What's the cheapest telehealth service?
The cheapest per-visit telehealth options without insurance typically start around $34 to $39 per visit.
Top Low-Cost Options
- Sesame Care: Offers virtual urgent care visits starting as low as $34 to $39 per visit. It operates on a cash-pay model and does not accept insurance, keeping upfront costs low for basic ailments like cold, flu, or UTIs.
- GoodRx Care: Visits start at $19 if you have a Gold/Companion membership (which costs around $9.99/month), or roughly $39 to $49 without a membership.
- Curai Health: Known as a very low-cost monthly subscription option, with pricing starting around $15 per month for continuous text-based care.
- Amazon One Medical: Direct message care starts at $29 for certain common conditions, while video visits start at $49.
What to Keep in Mind
- Insurance: If you have health insurance, check your policy or employer benefits first; many standard providers (like Teladoc or Doctor on Demand) drop your out-of-pocket cost to $0 or a small copay.
- Hidden Costs: Low flat fees usually cover only a basic 15-minute consultation for minor issues (like pink eye or sinus infections). Prescriptions, lab tests, or follow-up visits often cost extra.
What is the cheapest telehealth without insurance?
The cheapest telehealth services without insurance typically start around $19 to $34 per visit, depending on membership subscriptions and promotional rates.
Cheapest Telehealth Providers
- Sesame Care: Urgent care virtual visits start as low as $29 to $34 with no insurance required.
- GoodRx Care: Visits start at $19 when using a Companion membership ($9.99/month), or $39 to $70 without a membership.
- GoodRx Telehealth Marketplace / K Health: Initial text or chat-based consultations often start around $35.
- Community Health Centers: Local federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) often provide subsidized virtual care on a sliding scale, sometimes ranging from $0 to $25 based on income.
Average Uninsured Costs
- Standard Urgent Care: $40 to $99 per virtual visit for common issues like UTIs, sinus infections, or pink eye.
- Mental Health & Specialty Care: $100 to $300+ for initial psychiatry or therapy consultations.
What is the average cost of a telehealth visit?
A general telehealth visit costs between $40 and $90 out of pocket without insurance.
Cost Breakdown by Visit Type
- Basic Urgent Care: $40 to $90 for common issues like colds, flu, or minor infections.
- Specialist Care: $100 to $300 for mental health, psychiatry, or dermatology consultations.
- Prescription Refills: $20 to $50 for simple medication renewals.
Costs with Insurance
- Private Insurance & Medicare: Many health plans cover virtual care. Your cost typically equals a standard office visit copay or coinsurance depending on your deductible.
- In-Network vs. Out-of-Network: Choosing an in-network provider keeps prices low, while out-of-pocket fees apply if your plan doesn't cover the service.
Is it cheaper to go to urgent care or telehealth?
Telehealth is almost always cheaper than visiting an urgent care clinic in person.
Cost Comparison
- Telehealth: A typical virtual visit costs between $40 and $100 out-of-pocket (with a median around $80). Insurance co-pays for virtual care are often $0 to $30.
- Urgent Care: An in-person visit averages $150 to $280 without insurance, and costs can rise quickly if you need on-site tests, X-rays, or physical procedures.
When to Choose Telehealth
- Best for: Minor, straightforward illnesses like pink eye, sinus infections, mild flu symptoms, rashes, or basic prescription refills.
- Why it saves money: You avoid facility fees, separate clinic billing, and travel costs.
When to Choose Urgent Care
- Best for: Issues that require a physical touch, lab swabs (like strep tests), stitches, or X-rays for sprains and broken bones.
- The hidden risk: If you pay for a telehealth visit only to be told you need an in-person test anyway, you may end up paying for both visits.
Which telehealth is cheaper?
For cash-pay or uninsured patients, Sesame Care and GoodRx Care offer some of the cheapest single-visit telehealth options, with basic urgent care consultations starting around $19 to $37.
Cheapest Pay-Per-Visit Options
- Sesame Care: Urgent care visits start as low as $34 to $37, making it one of the lowest flat-rate costs for acute issues.
- GoodRx Care: Online visits start around $19 with a membership, or roughly $39 to $70 without one.
- Curai Health: Charges an AI-assisted monthly subscription model of about $15 per month plus $5 per visit.
Standard Major Platforms (Higher Cost)
- Teladoc: General medical visits cost around $89 out-of-pocket.
- Doctor On Demand: Standard un-insured visits cost about $99.
- PlushCare: Charges a membership fee of $19.99 per month plus separate visit copays or self-pay rates.
Note: If you have health insurance, many of these platforms (including Teladoc and PlushCare) drop to a $0–$30 copay depending on your specific plan benefits.
GoodRx Care: A Comprehensive Guide to Affordable Telehealth and Prescription Services
9 related questions found
Is there any free telehealth?
Yes, free telehealth options exist through specific non-profits, community health programs, and government insurance plans.
Dedicated Free Telehealth Services
- Hermes Free Telehealth: A non-profit that connects uninsured or underinsured patients with volunteer physicians for free virtual medical and therapy visits.
- Local Community Programs: Certain regional health systems and city initiatives offer zero-cost virtual care for local residents in need. For example, Jacksonville.gov - Healthlink JAX provides free 24/7 virtual care for uninsured residents in Duval County, Florida, and organizations like MLK Community Healthcare offer free telehealth access in specific parts of Southern California.
Insurance and State-Funded Options
- Medicaid: If you are enrolled in state Medicaid programs (such as Medi-Cal in California or Sunshine Health in Florida), telehealth visits are typically fully covered at no out-of-pocket cost.
- Community Health Centers: Many federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) offer sliding-scale or free virtual appointments if you do not have insurance. Check with public health clinics in your local area.
Is GoodRx telehealth legit?
Yes, GoodRx Care is a legitimate telehealth service operated by a well-known, publicly traded U.S. company (NASDAQ: GDRX).
How It Works
- Services: Covers routine medical needs like minor illnesses, skin conditions, sexual health treatments, and prescription refills.
- Format: Uses asynchronous messaging, phone calls, or video visits with U.S.-licensed, board-certified healthcare providers.
- Pricing: Visits generally cost around $49 without a membership, or $19 per visit if you subscribe to their companion membership (around $9.99/mo). They do not accept health insurance for the visit fee.
- Prescriptions: Providers can send prescriptions directly to your local pharmacy same-day, where you can use GoodRx coupons to save on medication costs.
Important Considerations
- Regulatory/Privacy History: In 2023, GoodRx settled with the FTC regarding past data-sharing practices with third-party advertisers, which the company subsequently resolved.
- User Feedback: While many users on Trustpilot praise the convenience and speed of the platform, some online forum discussions highlight frustrations with customer support response times or limitations with asynchronous care for complex medical issues.
- Limitations: Telehealth through GoodRx cannot treat medical emergencies, prescribe controlled substances, or handle complex, long-term chronic management that requires physical exams or in-person lab work.
How much is CVS telehealth without insurance?
A standard CVS MinuteClinic Virtual Care telehealth visit costs $89 out of pocket without insurance.
Depending on your specific medical needs, CVS also offers alternative tier options:
- $29 Digital Care Consults: Available for specific, minor conditions (such as UTIs, acne, pink eye, or sinus infections). This option allows you to answer an online questionnaire that is reviewed by a provider without a live video call.
- $29 Weight-Loss Consultations: A digital consultation to evaluate eligibility for weight management treatments (like GLP-1 medications).
Important Details:
- Payment Methods: CVS accepts major credit cards, debit cards, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for out-of-pocket virtual visits.
- Potential Extra Charges: The flat rate covers the provider consultation. It does not include the cost of any prescribed medications or external laboratory tests if you need to go into a clinic for further diagnostics.
You can review a full breakdown of their services and initiate a session directly on the CVS MinuteClinic Virtual Care Page.
Are insurances still paying for telehealth?
Yes, most major health insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, and private plans still pay for telehealth services.
Medicare and Medicaid
- Original Medicare: Covers many virtual care and telehealth services from a patient's home through December 31, 2027, following federal legislative extensions.
- Medicaid: Telehealth is covered across every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, though specific rules and eligible service types depend heavily on your local state guidelines.
Private and Commercial Insurance
- Coverage Mandates: Forty-one states and the District of Columbia enforce "coverage parity" laws, which legally require private health insurance plans to cover telehealth services if they cover the same services in person.
- Payment Rates: Only 22 states require "payment parity," meaning insurers must pay doctors the exact same rate for a virtual visit as an in-person one. Other states leave reimbursement amounts up to direct contracts between insurance companies and medical providers.
What You Will Pay
- Copays and Deductibles: You typically owe the same copay, coinsurance, or deductible for a virtual visit that you would pay for an office visit.
- Plan Restrictions: Insurers may require you to use specific software platforms, apps, or in-network virtual doctors to guarantee full coverage.
How much is a Teladoc visit without insurance?
A standard Teladoc General Medical or 24/7 Urgent Care visit costs $89 if you do not have health insurance.
The exact out-of-pocket price varies depending on the type of specialized medical care or mental health service you need:
| Service Type | Self-Pay Price (Without Insurance) |
|---|---|
| General Medical / 24/7 Urgent Care | $89 per visit |
| Dermatology | $89 per review |
| Nutrition | $89 per visit |
| Mental Health (Therapy) | $119 per visit |
| Mental Health (Psychiatry) | $299 for the initial visit; $129 for follow-ups |
Key Details to Keep in Mind
- Payment Methods: You can pay upfront using major credit cards, PayPal, or your Health Savings Account (HSA) / Flexible Spending Account (FSA) card.
- Prescriptions: If the doctor prescribes medication during your visit, the cost of the prescription is not included in the Teladoc visit fee. You will pay your pharmacy directly for any medications.
- No Extra Fees: Teladoc outlines these as upfront flat rates with no hidden subscription or facility fees. However, exact service availability can fluctuate depending on your location, so creating a free account on the Teladoc Health Portal will give you exact, real-time pricing for your state.