Choosing telehealth
How to Compare Telehealth Costs Before You Book
This guide is published by YourMD about choosing care and using its services. It is not an independent ranking of telehealth companies.
Compare the total cost over the same period, not just the advertised starting price. A consultation fee, a monthly care program, and a medication purchase may pay for different things. Ask what is included and which charges continue.
Use the same time period for every comparison
A one-time visit and a recurring program cannot be compared fairly by their headline prices alone. For a single concern, ask for the expected charges for the visit and any follow-up. For ongoing treatment, compare a full month and then several months, including renewal terms. Neither format is automatically less expensive; the answer depends on the care and inclusions.
| Cost category | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Initial evaluation | Is it a separate visit charge or included in the selected program? |
| Ongoing care | Does the price recur, and which follow-up services does it cover? |
| Medication | Is medication included? Who charges for it, and can the cost vary with product or dose? |
| Testing and outside care | Are labs, imaging, and specialist services separate? |
| Changes and cancellation | When does the next charge occur, how do you cancel, and what refund policy applies? |
A simple example of why the headline can mislead
Suppose a hypothetical program costs $80 for the month, the pharmacy charges $200 for medication, and a lab charges $40. That month's combined cost is $320. A $250 program that includes medication could cost less, but only if it provides the services you need and its other charges are known. These are illustrative numbers, not YourMD prices or competitor quotes.
How to compare YourMD's program costs
Use the YourMD care guide and treatment catalog for current starting prices and plan details. Confirm the price and inclusions for your selected plan before enrolling.
For YourMD GLP-1 programs, the physician membership and medication are separate costs. The dispensing pharmacy bills for medication. Other programs include medication only when the selected plan expressly says so. Labs, imaging, and outside specialist services are separate unless specifically included. General telehealth visits have separate pricing from treatment programs.
Before enrolling, check the actual selected plan, its billing frequency, what its initial evaluation includes, and its ongoing services. A starting price is not a personalized quote or a promise that a clinician will prescribe medication.
If you plan to use insurance, verify the exact service
Do not treat a general statement about telehealth coverage as confirmation that a particular practice, clinician, visit, medication, or membership is covered. Ask the practice and your insurer about the service you intend to use and your expected share of its cost. HHS explains that telehealth costs vary with the provider and coverage.
If the answers differ between a directory and a checkout page, pause and ask the practice to clarify before paying. For YourMD, contact support with the plan or visit you are considering; share medical information through the secure intake or patient portal.