Employers turn to online doctors to cut costs

Eighteen percent of large employers now offer telemedicine as part of their coverage, up from 15 percent in 2012, according to benefits firm Mercer.

One insurer, WellPoint, sees room for much more growth, which is why the insurer partnered with Boston health IT firm American Well to launch LiveHealth - an online service - this year for employer group plans.

"It often can replace an emergency room, urgent care or retail clinic visit, which purely from a price standpoint, are higher," said John Jesser, WellPoint vice president and general manager of LiveHealth Online.

The insurer plans to make an even bigger bet on the technology with a LiveHealth virtual worksite clinic—a private booth with tools to measure pulse and blood pressure, and even a camera that allows a doctor to look at a patient's skin problem in real time—all at a fraction of the cost of having a doctor or nurse physically on site.

 Read the full story from CNBC here.