About Beacon Connected Care
Beacon Connected Care gives you online access from home or any location to a scheduled visit with your provider. You and your family (adults and children six months and older) also have 24/7 online access to care from board-certified doctors for minor urgent care needs, scheduled appointments with nutritionists or licensed counselors and psychologists. Online access is private, secure and easy – all from your smartphone, tablet or computer. If you believe your condition is life threatening, call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest Emergency Room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some reasons to use telehealth for doctor visits?
- Access to your Beacon provider from home or any location during a scheduled online visit.
- You need urgent care and your doctor’s office is closed.
- You have children at home and don’t want to bring them with you.
- You are new to or visiting the area.
What kinds of conditions can be treated via telehealth?
Common minor health issues: flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, headaches; nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, bites, sinus pain or pressure, congestion, pink eye, allergies, and other common non-life-threatening conditions.
What nutritional assistance and advice can I expect to receive via telehealth?
Nutritional advice: connect online with a board-certified dietitian. The cost is the same for visits on the weekend, holidays or at night. If you or your family needs nutritional advice, a registered dietitian can help with weight loss and meal planning, special dietary needs: food allergies, gluten-free, vegetarian; medical conditions: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, digestive disorders, pregnancy and pediatric nutrition; vitamins and supplements, and sports nutrition. Sessions are available seven days a week including evening options. Appointments can be easily self-scheduled through the Beacon Connected Care system.
Can I use telehealth for behavioral health counseling?
Yes, our licensed counselors and psychologists can provide advice and counseling for depression, anxiety, bereavement, couples therapy, trauma, insomnia, stress through Beacon Connected Care. A typical scheduled counseling session is 45 minutes. The average number of visits per patient is 6, but each patient has an individualized treatment plan and a counselor or psychologist may recommend a greater or fewer number of visits. We recommend logging in at least 15 minutes before your visit to test your device, complete pre-visit questions and submit payment.
Who are the providers performing the telehealth visits?
Many of our Beacon Medical Group providers offer video visits, so you can see your provider from the comfort of home using your smartphone or computer. Many of our patients are now choosing this convenient option. First, call and ask your provider to schedule a telehealth visit.
For urgent care, Beacon Health System also extends its provider and urgent care network by partnering with the AmWell Medical Group, the nation’s first and largest primary care group devoted to telehealth. The AmWell Medical Group physicians are U.S. board-certified doctors with an average of 15 years of experience and are licensed to practice medicine in Indiana and Michigan (and most other states). You can read each doctor’s profile to learn about his or her education and experience before beginning a virtual visit. All of our providers are certified and credentialed according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) standards.
How long does an online doctor visit take?
Once logged in and registered, it takes just a few minutes before you begin your video visit with a provider. A typical telehealth visit lasts about 10 minutes.
Does Beacon Connected Care telehealth accept insurance?
We do not accept insurance. But, some insurance companies cover telehealth sessions like a regular office visit. You will receive a detailed receipt after your visit which you can submit for reimbursement. If your insurance company doesn’t currently cover telehealth, you can still use the service.
Can I use telehealth to obtain a COVID-19 test order?
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you can use Telehealth to visit with a doctor who may then order a COVID-19 test.
Does my insurance cover a telehealth visit with a Beacon provider?
With the COVID-19 pandemic, some insurance companies altered their Telehealth coverage. Before scheduling a Telehealth visit, please check with your insurance provider to ensure it will be covered. You can always submit your claim receipt to request potential reimbursement.
Does Beacon accept insurance from Michigan for telehealth?
Yes, Beacon does accept some insurance plans from Michigan. Call our provider’s office to verify insurance coverage at the specific location you are visiting. Urgent Care visits – including COVID-19 screenings – using the Beacon Connected Care app and web service are available in Michigan, Indiana and nationwide.
What connection speed do I need for a telehealth visit?
For the best face to face appointment experience, we strongly recommend a WI-FI connection. Using your cell connection is an option, however this could cause communication delays. If WI-FI is not an option for you, your cell will need a minimum of 3G, 4 bars (signal strength) and 3MB (bandwidth).
What equipment do I need to start a telehealth visit?
To begin your telehealth visit, you will need a mobile phone or internet-connected tablet or computer.
For scheduled visits with a Beacon provider:
- No app is needed. It works on your mobile device or computer.
- During scheduling, you will have the option to select whether to receive the visit invite via text or email.
- A few minutes prior to their visit, you will receive the visit link.
- Click on the link and you will be prompted to allow the camera and microphone to be accessed.
- You will then enter the visit.
- For an optimal experience, please use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browsers. Bing and Internet Explorer are not supported.
For urgent care, nutrition, or counseling visits:
- Download, install, and launch the app (App Store or Google Play) or visit online.
- Test your connection 10-15 minutes in advance
- Click to begin your telehealth visit
- To prepare, visit beaconconnectedcare.org and choose “Test Computer”
- For any technical or other support issues, visit the troubleshooting guide
What telehealth options are available for employers?
With Beacon Connected Care, your employees and their families will have access to care for minor medical needs, nutrition counseling and behavioral health counseling – all from your mobile device, tablet or computer. Your employees will love this! We’ll work with you to help you select the best option or combination of options from our line of services above. Your employees can access care from their mobile device, tablet or computer. Have questions? Call 574.647.1840 or Request Pricing or get a Free Visit Code
