Woman on laptop making telemedicine appointment with no insurance

Telemedicine appointment with no insurance: how it works

Written on December 21, 2022 by Sendra Yang, PharmD, MBA. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.

Table of contents

What is telemedicine?

If you have heard the word telemedicine being thrown around, you might be wondering what exactly it is. Telemedicine is a part of telehealth, which is a broader term [1,2]. Many times, these two terms are used interchangeably.

Telemedicine is not as mysterious as it sounds. Telemedicine lets your healthcare provider care for you remotely without being physically in the same office [1-4]. The concept of telemedicine is not new and has been around for years. Advances in telecommunication technology have made telemedicine accessible to everyone with internet access and a computer or a smartphone. The use of broadband internet has significantly improved the quality of virtual audio and video calls.

Cost of telemedicine appointment with no insurance

Many insurance providers, including Medicaid and some private insurers, help cover the costs of telemedicine appointments [3]. Different states may allow for differences in coverage types, and you will have to check with your insurance provider.

However, if you have no insurance and are seeking medical care, it can be highly complicated and expensive [3,4]. But with the expansion of telemedicine and telehealth, you can still get great affordable health care with no insurance.

Similar to traditional in-person office visits, the cost of care may vary [4]. With a simple Google search, you can find various telemedicine services that will fit your budget [5]. There are multiple services for telemedicine that you may use without insurance. Telehealth or telemedicine appointments offer a competitive and reasonable out-of-pocket option for remote virtual care if you have no insurance.

After signing up and registering, you can see a healthcare provider when it is most convenient for you. Healthcare providers can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications when necessary.

Factors affecting telemedicine cost

Various factors can affect the cost of your telemedicine appointment. These include [3,4]:

  • Length of telemedicine appointment. The amount of time you can spend with the healthcare provider during the virtual visit is factored into the cost. Most of the time, the more time you spend with a provider, the higher the price.
  • Services that are needed during telemedicine visits. The type of care or service you require during the virtual visit also determines how much it will cost. If you are seeing a healthcare provider for a cold, it could cost less than if you are seen for a skin disorder. If your condition is more severe and requires testing, it could also cost more.
  • The platform that offers telemedicine services. Shopping around to see the options and platforms available for telemedicine visits also helps you find the most affordable care.
  • Type of providers or specialists and availability. For general primary care or common illnesses, the cost is typically less. It usually costs more if you require seeing a more specialized healthcare provider for the care you need.
  • Health insurance coverage. You will have to check with your provider to see if they help cover the cost of a telemedicine visit. If you do not have health insurance, you can still use telemedicine to see a healthcare provider; you just have to pay the total cost.

Benefits of telemedicine

Telemedicine cannot replace in-person clinic visits but can complement patient care to provide non-emergency medical consultations. Some benefits can include [1,3,4]:

  1. Getting prompt medical care if you live in a rural area of the country or a small town without specialty medical clinics.
  2. Getting health care in the comfort of your home or office without taking a day off.
  3. Prompt appointments so you can avoid long wait times at the clinic.
  4. A reduced need for making arrangements for specialized vehicle transportation if a loved one is handicapped or disabled.
  5. Communicating with your healthcare provider electronically with the history and details of your medical care.
  6. Being provided 24/7 virtual care any time, day or night, depending on the clinic.

Although telemedicine may not provide you with the same experience as an in-person office visit, telemedicine can remove a lot of the barriers to consulting with your healthcare provider.

How Everlywell can help

Everlywell can help you with access to telemedicine through a Virtual Care Visit, with or without insurance. Schedule your appointment and determine your coverage eligibility by visiting Everlywell's option for online telehealth. Telehealth via Everlywell lets you speak with a qualified healthcare provider based on your availability from the comfort of your home through a remote video call.

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References

  1. Health Resources and Services Administration. What is telehealth? Telehealth.HHS.gov. Last updated June 29, 2022. Accessed December 14, 2022. URL
  2. MedlinePlus. Telehealth. Last updated May 4, 2020. Accessed December 14, 2022. URL
  3. National Institutes of Health. Telehealth: What is it, how to prepare, is it covered? National Institute on Aging. Last reviewed August 26, 2020. Accessed December 14, 2022. URL
  4. Rehm J. Telemedicine: The cost-effective future of healthcare. AJMC. December 6, 2016. Accessed December 14, 2022. URL
  5. Health Resources and Services Administration. Finding telehealth options. Telehealth.HHS.gov. Last updated June 29, 2022. Accessed December 14, 2022. URL.
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