Over the past year, going to the doctor or receiving in-person care have become a risk to your health. In order to stay safe, telehealth and telemedicine have been utilized as a more comfortable option.
While this technology is not new, its demand increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Foreign Service Benefit Plan (FSBP) has sought to provide additional means for remote access to primary care providers and specialists – including mental and behavioral health.
As a member of FSBP, you have access to telehealth and telemedicine services. But what’s the difference between them?
When you are utilizing services from Teladoc® or vHealth (Worldwide), we (FSBP) refer to this as a “telehealth” visit. When you consult with your established provider or primary care physician (PCP) for clinical services virtually (via secure video conference or by telephone) we (FSBP) refer to this as a “telemedicine” visit.
Take a closer look at how the two services differ in terms of benefit coverage with FSBP.
| FSBP Telehealth | FSBP Telemedicine | ||
| Video/telephone conference through Teladoc® and/or vHealth (Worldwide)
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Secure video/telephone conference with your established provider or PCP
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| U.S. | Overseas | In-Network | Out-of-Network |
| U.S. and Overseas | U.S. | ||
| FSBP offers telehealth services through Teladoc. These services are covered at 100%. You can find coverage details and information to access these services in Section 5(a) and 5(e) of the 2021 FSBP Brochure. | FSBP offers telehealth services through vHealth (Worldwide). These services are covered at 100%. You can find coverage details and information to access these services in Section 5(a) of the 2021 FSBP Brochure. | FSBP covers 90% of the Plan allowance for in-network providers and providers outside the 50 United States,
Subject to calendar year deductible. |
FSBP covers 70% of the Plan allowance for out-of-network providers.
Subject to calendar year deductible. |
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