With this platform, your doctor reviews your medical history before connecting — making appointments more efficient.
Explore this practice if you want to access 24/7 appointments, and see dermatologists.
Choose something else if you need to connect to a doctor immediately.
How does MDLive work?
MDLive is a telehealth platform that offers 24/7 appointments with board-certified physicians across the US. The service is designed to handle non-emergency medical conditions, and its network includes doctors, specialists and mental health professionals.
You can access MDLive through its site or app, and book a video or phone consultation. You’ll only be charged a fee when you visit with a doctor.
MDLive guarantees you’ll be connected with a doctor in an hour or less, and the wait time for on-demand appointments is approximately 20 minutes. This allows doctors to review patients’ medical history before connecting.
How long does an appointment last?
A typical appointment is 10 to 15 minutes, but you can extend the visit if needed.
Specialist consultations can last up to 50 minutes.
Can I choose my doctor?
Yes. When you request an appointment, you’ll be able to choose a doctor from a list. The system will display each physician’s bio, credentials and whether they’re available for phone or video consultations.
You can opt to see a doctor as soon as possible, or schedule an appointment for the future.
What conditions can MDLive treat?
MDLive focuses on basic medical care as well as teletherapy, and it stands out for offering teledermatology services. The platform is meant to supplement your primary care provider (PCP) — not replace it.
Type of care
Examples of conditions
Medical care
Allergies
Asthma
Bronchitis
Cold and flu
COVID-19
Digestive issues, such as diarrhea and constipation
Ear infections
Fever
Headache
Joint aches and pain
Nausea
Pink eye
Sinus infections
UTIs
Vomiting
Dermatology
Acne
Alopecia
Cold sores
Eczema
Insect bites
Moles
Psoriasis
Rashes
Rosacea
Suspicious spots
Warts
Behavioral health
Addiction
Anxiety
Bipolar disorder
Grief and loss
LGBTQIA issues
Life transitions
Men’s issues
Panic disorders
Parenting issues
Postpartum depression
Relationship issues
Stress
Trauma and PTSD
Women’s issues
MDLive also offers psychiatric assessments and medication management.
Can my doctor order a lab test?
Yes. Lab tests are typically sent to your nearest LabCorp facility — but your doctor can arrange for your test to go to an alternative lab if necessary.
Can my doctor prescribe medication?
Yes. Your doctor may prescribe medication for you to pick up at your local pharmacy.
However, MDLive doctors aren’t allowed to write specific prescriptions, including:
Controlled substances, like ADHD medications and benzodiazepines
Substances with a high potential for abuse, such as muscle relaxants and pseudoephedrine
Stimulants, such as Adderall and Ritalin
Medical marijuana
Detox medications, like Subozone and Methadone
Erectile dysfunction, hair loss and weight loss medications
Injectable medications
Sleeping pills
What doesn’t MDLive treat?
MDLive’s doctors can’t treat serious or life threatening conditions, and some sexual health issues.
If you’re experiencing any of these situations, please see your PCP or call 911:
Medical emergencies, including sudden bleeding, chest pain and suicidal thoughts
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
UTIs in males, and UTIs in females under 18 years old
Active hallucinations or delusions
Moderate to severe autism
Substance use in active medical detox
The platform also isn’t suitable for these minors:
Children under three years old with a fever
Children under 12 years old with ear pain
Children under 10 years old with behavioral issues
What’s changed during COVID-19?
MDLive added a risk assessment feature to its platform, and your doctor can:
Screen you for COVID-19 by reviewing your symptoms
Advise you to self-quarantine, get a COVID-19 test or go to the emergency room
Write 90-day prescription refills for chronic conditions — a temporary increase from 30 days.
But MDLive doctors can’t order diagnostic or antibody tests, prescribe antiviral medication or write a note that excuses you from work or school.
MDLive charges a flat-rate fee per visit, and the cost varies depending on the type of care you need. If you have insurance, your plan may cover all or part of the fee.
Type of appointment
Fee
Medical care
$82
Dermatology
$75
Therapy
$108
Psychiatry
$284 for an initial consultation
$108 for a follow-up consultation
Can I use my FSA or HSA to pay for my MDLive visit?
Yes. You can pay for your visit with your Flexible Savings Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) debit card.
The platform also accepts most credit and debit cards.
Does MDLive accept insurance?
Yes. MDLive works with most major insurance companies, including:
Aetna
Blue Cross Shield
Cigna
Optima Health
UnitedHealthcare
Can I use MDLive if I don’t have health insurance?
MDLive is available nationwide. When you request an appointment, you’ll only be shown doctors who are fully licensed to practice medicine in your state.
Pros and cons of MDLive
Pros
No membership fees. You’ll only pay when you visit a doctor.
24/7 consultations. Doctors and mental health professionals are available around-the-clock and on demand.
Accessible services. The company offers phone consultations, and has a HIPAA-compliant live chat feature for hearing-impaired members.
Rigorous training for doctors. All physicians have to undergo training with the American Telemedicine Association and National Committee for Quality Assurance. Plus, doctors have an average of 15 years’ experience in their field.
Cons
Video visits required for prescriptions. MDLive doesn’t support automatic prescription refills.
Longer wait times. While the platform guarantees you’ll see a doctor within an hour, the average wait time is around 20 minutes — so it’s not ideal for urgent care needs.
Compare alternatives to MDLive
MDLive reviews and complaints
MDLive has been in business for a decade, and accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2015. It holds an A- rating for its customer interaction. The BBB has recorded 65 complaints against the business in the past three years, most of which had to do with billing issues and rushed appointments. Customers award the platform 1 out of 5 stars based on over 20 reviews.
On TrustPilot, MDLive has 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 8,000 reviews. Customers were overwhelmingly positive, commenting on quick wait times and professional, courteous doctors.
How to sign up for MDLive
You can create an account online, on the iPhone or Android app or by calling 888-632-2738.
Online is the most seamless way. These are the steps:
Go to MDLive’s site.
Click Register.
Type in your personal and contact details, and click Continue.
Select your location, gender and date of birth.
Enter your health insurance information, if you have it.
Provide details about your personal and family medical history, and choose a pharmacy.
Once your account is active, you’ll be able to browse doctor profiles and view available appointments.
Can I access MDLive through my employer?
The platform claims 40 million people have access to MDLive through their employers. To find out if a membership is part of your health insurance package, read through your benefit documents or speak to your HR department.
If your workplace participates, your employer will subsidize or cover the cost of visiting a doctor through MDLive.
Frequently asked questions about MDLive
You need to cancel a scheduled appointment 12 hours in advance to avoid being charged.
MDLive will process your payment once you confirm your doctor and appointment time.
If you have questions, here’s how you can reach the team:
Phone. Call 800-400-6354, or 800-632-2738 if you’re already a member.
Email. Send a message via the Contact Us page.
Social. Contact the company via Facebook or Twitter.
In Arkansas and Idaho, you must book a video call for your initial visit — but after that, you can choose to speak to doctors over the phone.
In all other states, you can opt for video consultations at any time.
Yes. Your doctor will upload the notes from your visit to your online portal, and you can choose to share them with your PCP if you wish.
Katia Iervasi is a staff writer who hails from Australia and now calls New York home. Her writing and analysis has been featured on sites like Forbes, Best Company and Financial Advisor around the world. Armed with a BA in Communication and a journalistic eye for detail, she navigates insurance and finance topics for Finder, so you can splash your cash smartly (and be a pro when the subject pops up at dinner parties).
Expert review
As a telemedicine platform, MDLive offers 24/7 appointments with doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists. It also has dedicated dermatologists on staff to virtually treat conditions like acne, rosacea and skin spots.
The service charges a flat fee for each visit, and partners with major health insurance companies. It also stands out for requiring doctors to review your medical history before hopping on a virtual call — which means there’s less wasted time during appointments.
MDLive is ideal when you don’t want or need to see your PCP, or when you’re traveling and in need of medical care. But doctors can’t order COVID-19 tests, and you’ll need to book a consultation for prescription refills.
At Finder, we value and respect our editorial independence. We keep our reviews completely factual so you can use them to make better decisions. While we may receive revenue and referral fees from advertising and affiliate links, advertisers do not approve our reviews.
As a telemedicine platform, MDLive offers 24/7 appointments with doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists. It also has dedicated dermatologists on staff to virtually treat conditions like acne, rosacea and skin spots.
The service charges a flat fee for each visit, and partners with major health insurance companies. It also stands out for requiring doctors to review your medical history before hopping on a virtual call — which means there’s less wasted time during appointments.
MDLive is ideal when you don’t want or need to see your PCP, or when you’re traveling and in need of medical care. But doctors can’t order COVID-19 tests, and you’ll need to book a consultation for prescription refills.
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