The world watched as New York City wrestled with COVID-19. With hospitals at maximum capacity and a keen focus on treating coronavirus patients, the city had to get creative in how it handled non-urgent and non-coronavirus patients.

Devin Mann, MD, associate professor in the Departments of Population Health and Medicine at NYU Langone Health said of the situation, "The pandemic created an urgent need to divert patients from in-patient care and prevent the flooding of our emergency rooms beyond capacity. Through telemedicine, we pushed the frontlines to locations far from our hospitals and doctor's offices. And because NYU Langone invested early in this technology, we quickly leveraged digital health to help hundreds of thousands of patients."

In 2019, prior to COVID-19, telemedicine was used by only eight percent of Americans, according to the researchers. And it’s estimated that approximately 25 percent of ER visits could be treated by Virtual Visits. As the rest of the country follows New York in numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the need for telemedicine is growing more necessary by the day.

Now is the time to prepare for your next non-urgent illness by understanding your Transocean telemedicine benefits and establishing your Virtual Visits account.

How It Works

Transocean offers telemedicine to benefits participants and their dependents through UHC Virtual Visits. With a Virtual Visit, you can see and talk to a doctor via mobile device or computer – 24/7, no appointment needed. The doctor can give you a diagnosis and prescription, if needed. Through September 30th, UHC Virtual Visits are covered at 100%. After September 30th with a UnitedHealthcare plan, your cost is $50 or less.

You can use a Virtual Visit for these minor medical needs:

• Bladder infection/urinary tract infection
• Bronchitis
• Cold/flu
• Fever
• Pinkeye
• Rash
• Sinus problems
• Sore throat
• Stomachache
  

Plan Ahead

There are a few simple steps you’ll need to take before you can see a Virtual Visits doctor. Be sure to take these steps now, while you’re feeling well. To get started with a Virtual Visit, go to uhc.com/virtualvisits. Have the following items ready to complete your Virtual Visit registration:

• Health Plan ID card
• Credit card
• Pharmacy location

Once you’ve completed registration, you’re ready to use the UHC Virtual Visit app any time you need care.

Other Virtual Visit Options

Beyond UHC Virtual Visits, many primary care and specialty care providers are now offering virtual visits to allow patients to receive care without venturing out. Contact your local healthcare provider to learn more about any virtual visit options available locally. Virtual visits through your doctor are covered under the medical plan and normal office visit costs will apply.  

If you are experiencing symptoms or think you might have been exposed to COVID-19, please call your healthcare provider right away and ask what telehealth options may be available to meet virtually.