Find Personalized Healthcare in Singapore with Telemedicine
Expats can find personalized healthcare in Singapore with telemedicine through reliable and trusted telehealth platforms such as Doctor Anywhere, HiDoc, and Speedoc. These services are remote and available 24/7 so you can have peace of mind knowing you can get timely treatment anytime, anywhere.
Do you entirely understand what telemedicine services are about? Wondering what the benefits of telemedicine over face-to-face consultation are? This Pacific Prime CXA article will introduce you to the essentials, and recommend you a few telemedicine service providers in Singapore.
What Is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is the practice of delivering healthcare services from a distance using digital communication tools. This approach enables patients to receive medical care, advice, and treatment through professional medical consultation with doctors without physically visiting a healthcare facility.
Through video calls, mobile apps, and secure messaging, patients can:
Consult with doctors
Describe their symptoms
Obtain diagnoses
Attend follow-up appointments
Receive prescriptions
The rise of advanced communication technology and the demand for convenient healthcare options has led to increased adoption of telemedicine. It’s advantageous during crises, disease outbreaks, situations requiring physical distancing, or even unbearable hot weather.
Telemedicine vs Face-To-Face Consultation
From easy access to specialists to added privacy and convenience, telemedicine has a range of benefits over face-to-face consultations.
Easy Access To Specialists
Online medical networks offer round-the-clock access to all kinds of specialists with/without the need of an appointment, depending on the availability; Offline medical networks usually require a diagnosis with a General Practitioner (GP) and then obtain a referral to relevant specialists.
Low Cost of Administration
Doctors’ and therapists’ visits can be expensive, especially for out-patient services as most health insurance requires out-of-pocket copayment or has a sublimit. Telemedicine appointments typically cost less than in-person visits as the associated costs are lower.
Convenient Medical Access
Expats live in various areas and have different lifestyles. Those who prefer a laid-back lifestyle will stay away from the bustling city center, whereas those who prefer a metropolitan lifestyle will stay close to the city center. It is not always guaranteed quality healthcare facilities around them.
Telemedicine allows expats to access credible medical services without needing to leave home, saving commute time and costs while ensuring prompt diagnoses and treatments. Doctors can also follow up with the patient through the platform or other communication methods outside office hours.
Additional Privacy
Many people simply don’t like to go to the doctor because sometimes the environment is not private enough. Telehealth provides a way to ask questions and access medical support in their comfortable space, so patients are more willing to speak up.
Insurance Reimbursement or Coverage
Medicare and many private health insurance companies now allow doctors and therapists to bill for telehealth services, no matter where the patient or provider is located.
Some companies even partner with telemedicine platforms to provide exclusive services to their members/policyholders, as telemedicine can achieve the same results as a face-to-face consultation, but at a much lower cost.
Note: Some cons include the inability to take blood or urine samples or use a stethoscope to listen to your heart or breathing, and take your blood pressure. Telemedicine users should also consider Internet connection as a factor as it affects whether or not the consultation can be successfully conducted.
5 Recommended Telemedicine Service Providers in Singapore by Pacific Prime
The 5 recommended telemedicine service providers for expats in Singapore are— Doctor Anywhere, Whitecoat, Speedoc, HiDoc, and Healthway Medical.
Doctor Anywhere
Consultation fee: SGD 20 (GP), SGD 50 (Specialist)
With Doctor Anywhere, you can video call a doctor, speak to a specialist, and get practical tips from specialists from 10 different medical specialties. You can receive the prescribed medication in just 3 hours with their express delivery, making the telemedicine process efficient and effective.
Their DA marketplace also features exclusive rewards through accumulating DA Rewards, which is a point-based loyalty program designed for any purchases made. With an extensive catalog boasting over 9,000 SKUs, DA Marketplace caters to various health and well-being needs, including:
Vitamins
Supplements
Home-based health screenings
Vaccinations
Free local and same-day delivery for over-the-counter (OTC) medications
Whitecoat
Consultation fee: SGD 25 (office hours), SGD 35 (non-office hours)
Whitecoat provides affordable, reliable, and convenient medical services to manage users’ acute or chronic illnesses, review lab results, and more with their mobile app. Medications will be delivered to your home, and records will be uploaded on the app for quick and convenient access.
You can consult a GP, or even get a health screening without leaving your home! To top it off, if you have a preferred doctor to work with, you can pick any of them within the given list.
Speedoc
Consultation fee: SGD 21 – 44
Speedoc allows you to see a doctor through online consultation or a house visit. The doctor will inquire about your symptoms and discuss your prognosis. Any medication prescribed will also be delivered on the same or next day, depending on your consultation time.
HiDoc
Consultation fee: SGD 20
HiDoc is a one-stop platform that connects you to GPs and specialists across over 20 different medical fields. It has a user-friendly app that guides you through the registration, appointment booking, and preferred specialists processes.
You can also chat with nurses for inquiries about baby care and common pediatric conditions. They will then give practical advice for your next step, which is perfect for families who may need pediatric care from time to time for their newborns or young children.
Healthway Medical
Consultation fee: SGD 25
Healthway Medical is long-established in Singapore, with over 100 clinics all over the country. Their mobile app can also be used to make in-clinic appointments, telemedicine consultations, and purchase prescribed medication.
Guarantee Medical Access Wherever You Are
You never know when you need medical attention. One thing you can do is secure health insurance with telemedicine coverage so you can rest assured you can access timely medical care without the need to pay out-of-pocket. And here’s when you should consider working with Pacific Prime.
Pacific Prime CXA can help you compare and find the best-suited health insurance plan from local or global insurers. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, our expert advisors can empower you with knowledge and support along your insurance journey.
Contact us today for impartial insurance advice, or generate an obligation-free quote with our online quotation system!
Eric is an experienced content writer specializing in writing creative copies of marketing materials including social media posts, advertisements, landing pages, and video scripts.
Since joining Pacific Prime, Eric was exposed to a new world of insurance. Having learned about insurance products extensively, he has taken joy and satisfaction in helping individuals and businesses manage risks and protect themselves against financial loss through the power of words.
Although born and raised in Hong Kong, he spent a quarter of his life living and studying in the UK. He believes his multicultural experience is a great asset in understanding the needs and wants of expats and globe-trotters.
Eric’s strengths lie in his strong research, analytical, and communication skills, obtained through his BA in Linguistics from the University of York and MSc in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Bristol.
Outside of work, he enjoys some me-time gaming and reading on his own, occasionally going absolutely mental on a night out with friends.
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