Online medical services have transformed the healthcare industry. With greater accessibility and lower costs for patients, telemedicine, also known as online healthcare, is revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered.
In this guide, we’ve reviewed the best online healthcare services currently available.
- Amwell – Best Overall
- Lemon Help – Best for Unobtrusive Healthcare
- Teladoc – Best for Mental Health Counseling
- Parsley Health – Best for Comprehensive Care
- Web Doctors – Best for Prescription Refills
- Plushcare – Best for Online Prescriptions
- JustAnswer – Best for Medical Questions
- AskADoctor – Best for 24/7 Access to a Doctor
Amwell offers a convenient and valuable service for anyone who needs treatment for non-emergency medical conditions, any time of day or night.
Why We Chose Amwell: Amwell offers access to a large network of board-certified physicians at an affordable price. Amwell doctors can prescribe medications and have the prescription sent directly to your pharmacy for same-day pickup.
Our Experience: An online account lets you keep track of all your medical appointments, medications, and doctor’s notes in one organized place.
- Pros:
- 24/7 medical appointments
- Prescription refills available
- Large network of specialist doctors
Cons - Not all prescriptions are available online
Personal access only
Ideal for discreet medical care
Price: $49 per consultation
Communication methods: website, iOS or Android app
Lemonaid makes healthcare accessible and affordable for patients across the country.
Why we chose Lemonaid: Lemonaid offers a wide range of treatments, home medication delivery, and a top-notch medical team. If discreetness is a concern, Lemonaid could be the right choice.
Our Experience: The Lemonaid website and app are easy to navigate, and the online questionnaire can be completed at any time of day.
Pros:
- Medications are delivered discreetly to your home.
- Doctors are licensed in all states.
- Affordable prices.
Cons: - Not covered by insurance.
- Some treatments require video or phone consultations.
Ideal for mental health counseling.
Price: $75-$95 per visit.
Communication methods: phone, app, video.
Teladoc has a network of hundreds of trained and qualified professionals who provide valuable medical advice for a variety of issues.
Pros
- Excellent mobile app
- 24/7 daily care
- Personalized skin treatments
Cons - Mental health is not available 24/7
- Only available in the US and Canada
Ideal for patients seeking holistic care
Price: $175 per month
Communication methods: in-person, video, messaging
Parsley Health is a personalized health care provider founded in 2016.
A Parsley Health membership includes 5 doctor visits and 5 visits with a health coach per year, which can be in-person or via video call.
Why we chose Parsley Health: Parsley Health focuses on the root causes of your condition and uses lifestyle changes along with medication to improve your health. This provider offers an approach that may be preferable if you don’t want to rely on medication alone.
Our experience: We were impressed with the personalized approach that Parsley Health provides to each patient. A doctor will help you create a personalized health plan, and a health coach will help you achieve your goals.
Pros
- 10 visits per year with a doctor and health coach.
- Partial coverage by most health insurance plans.
- Comprehensive treatment approach.
Cons - Diagnostic testing is an additional fee.
- Processing time is up to 3 days.
Ideal for: Quick remote medical care
Price: Starting at $49 (varies by condition)
Methods of communication: Phone, video
WebDoctors is a telemedicine service that allows you to get routine medical care or urgent care anytime, any day. They treat all types of conditions, including conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections, and upper respiratory infections, to name a few.
Why we chose WebDoctors: All WebDoctors doctors are board-certified, trained, and licensed in the United States.
Pros:
- Available 24/7 by phone and video
- Prescriptions and refills available
- No subscription required
Cons: - Video consultations are more expensive
- Not available in 6 states
Ideal for quick appointments
Price: $14.99/month membership + $129 co-pay/flat fee
Methods of communication: Phone, video
PlushCare puts medical services at your fingertips through an online platform and free mobile app. You can schedule an appointment online and see a doctor in 15 minutes, right from your phone.
Why we chose PlushCare: PlushCare is available to patients with or without health insurance. You only have to pay a standard co-pay, making it one of the most affordable options in the industry.
Pros
- Works with most insurers.
- Offers prescriptions and refills.
- Family plans available.
Cons - High consultation costs for those without insurance.
- Not available abroad.
Ideal for those who need advice on medical issues.
Price: $16-90
Methods of communication: Email Email, SMS, Phone
JustAnswer offers professional medical advice on a wide range of conditions, from asthma to sexually transmitted diseases and the common cold. You can ask your medical question online for a quick answer or connect with a specialist by phone to address your concerns.
Why did we choose JustAnswer? If you’re looking for fast and reliable answers to your medical questions, JustAnswer makes it easy to access advice from a variety of medical professionals.
Pros
- Fast answers
- Access to thousands of specialists
- A fraction of the cost of traditional healthcare
- Cons
- Video consultations are only available as a premium service
- No prescriptions required
- Ideal for 24/7 access to a doctor
Price: $46 per month
Communication methods: Live chat
Why did we choose AskADoctor? With AskADoctor, you get unlimited access to a team of doctors specializing in mental health, cardiology, orthopedics, and more. In addition, you have access to over 12,000 specialists on JustAnswers.com.
Our experience: AskADoctor is different from other telemedicine services by eliminating the need to make an appointment to get the care you need.
Pros
- 24-hour access to certified doctors
- Affordable monthly membership
- Specialists from various medical specialties
Cons
- Doctors can’t prescribe medications online
- You can’t always see the same doctor
Online Doctor
Online doctor services involve technologies through web-based platforms that allow patients to talk to a doctor online, get a diagnosis, and receive treatment for various medical conditions (more information below). There are several ways to get medical services through an online doctor, including text messages, phone consultations, video calls, and online surveys.
Many services allow you to send a message directly to a doctor via an online platform, detailing your symptoms, current medical condition, or medical questions. This is the most efficient method of communication if you are looking for answers to a specific question or need to renew a prescription.
If you need to communicate with a doctor in real time, most services also offer phone or video call services. Here’s how it works:
Schedule an appointment with a doctor online
- Make an appointment quickly or request an urgent appointment.
- If you are making an appointment quickly, most telemedicine services will allow you to choose the doctor you want to see. This is a great feature because it allows you to choose a doctor you already know and feel most comfortable with.
- The doctor will diagnose your health condition and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
- If you need medication, the doctor will send the prescription directly to the nearest pharmacy for you to pick up. Most telemedicine services offer same-day delivery of medication.
What Areas of Expertise Do Telehealth Services Offer?
Online health services treat a wide range of non-emergency medical conditions. The list ranges from less serious conditions, such as the common cold, flu, or eye infections, to more complex or chronic medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Below is a brief selection of some of the medical conditions and services available through online health services.
- Antibiotics for infections
- Birth control pills
- PrEP for HIV prevention
- Cold symptoms
- Flu symptoms
- Body injuries
- Acne
- Migraines
- Sexually transmitted infection testing
Very serious emergencies or situations, such as concussions, internal or external bleeding, severe burns, myocardial infarction, serious psychiatric episodes, or suicidal/homicidal thoughts, should be addressed immediately in the emergency room by going to the emergency room or calling 911 for immediate emergency care.
How Much Do Telehealth Services Cost?
Generally, there are two types of pricing models for medical appointments and online medical services: monthly plans/memberships or pay-per-visit.
Subscription plans and memberships
Some telemedicine services offer monthly or annual subscription plans. Online medical service memberships typically provide unlimited access to all medical services for a flat fee.
Online medical membership plans can range from $19 to $100 per month.
One-off fees
Many online medical services allow you to pay for a single visit instead of a monthly fee.
What Are the Advantages of Choosing an Online Doctor?
Online medical services have gained popularity even after the peak of the pandemic.
Convenience
You can schedule an appointment whenever you need to, see a doctor, and receive treatment from the comfort of your home, office, or anywhere else.
Time
You don’t have to wait in a doctor’s office or waiting room, or wait for an appointment or results. Everything is done on your schedule, and your electronic medical record is automatically updated after each visit.
Availability
Most telemedicine services work with a network of doctors, so someone is available 24/7 to help you.
Affordability
Finally, telemedicine services cost much less than you would pay for treatment in an emergency room or emergency department.
Telehealth Services: The Wave of the Future
Telemedicine services offer Americans an easier, faster, and more convenient way to get the medical care they need. With affordable pricing plans, 24/7 access, and a wide network of certified and compassionate medical professionals, telemedicine is a viable alternative to the traditional approach to medical services.
