About three-quarters (72 per cent) of working Canadians said they’d perceive their employer in a more positive light if it offered virtual care or telemedicine, according to a new survey by RBC Insurance Services Inc.
This view is most prevalent (78 per cent) among younger Canadians, between the ages of 18 and 34. The survey also found younger employees are more likely than their older counterparts to value virtual care for mental-health services, including consulting practitioners and/or video/telephone counselling.
This is particularly important because younger Canadians were also more likely to report lower levels of well-being and mental health compared to older Canadians. Among survey respondents aged 18 to 34, 57 per cent said their mental health is good or excellent, while 79 per cent of those aged 55 or older said the same.
Read: Just 9% of employers offer virtual health care: survey
“Many working Canadians face time constraints when visiting health practitioners, constraints that include wait times to see specialists like psychologists and psychiatrists, the availability of a health-care practitioner and the ability to get time off work,” said Julie Gaudry, senior director of group insurance at RBC Insurance, in a press release.
“Younger Canadians are even more likely to face these types of obstacles, so by implementing innovative programs such as virtual care or telemedicine, employers can alleviate some of the challenges, which in turn can help increase employee health and morale.”
The survey also found 66 per cent of working Canadians said they would prefer a mobile app to manage and access their insurance benefits as opposed to using paper mail, telephone or even online services. Once again, this preference was highest among younger Canadians, at 77 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34, compared to 66 per cent of those aged 35 to 54 and 49 per cent among those aged 55 or over.
Read: Virtual care among ‘dramatic change’ predicted for benefits plans in future