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One of the most frustrating parts of being unwell is having to leave your house for medical treatment, dealing with paperwork, and waiting in a crowded room when all you want is to rest and recover. However, services like Teladoc and AmWell make it easy to consult a doctor through a video call, available around the clock.
Terms like “telehealth” and “telemedicine” are often used, but their meanings can vary. Telemedicine generally refers to video consultations, while telehealth is a broader term, covering various forms of remote medical communication, such as sending an x-ray to a distant specialist. For this context, we’re focusing on telemedicine as a way to replace an in-person doctor’s visit with a phone or video call, and we'll explore some of the top services widely available to most people.
What Is the Cost of a Remote Doctor Consultation?
A typical telemedicine consultation costs between $40 and $60, according to a report from SeekingAlpha. While some insurance plans may cover this fee, it’s more common for patients to pay out-of-pocket using a credit card before the session starts. Since this is a medical expense, you can use your Health Savings Account funds, and the charge may count toward your deductible. MeMD, which charges $49.95 per consultation, explains that they set this price to be lower than many health insurance co-pays.
In 2015, about half of large employers included telemedicine consultations in their insurance offerings, according to a Willis Towers Watson/National Business Group on Health report. A third of those employers provided lower co-pays or fees for remote visits compared to in-person appointments. This makes sense because remote visits are less expensive for doctors to provide, so insurance companies encourage their use.
Currently, 28 states have regulations mandating that telemedicine consultations should be reimbursed by insurance the same way as in-person visits. In other states, the coverage may differ, so it’s a good idea to check with your insurance provider to confirm if video or phone consultations are included.
Does My Location Affect Coverage?
The doctor you're consulting with must be licensed to practice in your state, so your location is important for the service. iCliniq markets itself as a platform for travelers because it has licensed doctors in 13 countries.
All 50 states permit doctors to offer medical services through video consultations, although state laws vary. For example, some states allow only video calls and not phone-based consultations, so in those locations, you’ll need to use a device with a camera.
What Health Issues Can I Address Through Telemedicine?
A few important points: don’t rely on a telemedicine app in an emergency. Dial 911 for urgent matters. For conditions that need immediate treatment or a physical examination, you should visit an in-person healthcare facility.
These services are ideal when all you need is a prescription or guidance on how to manage your symptoms at home. For instance, if you suspect you have a cold or flu, Teladoc is happy to assist if your symptoms include cough, congestion, sore throat, or a mild fever below 101.5°F. However, if you're experiencing a high fever or severe vomiting and diarrhea, you'll likely need an in-person visit.
In addition to mild cold and flu symptoms, Teladoc also treats conditions like bronchitis, allergies, pink eye, and urinary tract infections. You can view a comprehensive list of conditions here, which also includes sprains, strains, and rashes such as poison ivy. Other services offer similar lists, like MeMD’s here. Teladoc also provides specialized services for mental health, sexual health, and dermatology. Fees and insurance coverage for these services may differ, so it’s best to check with your plan.
If you contact the service for a condition that the provider can’t treat, they will advise you to seek in-person care. Unfortunately, you won’t get a refund, as you’ve paid for the doctor’s time. This is a good reason to review your telemedicine service’s website before making an appointment: there’s no point in scheduling a remote consultation if you’ll need to visit a doctor anyway. However, if you’re willing to pay for the remote visit just to gauge the severity of your illness—perhaps it’s a snowy Friday night and you’re unsure whether to stay home—this could be helpful too.
Can They Prescribe Medication?
If you're sure you need a prescription, things can get a bit unclear. The provider you consult will be able to prescribe medication, so if antibiotics or other common drugs are necessary, the prescription will be sent to your local pharmacy, and you can pick it up. Just like with an in-person consultation, the doctor will use their clinical expertise to determine the appropriate prescription—so if your local doctor doesn’t think antibiotics are needed for your cold, the one on your video call probably won’t prescribe them either.
You shouldn't expect prescriptions for tightly controlled substances. Medications like Xanax, methadone, Ambien, Zoloft, and Viagra are off-limits. In general, Teladoc won’t prescribe anything that is considered a controlled substance, not intended to treat a medical condition, or would require a more detailed examination for safe prescription. MeMD has similar policies and mentions that while they can assist with refills, they are unlikely to initiate long-term treatments for conditions like blood pressure management or birth control. They recommend seeing your regular doctor for such prescriptions.
Can Telemedicine Replace a Traditional Doctor?
Telemedicine has its perks, but it can’t replace the value of a strong, ongoing relationship with a primary care doctor. Many telemedicine platforms don’t let you request the same doctor from your previous visit; you’ll simply be matched with the next available provider.
MeMD offers more information on their website than many other services, so let's use them as an example. They clearly state that they cannot act as your primary care physician: their FAQ directly answers this with a simple, 'Unfortunately, no.' They won’t initiate long-term medication regimens or adjust dosages of existing prescriptions. Additionally, they won’t provide referrals to specialists or prescribe medical equipment like a wheelchair. MeMD, like most telemedicine services, is designed to function as an alternative to urgent care clinics like MedExpress. If you need an ongoing relationship with a specific doctor, you'll need to find one yourself.
Having a personal relationship with a doctor has significant advantages: if your provider knows you, they might be willing to offer advice or make adjustments to your medication after just a phone call. This is similar to a telemedicine visit, but it might even be free. While you can’t fully replace your primary doctor with a telemedicine app yet, it's a great option if you don't have a regular doctor or need to handle something simple when your own doctor isn’t available.
Illustration by Sam Woolley. Photos by NEC, Leonid Mamchenkov, and via Visualhunt.
