Cigna study: Virtual care can reduce unnecessary ER, urgent care visits by 19%

Integrating virtual care can save the healthcare system significant amounts of money, as well as avoid unnecessary visits to the emergency department or urgent care center, according to a new study from Cigna. The study, conducted alongside its telehealth arm MDLive, found that patients who saw virtual providers also saw 19% fewer visits to the ER or urgent care. Cigna data show that the average cost of a non-urgent virtual care visit is $93 less than an in-person visit.