Seven of the ten largest US health insurers have eliminated copays for telehealth visits, making virtual doctor appointments completely free for most commercially insured Americans.

The Shift

UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Kaiser, and BCBS affiliates covering 180 million Americans now offer zero-cost telehealth. The move aims to reduce expensive ER visits for non-emergency care.

Impact

Telehealth utilization has increased 300% since copays were eliminated, with the greatest adoption among rural patients and working parents who struggle to attend in-person appointments.