Many employers are shifting to high deductible health plans (HDHPs) to provide more choice and offset rising health care costs, but just bringing an HDHP into the mix is not enough. In fact, data shows one-quarter of Americans with an HDHP will forgo medical treatment to avoid high medical costs. 

As health care costs rise, employers are relying on brokers to guide them on creative plan designs and offerings that can help them contain costs while still meeting employee needs. Telemedicine (and telehealth consultations) have arisen as one such solution. It's a great alternative for non-emergency treatment and visits to a primary care physician, and has a positive impact on cost and employee well-being, as it provides convenient and affordable access to quality health care. 

Employers and providers have taken note. About 75 percent of the nation's employers provide coverage for the digital health service. But a National Business Group on Health survey of large employers' health plan design found that only 3 percent of employees used telemedicine services in 2016. The problem?