Telehealth
Need to Get a Prescription Online? Here’s How Telemedicine Can Help
Telemedicine helps you access healthcare easier. It lets you have a medical visit and get a prescription online without needing to see a healthcare professional in person.
With telemedicine, an online healthcare professional can review your medical history, check your symptoms, and provide treatment. This makes getting a prescription much easier.
Telemedicine can help in many situations, like if you need antibiotics for a minor illness or a prescription refill for a chronic condition.
For many conditions, telemedicine can make getting care a lot faster and easier. Telemedicine helps you compare treatment prices, find a healthcare professional, and schedule an appointment — all from the comfort of your own home. It also lets you get an online prescription (e-prescription) quickly, without having to go visit your primary care provider. This applies to mental health concerns, acne, birth control, antibiotics, or refills for a chronic condition.
With so many telemedicine services out there, it’s worth knowing your options and whether telemedicine can treat your specific health needs. We’ll look at the advantages of telemedicine and how online prescribing works. We’ll also review some of the more common telemedicine healthcare professionals and the services they provide.
There are quite a few reasons you may want to use telemedicine. Here are some of the potential benefits of telemedicine compared to a traditional visit.
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One reason to choose a virtual healthcare visit is convenience. If you’re coming down with something and don’t want to leave your bed, a quick call or video chat with a healthcare professional is easy.
Even for routine prescriptions, you can save time, gas, or public transportation costs by skipping a trip to the doctor’s office. Telemedicine is also a good option if you can’t take time off work or school or if you need childcare.
In the past, telemedicine typically offered care for general health concerns (much like a primary care physician). Today, many platforms provide routine treatments and specialized care for most areas, including:
Behavioral health
Sexual health, like erectile dysfunction
Dermatology
Preventive care
Chronic conditions
Physical therapy (PT)
Many platforms have also partnered with local labs to offer convenient and affordable tests and screenings.
Telemedicine services match you with a board-certified healthcare professional. This saves you the hassle of searching for an in-network provider who is accepting new patients and is close to you. It makes it easy to get exactly the type of medical attention you need — and when you need it.
A telemedicine visit is likely to save you some money. But the cost will vary depending on which medical services you’re looking for. A 10-minute general consultation for common issues — like cold or flu, cold sores, or a urinary tract infection (UTI) — starts at around $15. A 45-minute psychiatric consultation can cost about $250.
Looking for ways to save on healthcare costs? Our personal finance expert shares tips on how to afford prescriptions and more.
Got an upcoming appointment? Preparing for an online telemedicine appointment is similar to getting ready for an in-person visit. Here’s what to know.
Need to transfer a prescription to a new pharmacy? We’ve got you covered with these simple steps to get your medication when you need it, and at a price you can afford.
Many telemedicine professionals accept insurance or partner with employers to offer lower fees, either as a copay or a subsidized fee. Even healthcare professionals who don’t accept insurance may be more affordable than your insurance copay for an in-person visit.
Most private insurance plans cover telemedicine visits. Before making an appointment, check with your insurance company about coverage and whether prior approval is required.
Medicare and Medicaid have also expanded telemedicine coverage since the COVID-19 pandemic. Medicare pays for telemedicine visits with several types of healthcare professionals (though rules may change). Medicaid coverage for telemedicine varies by state.
Along with a healthcare professional, many telemedicine platforms will pair you with a care coordinator or care team to make sure you have a good experience. Even before your virtual visit, they can help gather basic information, like your:
Photo ID
Insurance details
Pharmacy preferences
Medical history
They may also follow up to see how your treatment is going. And they may even help you find cost-saving medication options, with or without insurance.
It depends. In some cases, you can get a prescription online without seeing a healthcare professional in person. But not all health issues can — or should — be addressed online. Each state has its own laws about this. They set what can be prescribed without an in-person appointment or an established relationship with a healthcare professional.
Many healthcare professionals see telemedicine as a low-risk option for certain routine treatments. In many cases, you can get routine medications or antibiotics without seeing a healthcare professional in person. This is especially true if you have a condition that isn’t life-threatening, like:
If you already have an active prescription and just need a refill, you may not need to see a healthcare professional. Many telemedicine platforms have clinical staff who can help you without a virtual appointment.
Some telemedicine services may even help you transfer existing prescriptions to their platform. This helps you to avoid a fee for a new consultation. It’s often easier for refills of ongoing treatments, like:
There are a lot of telemedicine companies out there. Here’s an example of what’s available. Each of the services below are available on iPhones, Android devices, and desktop computers.
As with medication prices, it’s important to shop around to find a service that fits your budget and needs.
Website | Services | Consultation fee starts at | Accepts insurance | Open 24/7 | Available in all states |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GoodRx Care | General health, women’s health, men’s health, behavioral health, mental health, sexual health, dermatology, prescription refills | No | No | Yes | |
Lemonaid | General health, women’s health, men’s health, behavioral health, mental health, sexual health, dermatology, labs and screenings | No | No | Yes | |
Maven Clinic (women and their children only) | General health, women’s health, behavioral health, mental health, family planning, pregnancy and postpartum, pediatrics, physical therapy | No | Yes | Yes | |
MDLIVE | General health, dermatology, behavioral health, mental health, urgent care | $89 (or less, depending on insurance) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Doctor On Demand | General health, women’s health, men’s health, chronic care management, behavioral health, mental health, diet and nutrition, preventive care, urgent care, labs and screenings | $99 (or less, depending on insurance) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Teladoc | General health, dermatology, sexual health, behavioral health, mental health, pediatrics, diet and nutrition, back care, medical expert second opinion | $89 (or less, depending on insurance) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Nurx | Women’s health, sexual health, mental health, dermatology, | $15 (or less, depending on insurance) | Yes | No | No |
Ro | Men’s health, sexual health, skin care, supplements | $0 (for some consultations; prices vary for medications) | No | No | No |
Trying to figure out which telehealth platform is right for you can be confusing. Each company offers different services, prices, and states where they operate. Not all of them accept insurance.
GoodRx Care makes it easier to understand your options. You can compare trusted telemedicine companies and browse over 100 offerings by treatment or lab test type. For even more benefits, like free medication delivery and affordable scripts, consider trying GoodRx Gold.
Yes, you may be able to get a same-day prescription after meeting with an online healthcare professional. For a new prescription, they’ll first review your medical history and current symptoms. If you’ve already been working with a specific online service, the healthcare professional may be able to give you a prescription over the phone. Some telehealth prescriptions can be mailed to you, while others must be picked up at your regular pharmacy.
You can expect a telehealth appointment to follow many of the same steps as an in-person visit. You’ll need to provide information about your medical history, current symptoms, and any medications you’re taking. It may help to write down any questions ahead of time so you don’t forget them. Since telehealth relies on technology, make sure your device and connection are working well.
Yes, you can get an online prescription for medications to treat a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. But not all telemedicine services provide this option, so make sure to confirm with the service provider before booking an appointment.
There are some limitations to the prescriptions you can get online from a telemedicine healthcare professional. For example, not all online healthcare professionals can prescribe controlled substances. But there’s an option for telemedicine practitioners to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) if they meet certain criteria, which allows them to prescribe controlled substances.
Yes, you may be able to get a same-day prescription after meeting with an online healthcare professional. For a new prescription, they’ll first review your medical history and current symptoms. If you’ve already been working with a specific online service, the healthcare professional may be able to give you a prescription over the phone. Some telehealth prescriptions can be mailed to you, while others must be picked up at your regular pharmacy.
You can expect a telehealth appointment to follow many of the same steps as an in-person visit. You’ll need to provide information about your medical history, current symptoms, and any medications you’re taking. It may help to write down any questions ahead of time so you don’t forget them. Since telehealth relies on technology, make sure your device and connection are working well.
Yes, you can get an online prescription for medications to treat a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. But not all telemedicine services provide this option, so make sure to confirm with the service provider before booking an appointment.
There are some limitations to the prescriptions you can get online from a telemedicine healthcare professional. For example, not all online healthcare professionals can prescribe controlled substances. But there’s an option for telemedicine practitioners to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) if they meet certain criteria, which allows them to prescribe controlled substances.
Telemedicine is one option for getting easy access to healthcare. It allows you to get online prescriptions for minor illnesses or refills for ongoing conditions. There are lots of telehealth companies to choose from. Check out their costs, the states they serve, and the services they offer to find the one that works best for you.
Marso, A. (2025). Medicare proposed rule includes changes to telehealth coverage. Getting Paid: A Blog from FPM Journal.
Telehealth.HHS.gov. (2024). Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth.
Weigel, G., et al. (2020). Opportunities and barriers for telemedicine in the U.S. during the COVID-19 emergency and beyond. Kaiser Family Foundation.
