What AI said about telehealth services in the United States in August 2026

Below are the best telehealth services I’d actually consider in the U.S., with an emphasis on brands people commonly encounter through insurers, employers, pharmacies, Amazon, or direct-to-consumer apps.

Quick picks

Top recommendations

1. Teladoc Health — best all-around telehealth brand

Teladoc is one of the safest default recommendations because it’s widely offered through employers and health plans, and it covers a broad range of needs: urgent care, primary care, mental health, dermatology, chronic care, and more. Teladoc reported 17.1 million telehealth visits in 2025 and 101.8 million U.S. Integrated Care members at the end of 2025, which is strong evidence that it’s not just a niche app. (sec.gov)

Use it for: colds, flu, sinus infections, UTIs, rash, allergies, medication refills, mental health, dermatology, and primary-care-style support. Teladoc’s 24/7 urgent care connects users through app/website or phone/video, and prescriptions can be sent to a pharmacy when appropriate. (teladochealth.com)

Best if: your employer or insurer already gives you Teladoc at low or $0 copay.

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2. MDLIVE — excellent mainstream alternative, especially through insurance

MDLIVE is another very common U.S. telehealth brand, often offered through health plans. It covers urgent care, primary care, mental health, psychiatry/therapy, and dermatology, with 24/7/365 urgent-care access and availability across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. (mdlive.com)

Use it for: urgent care, female UTIs, sinus issues, pink eye, cold/flu, dermatology, routine primary care, therapy, and psychiatry. MDLIVE also says urgent care is for non-emergency issues, not situations like chest pain, severe breathing problems, or crisis-level mental health symptoms. (mdlive.com)

Best if: MDLIVE is the telehealth option listed on your insurance card or benefits portal.

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3. Amwell — strong insurer/health-system telehealth option

Amwell is widely used behind the scenes by insurers and health systems. A Definitive Healthcare analysis ranked Amwell as the No. 2 telemedicine vendor by U.S. market share among installed telemedicine solutions as of November 2025, behind Zoom. (definitivehc.com)

For consumers, Amwell offers online urgent care, therapy, and psychiatry. Its urgent care service is 24/7/365, uses board-certified doctors, and is often a covered benefit through major health plans including United, Anthem, Highmark, and many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. (patients.amwell.com)

Best if: your insurer routes you to Amwell, or you want an established health-plan-friendly platform.

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4. Doctor On Demand by Included Health — good no-membership urgent care + mental health

Doctor On Demand is a straightforward option for urgent care, mental health, primary care, and skin care. It accepts many insurance plans, has no membership fee, and shows your cost before the visit. Without coverage, its site lists medical visits starting at $99, therapy from $134, and psychiatry initial visits from $299. (doctorondemand.com)

Use it for: urgent care, cold/flu/COVID, UTIs, rashes, prescription refills, therapy, psychiatry, depression/anxiety, and everyday care.

Best if: you want a polished app-based experience without a monthly membership.

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5. Amazon One Medical — best for Prime members and hybrid primary care

Amazon One Medical is worth considering if you’re a Prime member or live near a One Medical office. Members get 24/7 on-demand virtual care, plus the ability to book same- or next-day in-person or video appointments where One Medical has offices. Prime members can get One Medical membership for $99/year, while non-Prime membership is listed at $199/year; scheduled visits are billed to you or insurance. (health.amazon.com)

Amazon also offers one-time On-Demand Care for 30+ common conditions, starting from $29 for direct message care or $49 for video care, but insurance is not accepted for On-Demand Care. (health.amazon.com)

Best if: you want virtual care plus the option of real primary-care offices in select cities.

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6. PlushCare — best for ongoing virtual primary care

PlushCare is a strong pick if you want more of an online primary care relationship instead of one-off urgent-care visits. It offers primary care, urgent care, pediatric care, chronic disease care, weight management, and online therapy. PlushCare says it accepts patients with or without insurance and lists $129 for a visit without insurance. (plushcare.com)

Use it for: routine primary care, medication refills, chronic conditions, urgent care, mental health, weight management, labs/referrals when needed.

Best if: you want to pick a doctor and use them repeatedly rather than seeing whoever is next available.

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7. Sesame — best cash-pay / uninsured option

Sesame is one of the best options if you don’t want to use insurance or want clear upfront cash pricing. It’s a marketplace where you book telehealth or in-person care directly with licensed doctors and specialists at upfront prices. Sesame says it does not bill insurance, has providers in all 50 states, and can handle urgent care, primary care, dermatology, mental health, pediatrics, sexual health, weight loss, and prescription refills. (sesamecare.com)

Use it for: simple urgent-care issues, prescription refills, cash-pay primary care, dermatology, mental health, and price shopping.

Best if: you’re uninsured, have a high-deductible plan, or want to know the price before booking.

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8. Talkspace — best therapy-focused option if insurance covers it

For mental health specifically, Talkspace is a major therapy/psychiatry platform. It works with many U.S. insurers, employers, EAPs, and some Medicare coverage in select states. Services include online therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy, and psychiatry/medication management for adults. (talkspace.com)

Best if: your insurance covers Talkspace and you want therapy or psychiatry more than general medical care.

A note on BetterHelp: people absolutely use it, and it’s one of the biggest therapy-only brands, but I’d be more cautious because the FTC finalized an order in 2023 banning BetterHelp from sharing sensitive health data for advertising and requiring a $7.8 million payment. (ftc.gov)

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My practical recommendation

1. Check your insurance/employer app first — if Teladoc, MDLIVE, Amwell, Doctor On Demand, or LiveHealth Online is covered, that’s often the cheapest.
2. For one-off urgent care: Teladoc, MDLIVE, Amwell, Doctor On Demand, Sesame, or Amazon One Medical On-Demand.
3. For ongoing primary care: PlushCare or Amazon One Medical.
4. For uninsured/cash-pay: Sesame first; compare Amazon One Medical On-Demand and Doctor On Demand.
5. For therapy/psychiatry: Talkspace if covered by insurance; MDLIVE/Amwell/Doctor On Demand are also good if your health plan covers them.

And don’t use telehealth for emergencies: chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing trouble, major injury, suicidal intent, or possible broken bones should go to 911, ER, or urgent in-person care.

Here's a breakdown of the top telehealth services in the U.S. right now, organized by what you're looking for:

Best Overall / General Primary Care

Teladoc Health is the clear market leader. Teladoc is the largest telehealth provider in the US and accepts more insurance plans than any competitor, with over 200 commercial plans plus many employer-sponsored programs covering visits with copays typically ranging from $0 to $75. Without insurance, a general medical visit runs about $89, and the platform covers general medicine, dermatology, mental health, nutrition, and chronic condition management, with wait times usually under 10 minutes for urgent care. It's also been around the longest — it was one of the first telehealth companies in the United States, and it has maintained a highly favorable rating among doctors and patients, plus it's covered by most major insurers.

Amazon One Medical is also a strong pick for primary care specifically, since for general primary care, Teladoc and Amazon One Medical lead the field.

Amwell is another major, well-established option — it's a leading telehealth platform in the United States and globally, connecting and enabling providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver greater access to more affordable, higher quality care.

Best by Category

If you have a specific need, different platforms specialize better than general ones:

• Men's health: Ro and Hims lead this space.
• Women's health: Hers and Maven Clinic are top picks.
• Mental health / therapy: Cerebral and Talkiatry are strong for psychiatric care, while BetterHelp is the largest online therapy platform but does not prescribe medications — it's best for people who need talk therapy, CBT, or counseling rather than psychiatric medication management.
• Weight loss: Ro and Found are the go-to names.
• Specialist access: Teladoc and MDLive offer the broadest specialist networks.

A Few Practical Notes

The space has consolidated a lot recently — the telehealth field shifted in 2025 and 2026, with several well-known platforms getting acquired, merged, or going through bankruptcy, so the list of who is still operating as a standalone consumer platform is shorter than it was two years ago. So if you have insurance, the safest bets to check first are Teladoc, Amwell, PlushCare, and MDLIVE, since these have confirmed transparent pricing and are verified as actively operating and accepting new patients.

My recommendation: For most people just wanting a reliable, insurance-friendly, do-it-all service, Teladoc is the safest and most widely used choice. If you specifically want an ongoing primary care relationship (not just urgent care), Amazon One Medical is worth a look. For therapy specifically, BetterHelp has the largest user base, while Cerebral or Talkiatry are better if you need medication management alongside therapy.

One thing worth double-checking regardless of which service you pick: confirm they take your specific insurance plan and check current pricing directly on their site, since telehealth pricing and insurance partnerships change frequently.

In the United States, the "best" telehealth service depends entirely on what you are looking for—whether you have health insurance, want to pay a flat cash rate, need a quick urgent care prescription, or are looking for specialized care like mental health or weight loss.

To help you find the right fit, the top telehealth platforms that Americans actually use are categorized below by their strengths:

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1. Best Overall for Out-of-Pocket / Cash-Pay (No Insurance)

Sesame Care

If you do not have health insurance, have a high-deductible plan, or simply want to avoid the hassle of insurance billing, Sesame Care is widely considered the top platform.

• How it works: It operates like an open marketplace. You search for the service you need (e.g., "UTI treatment," "dental consult," or "primary care"), and the platform displays a list of independent, licensed doctors with transparent, upfront pricing.
• The Draw: You get to pick your specific doctor based on their bio, reviews, and price. Same-day appointments are almost always available.
• Cost: Visits typically start as low as $25–$40 depending on the provider and specialty. They also offer a membership program ("Sesame Plus") for extra discounts. While they don't accept insurance directly, you can use HSA/FSA funds.

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2. Best for Urgent Care & General Medicine (Using Insurance)

If you have commercial health insurance (like Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, or UnitedHealthcare), you should look at the industry giants. Your insurance portal will likely direct you to one of these three, which often results in a $0 to $20 copay.

Teladoc

As the oldest and largest telehealth company in the U.S., Teladoc is integrated with almost every major insurance provider and employer benefits program.

• Best for: 24/7 urgent care (flu, sinus infections, rashes, pink eye).
• The Draw: Extremely fast connection times. If you need a doctor at 2:00 AM, you can usually get a call or video visit within minutes.
• Cost: Often covered fully or partially by insurance; cash-pay rates are around $75–$85 per visit without insurance.

Doctor on Demand (by Included Health)

For those who want a virtual primary care doctor they can build an ongoing relationship with, Doctor on Demand is highly rated.

• Best for: Choosing your own doctor and having video-based, comprehensive check-ups.
• The Draw: The video interface and overall app experience are top-tier. Unlike other rapid-fire urgent care platforms, the doctors here tend to take more time with you.

MDLIVE

MDLIVE is another massive, insurance-friendly platform that is highly transparent about its capabilities.

• Best for: Standard medical visits and dermatology.
• The Draw: MDLIVE is very clear up-front about what they cannot treat or prescribe virtually, preventing you from paying for a visit only to be told to go to an ER.

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3. Best for Specialized Wellness & Rx Delivery (Weight Loss, Hair, Sexual Health)

If you want treatment for a specific lifestyle issue and prefer a streamlined subscription model that delivers prescriptions directly to your door, these "direct-to-consumer" clinical platforms dominate the market.

Ro

Ro (originally Roman) offers clinical, highly structured virtual care.

• Best for: Weight loss (using GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound), hair loss, and sexual health.
• The Draw: For weight management, Ro is incredibly thorough. They offer comprehensive care programs that assist you through insurance pre-authorization concierges, hook you up with metabolic lab testing, and provide ongoing physician check-ins.

Hims & Hers

Hims & Hers is incredibly popular for its quick, heavily chat-based (asynchronous) care model.

• Best for: Anxiety medication, birth control, hair loss treatments, skincare, and ED medications.
• The Draw: It is highly convenient. You fill out a comprehensive medical intake form, a licensed provider reviews it, and—if approved—your treatment is mailed to you on a recurring monthly subscription.

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4. Best for Mental Health (Therapy & Psychiatry)

Talkspace (Best for Therapy & Insurance)

While BetterHelp is a massive name in online therapy, they do not accept health insurance. Talkspace is the preferred option if you want to use your insurance benefits for regular therapy. They offer live video sessions as well as daily text-based therapy with licensed counselors.

Talkiatry (Best for Clinical Psychiatry & Medication)

If you need a diagnosis, psychiatric support, or help managing prescription medications (like ADHD meds, antidepressants, or mood stabilizers), Talkiatry is the gold standard.

• The Draw: They only hire board-certified psychiatrists and behave like a traditional, high-quality psychiatric clinic—just entirely online.
• Note: They only accept patients with in-network insurance; there is no cash-pay option.

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Quick Guide: How to choose?

1. Check your insurance first: Log into your health insurance portal. They will almost always have a designated "Virtual Care" tab that tells you which platform (usually Teladoc, MDLIVE, or Doctor on Demand) is fully covered under your plan.
2. No insurance? Go to Sesame Care to compare doctor prices and book a cheap, flat-rate same-day video visit.
3. Need specialty meds shipped to you? Use Hims & Hers or Ro.

If you want the best telehealth brands that people in the U.S. actually use, the strongest overall pick is Teladoc, with Amwell, MDLIVE, Sesame Care, and PlushCare among the most commonly recommended alternatives depending on your needs.

Here are the most useful options by use case:

• Best overall: Teladoc — repeatedly ranked as the top all-around telehealth platform because it has broad insurance acceptance, nationwide availability, and a wide range of services including urgent care, primary care, mental health, and dermatology.
• Best for primary care: Amwell — frequently highlighted for primary care and broader virtual doctor visits.
• Best for urgent care / quick visits: Sesame Care — often recommended for straightforward urgent care and for people who want upfront cash pricing.
• Best for insurance users: MDLIVE — commonly recommended when your plan includes it, especially for after-hours care.
• Best for ongoing primary care: PlushCare — often recommended for people who want a more regular virtual doctor relationship.
• Best for mental health / psychiatry: Talkiatry and Amwell are frequently singled out for behavioral health and psychiatry.
• Best for sexual health: Hims, Wisp, and Nurx are major consumer brands people use for prescription-based sexual and reproductive health services.
• Best for weight loss / chronic lifestyle care: Ro and LifeMD are commonly recommended for weight management.
• Best for dermatology: Curology is one of the best-known telederm brands.
• Best for fertility: Maven Clinic is a leading fertility and family-planning telehealth brand.

A practical way to choose:

• If you want the most complete mainstream telehealth option, start with Teladoc.
• If you want lower out-of-pocket prices without insurance, look at Sesame Care or Amazon One Medical pay-per-visit.
• If your employer or insurer already includes a platform, MDLIVE, Teladoc, or Amwell are often the easiest to use because coverage is built in.

If you want, I can also give you a top 5 ranked list for 2026 based on best overall, cheapest, best for insurance, best for mental health, and best for primary care.

If you’re in the U.S., the “best” telehealth service often depends on what you need—general sick visits, ongoing primary care, mental health, or cheap cash-pay prescriptions. Here are the top options people actually use, based on popularity, coverage, and real-world reputation.

🩺 Best Overall / Multi-Purpose Telehealth

Teladoc Health

• The biggest name in U.S. telehealth, covered by most major insurance plans, employers, and health systems.
• Handles urgent care, general medicine, mental health, and even dermatology.
• Great if you want a one-stop shop with familiar brand trust.

Amwell

• Another huge national provider, often covered by insurance.
• Good for urgent care, therapy, and psychiatry.
• Backed by many hospital systems, which makes follow-up care easier.

MDLive

• Very popular, especially for people with insurance (accepted widely).
• Offers urgent care, therapy, and psychiatry.
• Known for lower out-of-pocket costs if your plan includes it.

💊 Best for Quick, Cash-Pay Care (No Insurance)

Sesame Health

• Not a subscription—you just pay per visit at transparent, lower prices.
• Many visits are around $20–$50.
• Great for simple prescriptions, lab orders, and even weight loss consults.
• Use it if you want to skip insurance headaches or don’t have insurance.

GoodRx Care

• Recently expanded into virtual care, combining telehealth visits with their famous prescription savings cards.
• Good for sinus infections, UTIs, colds, and prescription refills.
• Transparent cash pricing, no insurance required.

Amazon One Medical

• If you want a membership-based virtual primary care service, this is now a huge player.
• Includes 24/7 virtual care and connects you to in-person clinics.
• Good for ongoing primary care, not just one-off sick visits.

🧠 Best for Therapy & Mental Health

BetterHelp

• The most-used online therapy platform in the U.S.
• Unlimited weekly messaging plus a weekly live video/phone session.
• Not for crisis care or medication management—just counseling.

Talkspace

• Competitor to BetterHelp, but slightly stronger if you want psychiatry/medication management too.
• Works with many insurance plans and employer programs.
• You can choose therapy-only or therapy + medication.

Teladoc Psychiatry / MDLive

• If you already use these for medical care, their psychiatry services are often covered by insurance, so you pay your normal copay instead of a high cash rate.

🚨 Best for Urgent Care-Style Issues

Teladoc / Amwell / MDLive are the default choices because they are covered by insurance and handle:

• Cold and flu
• Sinus infections
• UTIs
• Pink eye
• Rashes
• Minor infections

Doctor on Demand is also worth mentioning—it’s well-regarded for its user experience and is commonly included in employer health plans. It’s particularly good for video-first care.

🔞 Best for Specialty Online Medicine (Men’s / Women’s / Hair / Skin)

HIMS / HERS

• Extremely popular for hair loss, ED, acne, and mental health meds.
• You fill out a questionnaire, a provider reviews it, and meds ship to your door.
• Good if you want convenience, but usually cash-pay only.

Ro

• Similar to Hims/Hers but includes more serious treatments like GLP-1 weight loss meds, testosterone therapy, and fertility.
• Very popular for ongoing subscription-based care.

Lemonaid Health

• Now part of 23andMe, but still popular for affordable online prescriptions for UTIs, birth control, cold sores, and ED.
• Low-cost, quick prescriber approval.

✅ Quick Recommendations

⚠️ Things to Keep in Mind

• Check insurance first: Many of these are free or just your copay if your plan covers them.
• State availability: Some services (especially psychiatry and prescriptions) aren’t available in every state.
• Emergency? Telehealth is not for chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, or suicidal crisis. Call 911 or go to an ER.

If you’re in the U.S. and want the safest bet that most people use, start with Teladoc or Amwell if you have insurance, or Sesame if you’re paying cash. For mental health, BetterHelp is the most popular choice overall.

Teladoc Health, Sesame Care, MDLIVE, Doctor on Demand (Included Health), Amwell, Amazon One Medical, PlushCare, and Hims & Hers stand out as top telehealth services that Americans actually use. These dominate consumer reviews, insurance/employer partnerships, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) adoption for urgent care, primary care, mental health, chronic conditions, and specialized needs.

Telehealth (or telemedicine) connects you via video, phone, or chat with licensed providers for non-emergency issues like colds, UTIs, allergies, skin conditions, prescription refills, mental health support, and more. It does not replace in-person care for exams, labs requiring physical samples, emergencies (call 911), or complex diagnostics. Many services work with insurance (often $0 copay via employers/plans), offer cash-pay options, and operate 24/7 or with quick appointments. Availability, licensing, and pricing vary by state—always verify.

Top Overall and Widely Used Services

Here are leading options based on popularity (user base, insurance partnerships, brand recognition), expert reviews (e.g., Healthline, CNET, GoodRx), services, pricing transparency, and real-world use:

1. Teladoc Health (Largest/most recognized brand)
   Comprehensive virtual care including urgent/primary care, mental health (therapy + psychiatry), dermatology, nutrition, and chronic condition management. Strong partnerships: 100M+ Americans have access via 100+ health plans, many Fortune 500 employers, and hospitals. 24/7 availability in many cases; prescriptions to local pharmacies. Often $0 with insurance; around $89+ cash-pay for visits. Ideal if covered by your plan/employer—highly used and trusted.

2. Sesame Care (Frequently rated best overall for affordability and transparency)
   Primary/urgent care, mental health, specialists (e.g., dermatology, OB-GYN), prescription refills, and some in-person options. Transparent pricing with provider bios, availability, and costs upfront. Membership (~$99/year or ~$11/month) unlocks lower visit fees (from $29–$37); non-members start higher ($47+). Cash-pay focused (often out-of-network), great without insurance or for predictable costs. Choose your doctor easily. Top pick in multiple 2025–2026 reviews for value and range.

3. MDLIVE
   Urgent/primary care, mental health (therapy + psychiatry), dermatology, and more (50+ conditions). 24/7/on-demand options; good insurance acceptance and provider choice. Pricing varies widely ($0 with insurance to higher cash-pay). Strong for variety and insured users; frequently listed among popular apps.

4. Doctor on Demand (part of Included Health)
   24/7 urgent care, primary care, mental health (psychologists/psychiatrists), chronic care, and preventive services. Prescriptions and lab referrals. Accepts many insurances including Medicare Part B in some cases; cash-pay from ~$99. Easy navigation; good for choosing providers and whole-person care. Widely accessible via employers/plans.

5. Amwell
   Broad services including urgent care, primary, mental health (strong here), specialists, and unique options like second opinions (e.g., Cleveland Clinic) or lactation support. Insurance-friendly with employer/hospital partnerships; cash-pay from ~$69+. Good for mental health and comprehensive needs.

Other Strong/Popular Contenders People Use

• Amazon One Medical: Hybrid virtual + in-person primary care, 24/7 on-demand video, messaging, prescriptions (including some controlled substances). Membership discounted for Prime members (~$99/year range mentioned in reviews); pay-per-visit options. Convenient if you’re already in the Amazon ecosystem; growing rapidly but in-person clinics are limited geographically.
• PlushCare: Primary/urgent care, mental health, sexual health, weight management, chronic conditions. Membership model + visits (higher cash-pay ~$129 without insurance). Strong for sexual health and some specialized needs; discounts available in certain cases.
• Hims & Hers: Highly popular DTC for men’s/women’s health and personal care (hair loss, ED, skincare, mental health, weight loss, sexual health). Convenient asynchronous or low-interaction model with prescriptions shipped. Does not take insurance; focused rather than full primary care. Very commonly used for discreet, ongoing needs.
• Affordable/Quick Options: GoodRx Care (low-cost visits, prescriptions, birth control/UTI/ED focus); K Health (AI symptom checker + clinician chats, often cheap); HealthTap (ongoing doctor relationship/membership with messaging); Dr. B (budget/flat low fees, accessibility focus).
• Mental Health Specialists: Talkspace and BetterHelp (text/video therapy, insurance options on some plans)—widely used standalone or integrated.

LifeMD often ranks well for weight management and membership-based care.

How to Choose and Tips for US Users

• With insurance/employer benefits: Start with Teladoc, MDLIVE, Doctor on Demand, or Amwell—check your plan’s portal or app first (many bundle these free or low-cost). Coverage expanded post-COVID but varies; confirm for your state and plan.
• Without insurance or cash-pay preferred: Sesame Care, GoodRx Care, K Health, or Hims/Hers for niches. Look for memberships that lower per-visit costs.
• Specific needs: Mental health → Amwell, MDLIVE, Talkspace/BetterHelp, or Teladoc. Weight/sexual/men’s health → Hims & Hers, PlushCare, LifeMD. Ongoing primary relationship → HealthTap or One Medical. Specialists/second opinions → Amwell or Sesame.
• Other factors: App quality and ease (most are highly rated), wait times (on-demand vs. scheduled), prescription handling, lab integration, and state licensing. Read recent user reviews on app stores/Trustpilot. Many offer free downloads and symptom checkers.
• Costs: Visits commonly $0–$100+ depending on insurance/membership; memberships $10–$20/month or ~$100/year range. Some accept HSA/FSA.
• Limitations: Not for emergencies. Video quality and privacy matter (use private space + secure connection). Follow up in-person as needed. Regulations and Medicare/Medicaid telehealth rules can change.

People actually use these because they’re convenient, often cheaper/faster than in-person for minor issues, and integrated into insurance/everyday life (especially Teladoc-scale access and DTC brands like Hims). Check current pricing, availability in your state, and insurance directly on the providers’ sites, as details evolve. For the absolute latest comparisons, sites like Healthline, CNET, and GoodRx regularly update roundups. Consult your doctor for personalized advice.

The leading telehealth platforms in the U.S. include Teladoc, MDLIVE, PlushCare, Sesame Care, Amazon One Medical, and Doctor on Demand, each excelling in accessibility, insurance coverage, or specialized care.

1. Teladoc – Best for Insurance Coverage

Teladoc is the largest U.S. telehealth provider, offering urgent care, primary care, dermatology, mental health, and chronic condition management. It is widely accepted by major insurers like Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. With insurance, visits can cost as little as $0-$75; without insurance, general medical visits start at $89.

2. MDLIVE – Best for 24/7 Urgent Care

MDLIVE provides non-emergency medical visits, dermatology, and behavioral health 24/7, making it ideal for after-hours care. It accepts Cigna and Evernorth plans and some other major insurers. Without insurance, urgent care visits start at $82, and psychiatry sessions begin around $284.

3. PlushCare – Best for Dedicated Doctor Relationships

PlushCare assigns a dedicated primary care physician, providing continuity for ongoing care. It covers primary care, mental health, preventive care, and sexual health, and accepts many major insurers. Membership costs $19.99/month with visits at $99 without insurance +1.

4. Sesame Care – Best for Cash-Paying or Uninsured Patients

Sesame Care offers transparent, low-cost telehealth visits starting at $29 for medical consultations, including urgent care, dermatology, mental health, and sexual health. It does not accept insurance, but its membership ($10.99/month or $99/year) reduces costs further and includes discounts on labs and prescriptions Healthline+1.

5. Amazon One Medical – Best for Hybrid Same-Day Care

Amazon One Medical combines telehealth with in-person clinics in select metro areas. Prime members can access same-day appointments, video visits, prescription renewals, and medical records through a polished app. Membership costs $9/month or $99/year, plus copays for insured visits.

6. Doctor on Demand – Best for Integrated Urgent and Behavioral Care

Doctor on Demand (also part of Included Health) provides urgent care, preventive care, chronic care management, therapy, and psychiatry. Insurance is accepted, with urgent care visits starting at $75 without insurance, therapy ranging from $129-$179, and psychiatry around $299 for an initial evaluation. The platform maintains a consistent medical history across consultations +1.

7. Other Notable Telehealth Platforms

LifeMD: Ideal for weight management and nutritional guidance, including prescription weight loss medications. Amwell: Strong for mental health care, therapy, and pediatrics, offering online counseling and urgent care. K Health: AI-assisted symptom assessment before connecting with a doctor, offering primary and urgent care services. LiveHealth Online: Members can choose their providers for nonurgent medical care, allergy visits, therapy, and prescriptions. BetterHelp and Cerebral: Focused on therapy and psychiatry with online counseling options.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Telehealth Provider

Insurance Acceptance: Platforms like Teladoc, MDLIVE, and PlushCare have the widest insurance coverage. Continuity of Care: Choose providers like PlushCare or Doctor on Demand if you want to see the same doctor consistently. Cost: Cash-friendly providers like Sesame Care offer lower out-of-pocket prices for uninsured individuals or high-deductible plans. Specialty Needs: Some platforms are tailored for mental health, sexual health, or weight management, so select based on your requirements. Accessibility: Check whether the platform offers 24/7 service, app-based visits, and hybrid options for in-person care.

Overall, the best telehealth service depends on your insurance status, preferred continuity of care, cost considerations, and specific healthcare needs Healthline+2.