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Teladoc is a virtual clinic offering telemedicine appointments with a network of licensed, board-certified doctors, dermatologists and mental health professionals. Launched in 2002, it’s open to US and Canadian residents and consults are available 24/7.
To use the app, you need to become a member — but Teladoc doesn’t charge subscription fees. You only pay a flat fee when you speak to a doctor, and your health insurance plan might pick up the tab.
There are no time limits on appointments. However, most medical consults last 15 minutes or less, and the average mental health visit is 45 minutes.
Yes. You can select a doctor from a list of licensed providers in your state and view their availability.
If you book an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist, you can opt to see the same one for all future visits.
Teladoc offers urgent, routine and basic specialist care, and the services you can access come down to your health insurance plan or employer.
For a full list, refer to the welcome letter you received in the mail or call 800-835-2362.
| Type of care | Examples of conditions |
|---|---|
| Urgent care |
|
| Preventive and routine care |
|
| Dermatology |
|
| Behavioral and mental health teletherapy |
|
| Medication |
|
| Wellness |
|
| STD testing | Teladoc partners with STDCheck to offer confidential STD lab tests, and you can expect results within three business days. |
| Medical experts | If you need an opinion — or second opinion — about a diagnosis or treatment, Teladoc can connect you to a network of specialists. The database includes specialists who can advise on sports injuries, pregnancy complications, chronic diseases and rare conditions.
You can request this service by tapping the Find a Doctor button on the app. |
Your doctor can only order a sexual health test, which is administered through STDCheck.
You need to go to a local lab for a specimen draw. This typically takes 15 minutes, and you receive an email when your results are ready on the STDCheck system. If your test results are positive, you can request a consultation with a STDCheck doctor, who can write you a prescription or advise you on the next steps.
Yes — your doctor can prescribe medication for you to pick up at your local pharmacy. But they can’t prescribe controlled substances or non-therapeutic drugs for long-term use.
These include:
Teladoc isn’t suitable for medical emergencies or long-term treatment of chronic conditions. It’s meant to supplement your primary care provider (PCP) — not replace it.
If you’re experiencing any of these illnesses or conditions, you need to see a doctor in person or go to the hospital:
Not much. Since Teladoc’s lab testing is limited, doctors can only assess your symptoms and advise you on the next steps.
This may involve self-quarantining or getting a diagnostic test, and your doctor can help you find your nearest testing location.
The amount you pay depends on your health insurance plan. But if you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover Teladoc, you can expect to be charged a flat fee per visit.
| Type of appointment | Fee |
|---|---|
| Medical |
|
| Dermatology |
|
| Psychology |
|
| Psychiatry |
|
Yes. You can pay for your visit with your Flexible Savings Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) debit card.
The app also accepts all major debit and credit cards, as well as PayPal.
Yes. Teladoc works with over 40 health insurance companies, including Aetna, Anthem, BCBS and United Healthcare. It also accepts many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans.
To find out if your insurance applies, fill out the Registration Form on the website or call your health insurance provider.
Teladoc is available nationwide. When you request a telemedicine appointment, the app asks for your location and only connects you to providers who are licensed in your state.
The app is compatible with Android devices 5.0 and up, as well as the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. It requires iOS 10.0 or later.
Teladoc isn’t accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but the agency gives it an F rating for its failure to respond to nearly 30 customer complaints. Most of the complaints have to do with billing or collection issues, such as surprise insurance bills in the mail.
Customers award the company 1.27 out of 5 stars, and it’s clear Teladoc could improve on its transparency and communication.
The app has 4.8 out of 5 stars on the App Store based on over 270,000 reviews, and 4.5 stars on Google Play based on nearly 37,000 reviews. On forums like AppGroove, customers say Teladoc is user-friendly. But they mention doctors call from unlisted numbers, and the app’s filters could be better.
But Teladoc can’t replace my primary care physician, and it definitely can’t replace specialists. When I wanted to make changes to my long-term treatment plan, I made an appointment with my pulmonologist. He knows my medical history and the ins and outs of my specific type of asthma and can order crucial tests and do a physical exam. Plus I trust that he’s up-to-date on the most recent research, something I don’t know enough about any Teladoc to confirm. I love the Teladoc service as a supplement to my health care — but it’s not a replacement for my doctor.”
“I used Teladoc during a dental emergency when I couldn’t get in touch with my dentist’s office. Once I was logged in, it was a matter of minutes before I was on the phone with a doctor. They quickly wrote me a prescription for what I needed — but gave me some medical advice that contradicted what my dentist had told me.
I’d use it again in a heartbeat for something that’s very straightforward, but it’s no replacement for an in-person checkup. Especially when you’re not sure what’s wrong.”
You need to set up an account before you can see a physician. Follow these steps:
Many employers offer a Teladoc membership as part of their health benefits. To find out if your workplace participates, read through your benefit documents or speak to your HR department.
Once you’ve registered, you can start booking appointments.
When you need to see a doctor, tap Request a Visit on the home screen. You need to update your medical history, select your preferred pharmacy and pay for your visit — if applicable — before entering the waiting room.
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).
Teladoc was ahead of the telemedicine game when it launched in 2002, and it’s still a leader in the space. It offers urgent and routine care, as well as mental health and wellness services and expert medical opinions — which is rare. There are no subscription fees, and you can add various family members to your account.
However, doctors can’t order most lab tests, including COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody tests. And dermatology visits take place entirely on the app’s messaging platform.
Teladoc accepts most health insurance plans. But if you’re not covered, compare membership medicine apps.
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