underinsured.  Our new Precedent suite of health insurance plans combines benefits and services to give them affordable, first-line care along with a safety net against unexpected illness or accidents.” 

Dallas-based TelaDoc offers a network of experienced primary care physicians to provide around-the-clock consultations.  A person merely needs to call 1-800-TelaDoc, give identifying information and explain their condition to the in-take person.  The case is sent to an appropriate physician, licensed in the insured’s state, who refers to an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) that is filled out by the subscriber at the time of enrollment with American-Community,” explained Meach.  “The physician then calls the individual, typically in 30-40 minutes or less, to provide the consultation.  One of the truly valuable aspects of the service is the EMR, which is portable and available any time, anywhere.  We believe this EMR will also help facilitate improved quality and lower costs.”

“American-Community pays the TelaDoc monthly membership fees and enrollment costs for those who purchase a Precedent policy.  The cost of a TelaDoc consultation is $35, much less than the cost of a doctor office visit and just  a fraction of the charge for emergency room care,” he stressed, “helping to reduce healthcare expenses and make insurance more affordable.”

Besides TelaDoc, Precedent self-help tools include a 24-hour nurse line, web-based medical library, personal health and symptom evaluation tool, health help tips, a treatment cost calculator, prescription drug research and price info, and hospital cost comparisons.  “We’re trying to provide the tools our policyholders need to make more informed use of healthcare services and better manage their health care spending,” said Meach.

American-Community was Michigan’s first health insurer and among the nation’s earliest.  Today it markets individual and group health insurance policies in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Arizona.  The new low-cost, consumer-directed Precedent plans are being rolled out between April and September.  They can be purchased through 6,000 independent insurance agents in those states.

American-Community is licensed in 34  states and has  embarked on an aggressive program of geographic growth and coverage innovations, according to Meach.

For more information, including agent  locations, visit www.american-community.com.