10 of the Best Telemedicine Companies for 2022
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- Best overall: Sesame Care
- Most affordable telemedicine company: PlushCare
- Best telemedicine company for nonurgent medical care: Teladoc
- Best telemedicine company for fast, straightforward service: MeMD
- Best telemedicine company for consistent care provider: HealthTap
- Best telemedicine company for general medical care: Amwell
- Best comprehensive telemedicine company: MDLive
- Best platform for choosing doctors: Doctor on Demand
- Best telemedicine company for custom treatment plans: LiveHealth Online
- Best telemedicine company for quick response time: Virtuwell
It can be difficult to see a doctor at the best of times, and even more so if the ongoing Pandemic creates additional concerns. Staying healthy can lead to stress because of busy schedules.
Telemedicine allows you to discuss non-emergency medical issues with a doctor by phone or online at a time that’s convenient for you.
Telemedicine can be used for people who may not have access to a doctor. It can provide lower costs for services.
“It can be a cost-effective way for people who don’t have insurance to get care.”
Telemedicine can be beneficial, but it should not replace in-person doctor visits.
It is important to remember that healthcare professionals can not take your blood or urine samples, heart rate, or other important medical tests. The results of a physical exam could be hampered by the lack of physical touch in the virtual world.
“Telemedicine is convenient for busy people, who need to be in touch with a doctor at a moment’s notice.”
It is possible to find and pay for child care when you attend an appointment at home or your office.
“It is a great option for people who don’t have access to certain physicians or who can’t afford to pay for standard medical visits.”
“People who have underlying health conditions are at greater risk of being in a doctor’s office.”
Telemedicine is an accessible way to see a doctor for certain reasons, like refilling a prescription, sharing preliminary information, or bringing up concerns about a health issue that does not require a physical examination.
This is especially true for people with disabilities or who have limitations getting around physically, or those who are geographically isolated or
That said, telemedicine is inaccessible to anyone without regular computer or smartphone access or a reliable internet connection. It’s also important to keep in mind that there can be safety concerns, both physical and otherwise, when you have the ability to be on the go. Driving while taking a telemedicine appointment is not recommended at all — both tasks require your full attention, and it would be better if you were in a safe space to take your appointment.
Privacy could be an issue if you take your appointment in public places, as it makes appointments easier and more mobile. It is safer for you to talk to your doctor in a secure place, without an audience, about any concerns you have about the internet, or about how much you say in public.
We chose the options based on their practicality.
- Ratings: We carefully considered customer reviews to find out what it’s really like to use these telemedicine companies.
- Types of services offered: We looked for companies that can help with a variety of medical issues, and many also offer lab testing and Mental health. services.
- Pricing: We chose companies that offer different payment options to suit a variety of budgets.
- Accessibility: We considered how services and results are delivered — via phone call, video, apps, and more — and whether you’ll have access to 24/7 care.
- Vetting: The companies on our list have been vetted to ensure that they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. You can read more about our vetting process.
There are 10 companies that do telemedicine.
Best overall
Sesame Care
You can book a same day appointment for your initial health visit. Reviewers say prices are affordable.
Sesame Care providers are often cheaper than your health insurance copay. Depending on your coverage, you may be able to get reimbursement for healthcare fees for professionals who are not covered by your insurance network.
If you have a prescription for medication at a pharmacy, you can use your insurance to pay for it, and you will only have to pay copay or deductible costs.
There are a number of treatments offered by Sesame Care.
- Skin care.
- dental care
- Mental health.
- Prevention and treatment of diseases.
- chronic condition care.
- Diabetes care.
- “Men’s health.”
- sleep issues
General callouts
Best for: a range of services
Price: varies by healthcare professional
Speciality: comprehensive, Mental health., dental (symptom assessment), Skin care., sexual health, and others
Prescriptions?: offers prescriptions and refills; does not offer controlled substances
Service delivery: video
The pros are:
- can book appointments on the same day
- affordable prices.
The cons are:
- Wait times can be long.
- Documentation not provided.
Most affordable telemedicine company
PlushCare
Video appointments can be booked online or via the app. You can either book ahead or find a same-day appointment. The company says it offers treatments from head to toe.
Many common prescriptions can be refilled by PlushCare, but they do not include controlled substances.
Many insurers are in-network with PlushCare. After the first visit is either $119 or your insurance copay, you will have to pay a monthly membership fee of either $14.99 or 99.
General callouts
Best for: affordability
Price: $14.99/month or $99/year; first visit $119 or insurance copay
Specialty: primary care concerns
Prescriptions?: offers prescriptions and refills; does not offer stimulants or controlled substances
Service delivery: video
The pros are:
- works with insurance plans
- Same-day appointments are available.
- If the doctor is available, you can see him again.
The cons are:
- Communication issues have arisen.
- “Drugs can’t be prescribed.”
Best telemedicine company for nonurgent medical care
Teladoc
Teladoc was one of the first telehealth companies in the United States. The company has maintained a highly favorable rating among physicians and patients.
Teladoc helps you find an in-network lab or facility. Your healthcare professional will review your results with you, which will be uploaded to your account.
General medical visit fees can be as low as $0 if you have insurance. Pricing depends on your insurance plan and medical needs. Teladoc can provide more details.
Teladoc can be used for a wide range of medical issues.
- There are services for children.
- There are no emergency medical issues.
- There are conditions for skin.
- Mental health. consultations for conditions such as depression and substance use disorders
- Sexual health consultations.
Teladoc physicians can also send prescriptions to your pharmacy. Your primary care physician can order lab work.
General callouts
Best for: non-urgent care
Price: general medical visits can be $0 or $75 without insurance
Specialty: primary care needs, help for quitting smoking, dermatology, and Mental health.
Prescriptions?: not guaranteed; need a consultation with doctor to determine the best treatment; does not provide controlled substances or stimulants, or erectile dysfunction (ED) pills like Viagra and Cialis
Service delivery: phone, video
The pros are:
- covers a wide range of health issues
- can send prescriptions to the pharmacy
The cons are:
- People are reporting technical issues with the app.
- It can be difficult to setup an account.
Best telemedicine company for fast, straightforward service
MeMD
It is easy to create an account on MeMD. You can speak with a nurse or physician via the internet once you have your account set up.
You can discuss multiple symptoms or conditions without paying an additional fee if you and your healthcare professional discuss one symptom or condition.
healthcare professionals can answer questions about an existing lab report that cannot be ordered through MeMD.
MeMD healthcare professionals can also send needed prescriptions to your preferred pharmacy.
Urgent care services are $67, as are men’s and wo”Men’s health.” visits. A talk therapy session can cost up to $85.
The initial visit for Psychiatry is $229. The follow-up visits are for managing medications and evaluating progress. It is not clear on their website if you need a referral before booking a Psychiatry appointment.
General callouts
Best for: quick, no-fuss service
Price: from $67 for medical care; from $85 for therapy services
Specialty: medical concerns, Mental health. services
Prescriptions?: offers prescriptions and refills as needed; does not offer anticonvulsants, narcotic pain relievers, or other drugs listed as controlled substances by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
Service delivery: video
The pros are:
- It is easy and fast.
- Good customer service is what this person is known for.
The cons are:
- If healthcare professionals are unavailable, appointments may be re-scheduling.
- People need to be referred to other clinics.
Best telemedicine company for consistent care provider
HealthTap
HealthTap claims to have 90,000 U.S.-licensed physicians to answer your health questions. Doctors are available for video chats or to answer text messages. They can also order lab tests and write or refill prescriptions.
Memberships cost$15 a month to provide users with specialized care.
A free account can still access an automated symptom checker and get personalized answers to health questions within a day.
General callouts
Best for: consistency
Price: $15/month
Specialty: urgent care, general medical care, primary care relationship building through video conference, talk, and text message
Prescriptions?: offers prescriptions and refills; does not prescribe opioids and other controlled substances, along with psychiatric drugs
Service delivery: video
The pros are:
- It is more affordable for people without insurance.
- You have the option to have a free account.
- Can you use the same doctor?
The cons are:
- response times can be slow.
- Some consultations may be general or not specialized.
Best telemedicine company for general medical care
Amwell
Two brothers who are both doctors founded American Well, which was rebranded as Amwell. They wanted to make basic healthcare more affordable and eliminate barriers, such as distance, mobility, and time.
In addition to the website, Amwell’s mobile application, available on iPhone and Android, can also connect you with a doctor.
You will be matched with doctors in your state. The cost of an appointment can vary by type.
Amwell has a variety of other video medical services, such as urgent care and general medical questions.
- Therapy is widely acclaimed.
- Psychiatry.
- breastfeeding support
- counseling on nutrition
- There are children in the world.
- wo”Men’s health.”
- second opinions
General callouts
Best for: general care
Price: varies (urgent care visits start at $79 before insurance)
Specialty: urgent care, general medical care, therapy, Psychiatry., wo”Men’s health.”, There are children in the world.
Prescriptions?: sent electronically to the pharmacy of your choice; does not offer controlled substances
Service delivery: video
The pros are:
- easy to enroll
- Choose your doctor.
The cons are:
- Insurers only cover certain services.
- Technical issues may occur.
Best comprehensive telemedicine company
MDLive
MDLive was founded in 2009. The company is continually building partnerships with healthcare systems across the U.S.
Depending on your insurance, urgent care visits are $82 or less. The same goes for counseling at $108. The initial visit is $284 and followed up with $108. The costs for behavioral health will depend on your insurance plan.
Board certified physicians and other healthcare professionals can be reached by phone or online. They can help answer your questions about non- emergency conditions.
- There are There are allergies..
- Uutis are infections of the urinary tract.
- There are headaches.
- There is a rash.
- There is a high degree of fever.
Mental health professionals are available.
General callouts
Best for: comprehensiveness
Price: $82 or less, depending on insurance
Specialty: non-urgent medical care, dermatology, therapy, Psychiatry.
Prescriptions?: offers prescriptions except for: DEA-controlled medications, lifestyle medications (such as ED, weight loss, etc.), detox medication, medications that require regular lab work, and more
Service delivery: phone, video
The pros are:
- accepts Psychiatry. or therapy appointments for children 10 and up
- It is possible to make appointments for a year.
The cons are:
- Therapist availability may be limited.
- “Certain medications can’t be prescribed.”
Best platform for choosing doctors
Doctor on Demand
One thing that sets Doctor on Demand apart from its competitors is that it allows people to add a doctor to their “favorites.” After your first consultation, you can select that doctor again if they’re available when you’re scheduling future appointments.
Doctor on Demand also offers online help for new parents.
Connecting with a doctor for 15 minutes costs $75. For Mental health. services, the price scales up to $299 for an initial 45-minute psychiatric consultation. Video visits under this service are covered by Medicare Part B.
General callouts
Best for: choice of doctor
Price: from $75
Specialty: urgent care, preventative health, chronic care, therapy, Psychiatry.
Prescriptions?: offers refills for patients seen by psychiatrists; does not offer controlled substances
Service delivery: video
The pros are:
- Choose a therapist or psychiatrist based on their qualifications.
- You can get a full team of care.
- Can choose a doctor.
The cons are:
- A short teletherapy visit may cost more than a longer appointment.
- It might take a few days to get an appointment.
Best telemedicine company for custom treatment plans
LiveHealth Online
LiveHealth Online allows members to choose their doctors. You can request a video consultation once you sign up, and you can see who is available in your state.
You should be connected with the doctor you choose within a few minutes.
Doctors are available for appointments 24/7.
LiveHealth has allergy visits in which you can map out a treatment plan and get a prescription if needed.
LiveHealth visits start from $59 without insurance.
General callouts
Best for: custom treatment plans
Price: from $59
Specialty: non-urgent medical, allergy, therapy, Psychiatry.
Prescriptions?: can send prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy of your choice; offers short-term refills; does not provide controlled substances, Gabapentin (Psychiatry. can provide), muscle relaxants, lifestyle drugs (Viagra, Cialis), weight loss drugs, and medications containing ephedrine/pseudoephedrine
Service delivery: video
The pros are:
- You have the ability to choose your own doctor.
- can be done easily
The cons are:
- People experience long wait times.
- It is possible that appointments may be canceled or changed.
Best telemedicine company for quick response time
Virtuwell
Virtuwell asks you to describe your symptoms in an online interview.
If the symptoms sound like something Virtuwell can treat, a nurse will get the report. They can look at a symptom and create a treatment plan.
The service costs $59 without insurance. Virtuwell will give a refund or guarantee satisfaction.
Virtual consultations are eligible for certain conditions.
- Colds and flus.
- There is a problem with the skin
- birth control
- There are skin conditions.
- certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- There are There are allergies..
- Other issues that are not emergencies.
General callouts
Best for: response time
Price: $59
Specialty: non-urgent care, dermatology, sexual health, There are There are allergies.., and more
Prescriptions?: offers prescriptions for most common medical conditions (may include over-the-counter [OTC] or prescription medications), birth control, and emergency contraception; doesn’t prescribe or refill anxiety or depression medication, travel medications, smoking cessation medications, or controlled substances
Service delivery: online form
The pros are:
- Advice is available for a variety of conditions.
- A simple platform.
The cons are:
- “Board certified nurse practitioners can’t offer as many services as doctors.”
- Before being connected with a nurse practitioners, you need to answer a questionnaire.
You might not know where to start with so many options. You can narrow down the options for you if you focus on which companies specialize in or accommodate what you need.
If you have a specific health condition or communication style preference, look into companies that have experience with similar ailments or work in the way you want.
You should also check with the company or medical professional you are considering to see if they can arrange for lab work or prescriptions.
It is important to consider your preferred payment method. Maybe you need a company that can provide documentation for your health insurance reimbursement, or maybe you prefer to pay by credit card. You should find out if the company can accommodate different payment options.
| Company | Best for | Price | Prescrip- tions |
Service delivery | Mental health services | Lab testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesame Care | range of services | varies by medical professional | yes | video | yes | yes |
| PlushCare | affordability | $14.99 per month or $99 per year, then first visit is $119 or your insurance copay | yes | video | yes | yes |
| Teladoc | nonurgent care | general medical visits can be $0 or $75 without insurance | yes | phone, video | yes | yes |
| MeMD | quick, no-fuss service | from $67 | yes | video | yes | no |
| HealthTap | consistency | $15 per month for a year | yes | video, chat | yes | yes |
| Amwell | general care | varies (urgent care visits start at $79 before insurance) | yes | video | yes | yes |
| MDLive | comprehensiveness | from $82 or less, depending on insurance | yes | phone, video | yes | yes |
| Doctor on Demand | choice of doctor | from $75 | yes | video | yes | yes |
| LiveHealth Online | custom treatment plans | from $59 | yes | video | yes | no |
| Virtuwell | response time | $59 | yes | online form | no | no |
Telemedicine services allow people to get healthcare services via the internet. Telemedicine platforms can provide services through phone calls and emails.
“Telemedicine should not be used in place of a doctor’s visit. Services can be used.”
- When an in-person visit is necessary.
- Re refill certain medications.
- Minor medical conditions should be treated.
- provide Mental health. services
“Telemedicine services can accept insurance plans from major providers, but they are usually cost-effective for people who don’t have insurance.”
Telehealth and telemedicine refer to services that are offered via phone or video. There is a difference between the two.
Digital clinical healthcare services are referred to as telemedicine.
Telehealth includes nonclinical health services.
Training for healthcare professionals and medical education are some of the services that can be provided by telehealth.
Telehealth and telemedicine are both used interchangeably.
“If you don’t have health insurance, there are some low cost and free health services that can help you save money.”
For example, the Health and Human Services Health Resources Services Administration and Find a Health Center offer a directory of health clinics that operate on a sliding scale. If you do not have insurance or cannot pay, you can still get care.
If you’re looking for a pregnancy test, birth control, or services related to sexual health, Planned Parenthood offers many discounted and free services.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a confidential free service for anyone needing assistance regarding substance and Mental health. issues. Some of the telehealth services mentioned above can be free with insurance, like Teledoc and LiveHealth Online.
Who is the largest telemedicine provider?
Teladoc Health is the largest telemedicine provider, with $1.09 billion in revenue and over 1,800 employees.
Who are the leaders in telemedicine?
Teladoc Health is one of the key leaders in the field of telemedicine.
Who is Teladoc’s biggest competitor?
MDLive is Teladoc’s biggest competitor, with $140.9 million in revenue.
What does telemedicine exclude?
“Telemedicine healthcare professionals can’t take blood or urine samples, heart rate, blood pressure, or other important medical tests like a hands-on physical exam, because they can’t do it in-person. These services can be done at a lab or in person.”
It is easier to get medical treatment through telemedicine. It can be a more affordable alternative for people without insurance.
