PENSACOLA, Fla., Oct. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Steve Riley walked to his mailbox Monday afternoon to find a big surprise: a $1,200 bill for routine tests ordered by his primary care physician. One would assume that Riley didn't carry health insurance, was unemployed, or had a chronic health condition. However, none of these apply. Riley is a healthy man in his 30s, pays a $350 premium each month to a major insurance company, and still has to pay 100% of the cost for even the most basic testing. Also, his fiancé pays over $500 a month for the same amount of coverage, from the same company, because she is a woman within childbearing age. This situation is just one example of what many Americans face every day as they attempt to navigate health insurance options and seek medical care.
"When I signed up for insurance, I assumed I was covered." Said Riley. "I've paid my bill every month for the last two years only to realize that after one trip to my doctor for a general checkup, I'm not covered at all."
Rising costs have some families paying more for health care than the mortgage on their homes, with some plans exceeding $1,000 a month for a family of four. Also, overall benefits have decreased, while deductibles have increased, which has left many families with less coverage, higher premiums, and more bills. The frustrations felt by many Americans has prompted a search by many for better care and more affordable options. Because of this, there has been a significant rise in medical membership over the last few years and is predicted to experience continued growth.
To get an idea about how medical memberships work it's best to look at existing medical membership programs. ProHealth Medical Membership (PMM), is a medical membership program that has been around for over three years in Northwest Florida. PMM offers unlimited office visits for one flat fee each month regardless of age, gender, marital status, employment status, or preexisting conditions. No insurance companies involved. The flat fee allows members to seek medical care when they feel they need it without having to worry about out of pocket costs. Not only do the patients benefit, but medical practices that operate in this model retain some of the best talents because the staff doesn't have to engage with the insurance companies or spend time on cumbersome paperwork.
In addition to the apparent benefits, PMM also offers what many people are calling the future of medical care: telemedicine. ProHealth, located in Northwest Florida, offers their members 24-hour access to telemedicine via Teladoc. Teladoc provides a team of online doctors armed with the medical advice and prescriptions they need without requiring an office visit.
Not only does a member have access to Teladoc, but members of their family do as well. No need to wait in a doctor's office. Members can call or access a medical professional right from the comfort of their home. Not only does Teladoc bring care to those who may not like the inconvenience of going to the doctor in person, but it also brings care options to people who are unable to leave the house or live in rural areas. As the world embraces technology in new ways, the advances in telemedicine are forging a new age of virtual medical care.
SOURCE ProHealth Medical Memberships
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