Not everyone in the states is equipped with insurance and this all falls when you need to visit the doctor. However, there’s this idea that not having insurance means you can’t get access to the best doctors.
What if we told you that you could have no insurance and have consultations with good doctors, all from the comfort of your own home?
Below, we outline the best telemedicine services you can use without insurance.
5 Best Telemedicine Services You Can Use Without Insurance
Here are the five best telemedicine services that you can use without insurance including how to use each one and how much they will cost you.
1. Doctor On Demand
Doctor On Demand is the first stop on our list of the best telemedicine services you can use without insurance.
It’s an app-based service that provides medical care in the privacy and comfort of your own home.
It provides emergency care, behavioral healthcare, preventive care, and chronic care.
All doctors are US-trained and board-certified, so you are in the right hands
HOW TO USE
You can download the Doctor On Demand app on both Apple and Android, but you can also make use of the website.
You will need to create an account and enter basic information to get started.
You’ll need to enter any allergies or history of surgery, as well as your full name and date of birth.
Once you’re logged in, you’ll be able to choose from three different options:
- Seeing the first available doctor
- Booking a mental health session
- Or picking your preferred pharmacy
If you choose to see a doctor, you will need to answer a few questions regarding your visit. These include symptoms, how long you’ve felt that way, and entering your temperature.
You will then be presented with a summary of fees and once you’ve paid, you will be connected to a doctor within 10 minutes.
After that, you’ll be sent to the pharmacy that you recommended in the beginning.
PRICING
The price of Doctor On Demand will differ depending on whether you have insurance or not. However, this is the case with most of the telemedicine services on our list.
Without insurance, urgent care sessions with a board-certified clinician are around $79 for 15 minutes and mental health sessions with a psychologist are between $129 and $179. If you want to see a psychiatrist, you’ll pay about $299 for an initial consultation and $129 for 15-minute follow-ups.
2. Teladoc Health
Teladoc Health is the next stop on our list. They are a telemedicine service that connects you with medical experts from a wide range of specialties. All without the need for medical aid.
You can use Teladoc Health for primary care appointments, long-term care, mental health, and therapy sessions. You can also book wellness care such as nutrition appointments, or chronic pain management.
In addition, you’re able to get second opinions and advice from over 50,000 specialists on which medical decision or treatment is best for you.
HOW TO USE
After you’ve created your Teladoc account, you can sign in and fill out your medical history. Doctors require this important information as they will need to review it before prescribing you anything.
You also need to enter your local pharmacy information as well as any doctors that you’ve visited in the past.
Once all the information is filled out, you can proceed to request a consultation.
You will need to choose the medium of communication for the consultation. This is either video calling or a telephone call.
You will also be able to select the date and time of the consultation and enable alerts and reminders via text messages or emails.
After the booking, you’ll need to pay for it and will receive a confirmation number.
When the time for the appointment comes, you’ll receive a link to a video conference room where the doctor will be waiting.
Your doctor will write up a prescription that you can collect after 60 minutes at your local pharmacy. This will be emailed to you after the session.
The consultation then gets added to your Teladoc history so that other doctors have all your information before your consultation.
PRICING
Downloading the mobile application or using the website is free of charge, but pricing will differ based on your medical symptoms.
A general medical visit can be around $75, therapy sessions are $99, and the most expensive appointments are psychiatric sessions priced at $299.
3. MDLIVE
MDLIVE provides dependable health care by phone or video 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Hundreds of medical and mental health needs are met by their national network of board-certified doctors, pediatricians, dermatologists, psychiatrists, and therapists. They are committed to assisting you in getting better and staying well.
MDLIVE makes connecting your family members to a live physician much easier. You can access this telemedicine service through their website or you can download the mobile application, which is available on both Apple and Android.
HOW TO USE
Using MDLIVE is easy and only takes a few minutes to set up. Creating an MDLIVE account is the first step. This includes filling out your name, surname, identification details, etc.
You can use this service with or without insurance. As much as you can find affordable insurance for you and your family, we’re going to focus on having no insurance for the sake of the list. So on the setup page, don’t fill in any information under the MDLIVE insurance tab.
You will see a summary of fees once you’ve created an account and selected your reason for wanting to see a doctor.
After you’ve requested a doctor and the appointment is confirmed, you’ll be connected to one in under 15 minutes. Alternatively, you’re able to schedule a time if the next 15 minutes after the request isn’t convenient for you.
You also have options regarding how you’d like to speak with a doctor. You can choose between text, voice call, or video call.
All visits are secured and private, taking about 10 minutes depending on your symptoms.
The doctor will then recommend you to the nearest pharmacy and send them an electronic prescription.
PRICING
The application and process of creating an account are free.
The consultation price differs based on the medical condition. For example, a situation needing a dermatologist can cost you around $95, whereas a psychiatrist can be $284 and up.
4. GoodRx Care
GoodRx Care, a recent addition to GoodRX, makes efforts to treat general health issues as well as to implement prevention techniques.
GoodRx Care provides services such as birth control, erectile dysfunction treatment, and urinary tract infection treatment are examples of common medical services
In a few clicks, you’re able to speak to a doctor who will write up a prescription for you in no time.
GoodRx Care makes refilling prescriptions easy. It can be done by mail or at any local pharmacy, and same-day appointments are available.
HOW TO USE
GoodRx services require you to create an account if you want to use them. This will only take a few minutes and then you’ll be taken to the home page.
One of the first tabs you’ll be able to click on after signing in is the ‘Start Online Visit’.
Before every consultation, you will need to enter information regarding your medical history.
This way, doctors will know the best way to treat you and you’re more likely to be paired with a doctor who specializes in a particular field.
You then select whether you want the consultation to be over text or a video call.
Your GoodRx Care doctor will be in touch with you after you’ve paid at the end of the booking.
After your appointment, your prescription will be available at the pharmacy of your choice.
PRICING
The consultations all have a general price of around $50 and they require no insurance.
A GoodRx Care Gold account will cost you $10 per month.
5. Amwell
Amwell provides telemedicine services to physicians and their patients.
It improves access to healthcare by allowing patients to connect with their healthcare professionals via live video visits.
Amwell provides treatment for more than 50 common health issues, ranging from infections and acne to Alzheimer’s. It also claims to provide birth control and urgent care advice.
HOW IT WORKS
You will have the choice of four different services after filling out the necessary information for your account. These are medical, nutrition, psychology, and adolescent psychology.
Each service has dedicated doctors specializing in the chosen field.
Depending on the service you choose, Amwell will display an array of suitable doctors and you will need to select one.
You can either schedule a consultation or it can happen within 10 minutes after booking,
Amwell was also the first telemedicine to allow for multiway connection, allowing you to easily invite other participants to the consultation. Maybe a family member or friend has the same symptoms as you. They can join the call, free of charge.
After your consultation, you will receive a visit summary email, which you can show to your primary care provider.
PRICING
A standard consultation will cost you around $15, but the more severe symptoms like requiring a mental health doctor can be close to $80.
Frequently Asked Questions About Telemedicine
What are telemedicine systems?
Telemedicine systems, also known as telehealth or e-medicine, are the remote delivery of healthcare services via telecommunications infrastructure, such as exams and consultations.
Telemedicine enables healthcare providers to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients without having to see them in person.
As technology is rapidly improving, the ability to have virtual consultations is made easy.
What are the benefits of telemedicine systems?
There are plenty of benefits to using telemedicine. Firstly, you don’t have to drive to the doctor’s office or a waiting room when you’re sick. You can consult with your doctor while lying on your bed or sofa.
Telemedicine systems also mean better assessments as you’re in your home environment. Allergists, for example, may be able to identify triggers in your environment that cause allergies.
Most telemedicine systems have doctors operating 24/7, 365 days a year. This means that you will always be able to find an available doctor when you need one.
What technology do you need for telemedicine sessions?
A telemedicine setup is very simple. You’ll generally just need a secure and stable internet connection and a device such as a mobile phone, tablet, or computer that will allow you to text, call, or video call with the doctor.
Conclusion
All of the telemedicine services on this list are available to those without health insurance. However, having insurance will definitely save you some money. Insurance will cover most consultations or significantly decrease the price.
With Enhance Health, you’re able to find insurance plans despite having a little-to-no income. Simply give us a call and we will help you find the right plan for your needs.
