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.
A typical appointment is 10 to 15 minutes, but you can extend the visit if needed.
Specialist consultations can last up to 50 minutes.
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.
| Type of care | Examples of conditions |
|---|---|
| Medical care |
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| Dermatology |
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| Behavioral health |
MDLive also offers psychiatric assessments and medication management. |
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.
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:
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:
The platform also isn’t suitable for these minors:
MDLive added a risk assessment feature to its platform, and your doctor can:
But MDLive doctors can’t order diagnostic or antibody tests, prescribe antiviral medication or write a note that excuses you from work or school.
Does health insurance cover the coronavirus?
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 |
|
| Dermatology |
|
| Therapy |
|
| Psychiatry |
|
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.
Yes. MDLive works with most major insurance companies, including:
Yes. You can sign up for the platform and pay for telehealth visits out of pocket.
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.
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.
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:
Once your account is active, you’ll be able to browse doctor profiles and view available appointments.
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.
Review by
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).
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.
