TrueCare24 for Families – House Calls and a Doctor at Your Fingertips. Dedicated Post

Sometimes when you or the kids are sick, the last thing you want to do is leave the house. Maybe you just want to lie on the couch. Or you have a sick kid at home, and who wants to drag a sick child out where they’ll not only feel terrible, but they might puke in your car? And what if you have more than one kid? You’re going to bring multiple children to the doctor’s office, or drag them along when you go to your own doctor? Heck, no.

So this is what’s great about TrueCare24, a new California-based health service. Get a telehealth visit via video on your phone, tablet or computer. Or get an actual clinician to make a HOUSE CALL that won’t break the bank. Have you ever had a house call from a pediatric specialist? I know! It’s like living in the Norman Rockwell era.

Here’s how it works:

-For a subscription plan, you’d download the TrueCare24 app and sign up, or just sign up online. The subscription costs $15/month and covers your immediate family. See the great offers at the end of hte post.

-When you have a medical question or problem, pick up the phone or access the app online and you’ll be connected to a board-certified pediatrician or other doctor in 16 minutes, on average. There’s no fee for this with a subscription.

-You have a quick question that doesn’t require a phone call? Send an email. Again, no fee. And no limit to how many times you call, email or have a video chat.

-If you’d rather have an in-person visit, you can get an experienced clinician at your house in about 60 minutes for $99. That provider will call before coming to your house to discuss your concerns and answer any questions. The clinician can also administer lab tests, flu shots, take X-rays (really!), give vaccines and do many other procedures for an additional fee. The additional costs are all listed on the website.

-No matter which choice you make, the clinician can make a diagnosis, refer you to a specialist if needed and call in a prescription to the nearest pharmacy if necessary. Often a pharmacy visit isn't even needed, though, as the clinician carries a set of commonly prescribed medications. Note that they can’t prescribe DEA controlled substances so don’t even ask.

-If you don’t want to subscribe, you can still get that in-person visit for $199.

The fine print:

-As TrueCare24 launches, clinicians are currently available for house calls in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland. They’re available 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The online/phone/email visits and questions are available 24/7 anywhere in California. The clinicians who make house calls are usually nurse practitioners or physician assistants, with experience in emergency room or urgent care. When you have a telemedicine phone or computer visit, it would be with a medical doctor.

-TrueCare24 accepts Medicare for house calls, but no private insurance. They will accept your Health Savings Account (HSA) card, however, and of course credit card.

-The app is currently available on Apple products, or you can just request care via the website. Download the app here.

Sounds pretty great, right? Don’t take my word for it. They just launched an Indiegogo campaign and have some great offerings like a house call for $45 or six months for telemedicine for $70. You can even get house calls for your business or 12 months of telemedicine for five employees/families.

And tell us what you think after you tried it.

Disclosure: You probably figured this out already, but TrueCare24 is sponsoring this post. All opinions and writing are my own.