LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cold and flu season typically begins in earnest in December, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada members this year don’t need to camp out in a crowded waiting room to get their symptoms checked by a doctor.

Members can now use their smart phone, tablet or computer to have a live video visit with a US-based, board certified doctor of their choice to discuss medical concerns from home, work or wherever they happen to be with internet access. Doctors using LiveHealth Online can provide a diagnosis, treatment, and even a prescription if needed.

This new online care service, LiveHealth Online, launched earlier this year to Anthem’s Nevada members, including customers who purchased insurance on and off the state health exchange. Doctors are available 24 hours, 365 days a year, including the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. For eligible members, a LiveHealth Online visit costs the same or less than a primary care office visit.

“LiveHealth Online is a fast, convenient way to see a doctor for non-emergency needs if a member’s own doctor isn’t available,” said Mike Murphy, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada. “The holidays are often a hectic time filled with travel, and LiveHealth Online can make our members’ lives easier by allowing them to see a doctor anytime no matter how busy their schedule is or where they are.”

Consumers that do not have Anthem as a health plan can also use LiveHealth Online, simply by signing up and paying for the visit with a credit card. Doctors using LiveHealth Online charge $49 per medical visit.

LiveHealth Online isn’t meant to be a replacement for a member’s relationship with their primary care doctor. A summary of each visit is created, and at the patient’s request, can be forwarded to their primary care doctor -- supporting continuity of care and collaboration among providers.

“When cold and flu season spikes, LiveHealth Online can help you see a doctor quickly,” Murphy said. “Getting care early often reduces the severity and duration of many typical illnesses such as the flu and ear infections.”

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada:

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin

About LiveHealth Online

LiveHealth Online is a telehealth tool that provides consumers with a convenient way to have live video conversations with doctor, get a diagnosis, and receive treatment for common urgent care-type health conditions. Consumers can access board certified doctors through livehealthonline.com or on an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet using the free app. It is secure, private, easy-to-use and affordable. Consumers can have live, instant or planned visits with their choice of doctors seven days a week, 24 hours a day, using two-way video conferencing, along with instant messaging. LiveHealth Online is the trade name of Health Management Corporation, a separate company, providing telehealth services on behalf of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.