How do online primary care visits work?

Most services start with a brief intake. You then schedule a virtual visit where a licensed clinician reviews your history, answers questions, and can order labs or prescriptions when medically appropriate.

Can these providers manage chronic conditions?

Yes. Chronic issues like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol can often be managed remotely with regular follow-ups, lab monitoring, and medication adjustments.

Do I need insurance to use these services?

Programs like Sesame Care offer cash pay visits with transparent pricing, while MDVIP and Tuyo Health can coordinate with insurance for prescriptions or specialist referrals.

How to Choose a Telehealth Provider: A Practical Evaluation Guide

The telehealth market has exploded in size and variety since 2020. There are now hundreds of platforms offering everything from urgent care to complex specialty programs. Choosing the right one requires knowing what factors actually matter for the quality and safety of your care — not just which platform has the best branding or the lowest advertised price.

Core Principle: The most important question about any telehealth provider is not "how much does it cost?" but "who is providing my care, what are their credentials, and what happens if something goes wrong?" Legitimate telehealth care is supervised by licensed clinicians operating within appropriate state licensure.

Step 1: Match the Platform to Your Need

Telehealth platforms specialize. Choosing a general urgent care platform for a specialty condition (like hormonal health or psychiatric medication management) often means receiving less expert care. Match your care need to a platform built for it:

Minor acute illness: General telehealth (Teladoc, MDLive, Amazon Clinic)
Mental health: Dedicated mental health platforms (BetterHelp, Talkspace, Brightside)
Specialty programs (weight loss, TRT, HRT, ED): Condition-specific telehealth providers
Primary care: Direct primary care membership models or general telehealth with PCP services
Pediatrics: Pediatric-focused telehealth

Step 2: Verify Clinician Credentials

Any telehealth platform providing medical care must employ licensed clinicians. Verify:

Are prescriptions written by licensed MDs, DOs, NPs, or PAs? Look for this information clearly stated on the platform.
Are clinicians licensed in your state? Telehealth prescribing requires state licensure in most states.
For specialty care: do clinicians have relevant specialty training? (e.g., board-certified dermatologists for skin conditions, endocrinologists for hormonal programs)
Avoid platforms that are vague about who is providing clinical oversight or use non-clinician "health coaches" as the primary point of contact for prescription services.

Step 3: Evaluate the Intake Process

A responsible telehealth intake process is thorough — not frictionless to the point of being perfunctory. Signs of a quality intake:

Comprehensive health history questionnaire covering medications, allergies, relevant conditions, and contraindications
Clear explanation of what is and is not treatable via telehealth
Lab requirements where clinically appropriate
Identity verification (for controlled substances and certain medications)

Red flag: intake that takes 60 seconds and asks only basic demographic information before prescribing.

Step 4: Understand the Follow-Up Structure

One-time prescriptions without follow-up are appropriate for some conditions (a single antibiotic course for a UTI) and inappropriate for others (ongoing hormone therapy, psychiatric medications, GLP-1 weight loss programs). For any ongoing prescription program, confirm:

What is the follow-up schedule?
How do you reach a clinician with questions between scheduled visits?
What happens if you experience a side effect or your condition changes?

Step 5: Assess Cost Structure

Is pricing transparent and all-in, or are there surprise fees for consultations, labs, or follow-ups?
What is the cancellation policy and minimum commitment?
Does the platform accept insurance, and if so, are they in-network with your plan?

Red Flags to Avoid

Prescribing controlled substances (stimulants, benzodiazepines, opioids) without a live consultation
No verifiable state licensure for prescribing clinicians
No clinician credentials visible on the platform
Instant approval for medications that normally require comprehensive evaluation
No lab requirements for programs that clinically require them (TRT, HRT, GLP-1)
No clear escalation path for urgent concerns

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I verify a telehealth platform is legitimate?

Look for state licensure disclosure, named clinicians with verifiable credentials, clear prescribing policies, and physical business address information. Legitimate telehealth companies operate transparently about who provides care and where they are licensed.

Can I use telehealth as my only source of medical care?

Telehealth can handle a significant portion of routine and chronic care, but most adults benefit from having an in-person primary care relationship for physical exams, preventive screenings, and conditions requiring hands-on evaluation. Telehealth works best as a complement to in-person care rather than a complete replacement.

Compare Telehealth Providers →

Find a Telehealth Provider You Can Trust

Our comparison evaluates telehealth platforms on clinician credentials, intake quality, follow-up structure, and cost transparency — giving you the information to choose care you can rely on.