Virtual doctor visits offer convenience, lower costs

When you're coming down with a cold, there are a few items you typically reach for to start feeling better: cough drops, herbal tea, maybe an over-the-counter medication. For most of us, though, a smartphone wouldn't top that list. But that may change as health care companies increasingly steer customers toward streaming video apps that connect patients with doctors online. The push toward virtual health care comes as many primary doctors are over-booked and patients struggle with their own busy schedules. At the same time, insurers and employers see an opportunity to save money by reducing pricier visits to doctors' offices and urgent care clinics.