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Reach · Handout

Portals and video appointments: United States.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United Kingdom · Canada · Australia.

Moraph for Good · Reach

Portals and video appointments: United States

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/reach/portals-and-video-appointments

Online health services can save a trip, as long as they are set up safely and before you need them. This sheet sums up the session, with details for where you live in the box below.

Setting up a portal

  • Get the sign-up link from your provider, not from a search or a message.
  • Use a strong password you use nowhere else and turn on two-step sign-in.
  • Ask about family or carer access instead of sharing your login.
  • Sign out fully on shared or public computers.

Using it

  • Results can appear before a clinician has discussed them; call the clinic if one worries you.
  • Portal messages are not for emergencies.
  • If you can’t find something, ask the clinic’s front desk or help line.

Video appointments

  • Test the link, camera and sound before the day.
  • Find a private place and charge your device.
  • Have your questions and medicines list ready.
  • Ask for an interpreter, captions or a phone call if you need one.

Avoiding scams

  • Be wary of urgency, threats, free offers and payment by gift card.
  • Never share passwords, sign-in codes or bank details.
  • Hang up and call back on a number you already have.

In the United States

  • Patient portals. Many providers offer an online patient portal, a secure website where patients can often make appointments, contact their provider and look at lab results. Checking your provider’s portal is a good first step to getting your health information.
  • Government health accounts. Medicare beneficiaries, veterans and active-duty service members can see and download some of their health information through the Blue Button feature in their government health plan or provider’s online patient portal, such as MyMedicare.gov.
  • Medicare scams. Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. Don’t give your Medicare number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it, and don’t accept money or gifts in return for free medical care.
  • Reporting. If you suspect Medicare fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report it online through Medicare.gov. A secure Medicare.gov account also lets you check your Original Medicare claims for mistakes.

Official places to check:

  • Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (HHS): healthit.gov/get-it-check-it-use-it/get-it
  • Medicare.gov: www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 19 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/reach/portals-and-video-appointments