Technology is changing the traditional perk plans
When it comes to employee health benefits, most Canadians prefer to have professional medical advice right at their fingertips.
The use of apps to consult doctors, nurses, and other healthcare practitioners directly via video chat or text chat is known as virtual health care.
Two in three employees on average say they would make use of virtual healthcare platforms if these were included in their benefits plan, a study by Medisys Health Group revealed.
The majority (71%) of respondents are willing to exchange their current benefits for improved access to medical advice through technology. However, only nine per cent of employee benefit plans include virtual care in their coverage.
The survey also showed virtual care as the preferred method of consultation of workers with chronic health conditions (70%); working parents and caregivers (69%); and millennial workers (67%).
Some benefits of virtual care include:
- Easy access to health care even during late hours or the weekends (67%)
- Reduced hours away from work (47%)
- Regular consultations with a healthcare professional (45%)
- Less stress (29%)
For employees with mental health issues, virtual care provides support and privacy for patients who would otherwise miss out on professional help because of the stigma associated with their health conditions, the study said.
