Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Sanford Health Plan will offer $0 on-demand virtual urgent care visits for HDHP members across all fully insured commercial and Affordable Care Act (ACA) small group and individual plans. Self-funded groups can elect this benefit during their renewal. 

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed in 2025, reinstates the federal telehealth safe harbor for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). This means health plans can offer $0 telehealth coverage to members prior to their deductibles being met, without impacting their health savings account (HSA) eligibility. 

The $0 coverage applies specifically to the on-demand virtual urgent (acute, non-emergent) care visits available 24/7 through sanfordvideovisits.com, powered by AmWell, or the Sanford Video Visits app. Other telehealth services will follow standard plan design unless otherwise stated in plan documents or reimbursement policy. 

Next steps:

• Fully insured groups will automatically receive this benefit in their 2026 plan design. 
• Self-funded clients will see this option in their 2026 benefit renewal materials; if elected, the benefit will go into effect for members on Jan. 1, 2026.
• Member materials and website content will be updated, as applicable. 

We will share this information with clients in the coming days. Please reach out to your account representative with any questions.