The Doctor Will See You Now

I consider my family to be pretty lucky in the health department. Yes, when my daughter first started daycare we certainly battled our share of colds and stomach bugs, but nothing I’d necessarily bring her to the doctor for. However, when we did need to go to the doctor for a sick visit, guess what time it would be? Normal business hours, Monday-Friday? Guess again. We’ve found ourselves at urgent care on a Saturday or Sunday following a sleepless night thanks to an ear infection, roseola, etc.

What we didn’t have access to at that time, but thankfully do now, is Doctor On Demand. This service is a game changer, especially for my husband and me as full-time working parents of a 4-year-old and an 8-month-old. I have to admit, the thought of speaking to a physician via FaceTime or webcam seemed unnatural at first, even strange, but I do most of my shopping, researching, and socializing online – why wouldn’t I add 24/7 access to a medical professional to that list?

How does it work?

Doctor On Demand is available to most CDPHP commercial members. As of January 1, 2019, Medicare members will also be able to access this innovative service. You can register at Doctor On Demand or download the app from the App Store or Google Play. After answering a few quick questions and entering your health insurance information, you’re ready to be connected with a board-certified physician within minutes.

How much does it cost?

So there are no surprises, at the beginning of each visit you‛ll be told how much you have to pay out of pocket*. A Doctor On Demand visit cost is comparable to what you pay when you see your primary care doctor for a sick visit and costs less than urgent care.

What do Doctor On Demand doctors treat?

Doctor On Demand’s physicians are equipped to diagnose the flu, colds, coughs, allergies, pink eye, UTIs, and more. What’s more, CDPHP members now have access to mental health care through Doctor On Demand. Appointments can be made with board-certified psychologists and psychiatrists, although CDPHP still recommends calling our Behavioral Health Access Center for crisis situations – 1-888-320-9584.

Once diagnosed, a prescription (if necessary) can be sent to your preferred pharmacy for pickup. If your situation requires additional lab work, you can expect for it to be ordered immediately.

Wow, this is great! I no longer need my regular doctor!

Not so fast. Doctor On Demand should be viewed as an alternative to urgent care or visiting the emergency room for situations that do not require it. However, you should always see your primary care physician as your first line of defense. It’s important to maintain this relationship as your doctor knows your complete health history and can refer you to specialists for further treatment and evaluation. Use Find-A-Doc to locate a primary care physician near you, if you don’t have one already.

Doctor On Demand will coordinate with your doctor if you have authorized the sharing of your medical records via the Health Information Exchange of New York (Hixny). Be sure to talk to your doctor’s office about it at your next visit.

Fair enough. What else do I need to know?

With Doctor On Demand, you will always see a board-certified doctor. Similar services will connect you with health care practitioners (registered nurses, physician assistants, etc.), but with Doctor On Demand, you’ll get a doctor from a top-rated medical school with an average of 15 years of experience and trained extensively in video medicine. The average customer rates Doctor On Demand 4.9 out of 5 stars.

But hey, don’t just take my word for it! A very satisfied customer recently reached out to CDPHP to share her experience with Doctor On Demand:

“I had yet another positive experience this weekend with CDPHP. I have been sick since last Monday. By Friday night, I was much worse, and before 7 a.m. on Saturday I knew I needed to go to the doctor. I was looking up the hours at urgent care when I remembered that CDPHP offers online doctor appointments through Doctor On Demand. I downloaded the app on my smartphone and “saw” a doctor in less than a minute. My prescription was ready as soon as CVS opened. I was skeptical when I first heard about Doctor On Demand, but it was so easy and such a benefit to get treatment without leaving my house.” – Donna C., SEFCU employee

*Costs vary by plan type. Please call the number on the front of your CDPHP member ID card to see if the Doctor On Demand benefit is covered by your plan.