Messaging your doctor is a convenient way to get medical advice. You can send a message through MyChart whenever you have time – 24/7 – and your provider will typically reply in one to three business days. Depending on your needs and schedule, this can be a great alternative to an in-person, video or telephone visit.
Connecting with your healthcare provider through MyChart is fast and easy. Simply log in using a web browser or the MyChart app to get started. Then select “Messages” and follow the prompts. You’ll see a list of your providers who use messaging. Click on the provider you want to reach, type your message, and hit send.
If you don’t have a MyChart account, it’s easy to get one. Go to the TriHealth MyChart page and click on “Sign up now.”
It’s important to know that not every message you send to your provider will be billed to your insurance. The quick rule of thumb is to think of time and expertise. Does your provider need to spend a lot of time to fully answer your question? Does your message require them to dig into your medical history to respond to your question?
Your provider won’t bill for messages about:
Messages that may be billed require your provider’s medical expertise and take longer than 5 or more minutes to answer.
What kinds of messages could get billed? Messages about:
The provider looking at your message may be reviewing the information you sent over and changing part of your current treatment plan, or recommending you get a test to learn more. They may need to review your medical history and your records to make sure they give you the best possible recommendation.
If your message is billed to your insurance, you may not be charged or may see a low out-of-pocket cost. Different insurance plans cover different things. Here are a few examples of what you can expect:
| Insurance Plan | Cost of Medical Advice Message |
|---|---|
| Medicare | For most patients, there will be no out-of-pocket cost. For a small number of patients, the cost could be $3-$8. Patients with Medicare Advantage will have a co-payment of $20 (the cost of an in-person or video visit). |
| Private Insurance | Some patients will have co-payments like those for in-person or video visits (common co-pays are $10 and $20). If a deductible applies, the full amount will be charged (average amount is around $75). |
Telehealth has made connecting with your provider easy and convenient making this option for care much more popular. No need to leave home and travel to a doctor’s office when chatting with your provider on MyChart. Here are some other virtual options your insurance may cover:
Most of the messages you send through MyChart are handled quickly and will not be billed to your insurance. The requests that take extra time and expertise are considered telehealth. Those services will be billed to your insurance plan for payment.