Virtual Care

In most cases, the cost for a virtual care visit depends on several factors: The condition or type of help you need.

• The type of provider you see.
• The kind of health insurance and plan design you have.

For Sentara Health Plans members who access MDLIVE through the secure member portal or the mobile app, your cost may be as low as $0².

If you have a virtual care visit from your doctor or other healthcare provider, you will usually pay the copayment or coinsurance listed on your health plan documents, based on the provider and type of service³.

Virtual care often provides a faster alternative than in-person medical consultations.  The wait time can vary from as little as 10 minutes to a day or two, and you will know upfront what to expect.

When you browse available providers to schedule your appointment, you are given clear appointment dates and times, and updates will be sent via email or text messaging. That means it is up to you to decide—choose the appointment that best suits your needs and schedule, and virtual care will help you the rest of the way.

You may still be wondering, what exactly does virtual care mean? It is quite simple, commonly referred to as telehealth, virtual care utilizes digital technology such as video conferencing, phone calls, text messaging, and other media platforms to facilitate online consultations for minor medical concerns.

It provides quick and convenient access to doctors and other healthcare providers by eliminating the need for physical in-office visits that can pull you away from work or home, create scheduling challenges, and limit which doctors you may see and when.

Virtual visits with trusted healthcare providers are as simple as a click, sign in, and meet online with a trusted medical provider through a digital screen. Virtual care creates a very convenient experience for everyone, and you do not need to be a Sentara Health Plans member or a current Sentara patient to utilize our virtual care services.

MDLIVE^® is a national network of board-certified doctors, therapists, pediatricians, dermatologists, psychiatrists, and therapists who provide personalized care for hundreds of medical and mental health needs. Appointments are delivered via phone or video, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sentara Health Plans and Sentara partner with MDLIVE to provide this service to members of the community—anytime, from anywhere. If you are a member of Sentara Health Plans, you can access MDLIVE to schedule and participate in a virtual care visit via the secure member portal or the mobile app. Simply sign in, and click on “Virtual Visits” to be routed to MDLIVE’s platform.

Discover additional benefits of virtual care that extend beyond addressing immediate medical needs. When you are pressed for time and want to avoid the inconvenience of commuting to a doctor's office or having to wait in a sitting room to meet with a healthcare provider, you can wait from the comfort of your home and not have to allocate resources towards travel expenses.

Virtual care also prioritizes patient confidentiality and security, comparable to those used in traditional in-person consultations. Your medical visits remain discreet, known only to you and your healthcare provider to ensure utmost confidentiality.

Providers adhere to strict standards to safeguard your Protected Health Information (PHI), employing robust security measures to protect sensitive medical information transmitted over digital channels. These measures ensure that virtual care platforms maintain lofty standards of data security, earning trust among patients and healthcare providers alike.

Does virtual care appeal to you but you aren’t sure when to take advantage of it? Virtual care offers a convenient and quick way to access care for a wide variety of non-emergent services, including:

• Medical conditions: allergies, cough and cold, earaches, headaches, flu, nausea, insect bites, sinus infections, and more
• Behavioral health conditions: addictions, personality disorders, depression, panic disorders, relationship/marriage concerns, trauma, and PTSD, and more
• Dermatology: acne, cold sores, eczema, rosacea, warts, hives and more
• Gender-related health concerns
• Physical therapy
• Sports injury consultations
• Prescription services and resources

Note: virtual care does not offer lab or imaging services, nor does it manage life-threatening issues.