8 Telemedicine Options for Affordable Health Care Without Insurance

Seeking medical care in the United States without health insurance can feel confusing and very costly.

Yet with telemedicine becoming more common, care is turning into a more reachable and budget-friendly option — particularly for those who lack insurance.

From a computer or smartphone, you can connect with a clinician on demand and have concerns managed quickly through a virtual visit.

From routine wellness checks to urgent needs, consulting a doctor online can help you cut costs.

Below are the top choices for pursuing telehealth without an insurance plan — and how much each typically costs. If you do have insurance, telehealth visits may even be free.

How Much Does Telemedicine Cost Without Insurance?

Similar to in-person treatment, the price of telemedicine without insurance differs by provider. Each health service sets its own rates and plan choices. What you pay depends on which provider you use and how long the appointment lasts.

The mean price for basic or urgent telehealth among the eight services we reviewed is $68 per visit. Our top recommendation, GoodRx Care, offers virtual visits starting at $49.

Some services, including GoodRx Care, also provide subscription plans to lower the cost of recurring care.

Research indicates virtual visits not only cost less in many cases but can significantly reduce health care’s environmental impact, save on travel expenses, decrease fatalities, and conserve time and money for both patients and clinicians.

What You’ll Pay at These 8 Telehealth Providers

8 Budget-Friendly Telemedicine Choices Without Insurance

GoodRx Care

• General medical visits
• Flexible family plan
• Lower prices with membership

GoodRx does more than help you cut prescription costs. Since its 2019 rollout, GoodRx Care has provided reasonably priced telehealth services for people without insurance.

From simple consults to quick medication refills, GoodRx Care schedules visits for preventive care, sexual health, lab testing and parts of chronic condition management.

With GoodRx Care, a visit can cost just $49. No insurance required. You might reduce that further with a Gold Membership, which brings the visit price down to $19 and gives access to over 1,000 prescriptions under $10.

Gold costs $9.99 monthly for one person or $19.99 per month for a family. A family plan can include up to five people — kids, parents, even pets can be added to the family account.

MDLive

MDLive

• Care in about 15 minutes, 24/7/365
• Treats 80+ conditions
• Transparent pricing

Many insurers include telehealth options in their offerings, andMDLiveis often one of those services. MDLive also accepts insured patients.

After a brief sign-up, you can access clinicians in urgent care, general medicine, mental health and dermatology from home.

MDLive’s fees vary by the type of service, but costs are displayed up front so you won’t be surprised. Expect to pay between $89 and $299 for an initial visit.

An MDLive clinician — typically with around 10 years’ experience — can treat allergies, birth control needs, colds and flus, coughs, substance concerns, anxiety, depression, acne, hair loss, cysts and more.

Teladoc

Teladoc

• Clinicians available 24/7/365
• No time limit on sessions
• Access to specialists

If you’re seeking telemedicine without insurance,Teladocis a solid option.

Users can schedule visits for general and urgent care, consult mental health clinicians, primary care physicians and specialists. For uninsured individuals, Teladoc also connects patients to dermatologists, nutritionists, mental health clinicians and back/joint specialists.

To start, create an account and provide basic details. Teladoc will outline available services based on your information — even if you lack health insurance — and can send prescriptions directly to your neighborhood pharmacy when needed.

Doctor On Demand

Doctor On Demand

• Diverse provider network
• Handles about 90% of common ER complaints
• 24/7 mental health access

Historically, an on-demand physician might make a house call with a black bag. Today,Doctor On Demandbrings that convenience via virtual visits.

From routine care to dermatology and mental health, Doctor On Demand provides many specialists available around the clock, including therapists and psychiatrists.

With 24/7 availability, whenever you need a clinician, you’re only a few clicks away from individualized care — a convenient way to access telemedicine without insurance.

Providers treat most ER-level complaints plus allergies, behavioral health issues, acne, UTIs, colds, flus, prescription refills, rashes, sinus infections and IBS. Preventive care services, like nutrition advice and medication management, are offered as well.

Amwell

Amwell

• Women’s health services
• Breastfeeding assistance
• 24/7 availability

Through the Amwell app, you can connect with clinicians — including mental health professionals — any time to handle concerns without leaving home. You can also use Amwell by calling from a cell phone or landline.

After setting up an Amwell account and entering your medical details, you can promptly speak with online doctors.

The app supports video visits and also allows phone-only consultations.

Amwell covers urgent care, mental health, nutrition counseling, pediatrics, women’s health and additional services.

Sesame

Sesame

• Memberships for added savings
• Over 80 specialties
• Includes dental care options

Sesametakes a hybrid approach, combining telehealth visits with the possibility of in-person follow-ups.

Avoid waiting rooms with same-day online appointments, affordable local care for common needs and steeply discounted prescription refills. For example, for a suspected UTI, Sesame might arrange a virtual consult, then refer you to nearby affordable lab services and prescribe antibiotics if appropriate.

Many people find Sesame’s on-demand care is less expensive than their insurance co-pay; virtual visits can begin at $37 forSesame Plusmembers.

Sesame clinicians can help with behavioral health, dental screenings, dermatology, sexual health, diabetes management and men’s health as well.

PlushCare

PlushCare

• Same-day appointments available
• Board-certified clinicians
• Veteran discount available

PlushCare may cost more than some competitors, but it specializes in same-day access for mental and sexual health care. It also provides general and urgent care, therapy and weight-loss services.

Whether you need birth control refills, erectile dysfunction treatment or immediate mental health support, PlushCare’s experienced doctors can help.

One caveat: top-tier access is primarily for members. You can use PlushCare without a membership, but access is restricted and appointments must be scheduled by phone. Membership runs $19.99 monthly or $99 annually, regardless of insurance status.

HealthTap

HealthTap

• Consistent appointments with the same clinician
• Anonymous Q&A feature
• 24/7 care team chat

Wish you had primary care on speed dial instead of waiting for a callback? HealthTap puts roughly 90,000 licensed physicians within reach for video chats or text exchanges. They can order labs and handle many general health matters — from primary to urgent care — including management of conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

While basic accounts are free, premium benefits begin at $55 for three months or $180 per year (equating to $18.33 and $15 per month respectively). These plans can significantly reduce telehealth visit costs, sometimes by half or more. Free users still get an automated symptom checker and can submit anonymous medical questions online to receive responses within 24 hours.

Other Ways to Obtain Mental Health Support Without Telemedicine

Prevention and affordable ongoing mental health care matter. But if you’re in immediate crisis, don’t wait for a virtual appointment.

Visit SAMHSA’s mental health hotline for immediate online treatment resources, or call 1-800-662-4357 for assistance. You can also dial 988 to reach the national suicide and crisis lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

GoodRx Care offers visits for $49, one of the most affordable options for people without insurance. Through membership, GoodRx Care can drop visits to $19 and provide access to more than 1,000 medications for under $10.

No — most telemedicine platforms charge fees to see a clinician. You can also search for a sliding-scale clinic in your region; fees at those facilities may be based on income and could be lower than virtual options.

Many telehealth services without insurance require a nominal fee and a medical-history disclosure to access ongoing behavioral health treatment. If you need anonymous, immediate care, reach out to SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), use the online treatment locator, or text your ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U) to find nearby resources.

Yes — similar to seeing a clinician in person, there’s typically a charge for a virtual visit. Still, telemedicine can be more affordable than in-office care and there are many choices for those without insurance. Our top recommendation is GoodRx Care.

In many situations, yes. Telemedicine clinicians can usually send prescriptions to a nearby pharmacy for pickup. Depending on your diagnosis, this may include antibiotics or regular medications like blood pressure drugs or birth control.

Jamie Winters is a former senior staff writer at Savinly covering personal finance and budgeting. As a reporter, she has written on topics spanning finance, health, education and technology for over a decade.

Alex Romero is a former senior technology writer for Savinly.

Contributor: William Fewox.