Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. MDLIVE board-certified pediatricians are available in nearly every state. If a pediatrician is not available in your state, you can choose from family practice doctors who specialize in caring for children.
Dermatologists can care for most common skin, hair, and nail issues by seeing photos and a description of the condition. You will answer a few basic questions, provide a brief medical history, describe your symptoms, and upload photos of the condition you are seeking treatment for. Within 72 hours – and usually within 24 hours – you are notified of your diagnosis and treatment plan from a board-certified dermatologist. Prescriptions, if appropriate, will be sent to your local pharmacy.
In addition, you may submit a message to your dermatologist for up to 30 days after your appointment through the portal if you have an additional question or comment – at no additional cost.
MDLIVE doctors are board-certified, state-licensed, and have an average of 15+ years of experience. Our national network of family doctors, internists, and pediatricians provides trusted, reliable care for more than 80 non-emergency medical conditions like flu, sinus infections, pink eye, ear pain, and UTIs.
Primary Care is convenient care through a full suite of primary care services, including preventive care with wellness screenings and routine care for everyday health needs and ongoing conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, thyroid conditions, and asthma.
Primary Care gives you access to board-certified doctors via phone or video from almost anywhere with fast, flexible appointments that fit into your busy schedule. Convenient evening and weekend appointments are available.
MDLIVE provides fast and easy appointment scheduling. Convenient times are available, including evenings and weekends, so you can schedule an appointment as soon as possible with a date and time that works for you. Have your first therapy appointment in a week or less compared to the weeks or months it takes to schedule an in-person visit.
Because not all plans include primary care benefits, the easiest way to determine if MDLIVE Primary Care is included in your plan is to create a secure MDLIVE account. You can view your copay upfront, so there are no surprise costs.1
- 1If you have a non-zero preventive benefit, MDLIVE wellness screenings will not cost $0 and will follow your preventive benefit.
MDLIVE dermatologists are trained to diagnose and treat over 3,000 medical conditions affecting the skin, hair, and nails. Some of the most commonly treated conditions include but are not limited to acne, dermatitis, eczema, folliculitis, psoriasis, rosacea, and more.
Therapists are licensed providers who can evaluate and support people with emotional or behavioral health concerns through talk therapy. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who primarily diagnose psychiatric conditions and can prescribe medication.
MDLIVE provides on-demand care for illnesses and injuries, so you can talk to a doctor in 15 minutes or less. Or, you can schedule an appointment at a time that works best for you. Whether it's in the middle of the night, after hours, or a holiday, MDLIVE Urgent Care is available 24/7/365.
MDLIVE visits are available to children of all ages, from infants to teenagers.
MDLIVE does not provide care for children:
- under two months old with eye issues
- under three months old with a fever
- under three with ear pain
- under 12 years old with cold sores (herpes labialis)
- under 18 with a UTI (females only)
- under 18 for virtual primary care
Our doctors can evaluate ear pain but cannot prescribe antibiotics for ear infections in children under 12. Antibiotics may be needed for severe bacterial ear infections, requiring in-person care.
Sophie, the MDLIVE chatbot, will guide you through a brief triage process before you request a visit for your child. If an urgent care appointment is not appropriate for your child's symptoms, you'll be directed to in-person care.
Yes, you always choose your therapist or doctor and can see the same one each time if you want. We encourage you to build an ongoing relationship with your therapist or psychiatrist, just as you would during an in-person visit – or you can change at any time. MDLIVE provides a broad network of licensed therapists and board-certified psychiatrists. Our directory is easy to navigate and gives additional information about each provider that helps you find the right fit.
MDLIVE Urgent Care is an affordable alternative to urgent care clinics. Your cost will vary depending on your insurance coverage. Pricing is provided upfront, so there are no surprise costs.
A Wellness Screening is a once-per-year preventive care appointment designed to identify potential health issues, examine your lifestyle and health goals, develop a personalized wellness plan, and recommend follow-up care if necessary.
Dermatology is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, even on holidays. Dermatology is a convenient alternative to commuting to a dermatologist's office and helps avoid a lengthy wait for an in-office appointment.
Our doctors treat more than 100,000 children every year and can help with more than 80 common conditions, including:
- Allergies
- Cold & Flu
- Ear Pain
- Headache
- Insect Bites
- Pink Eye
- Prescriptions1
- Rash
- Sinus Problems
- Sore Throat
- And more
MDLIVE board-certified doctors care for more than 80 non-emergency medical conditions and commonly care for allergies, cold & flu, ear pain, headaches, pink eye, rashes, and UTIs. See our list of conditions here.
MDLIVE therapists commonly care for patients that suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Although these are the most common issues we help with, our licensed therapists are trained to provide support for many mental health needs.
Routine Care is ongoing, regular appointments with a dedicated PCP who can help you manage your health and chronic conditions through lab work, diagnostics, self-reporting, and specialist referrals.
Along with follow-up appointments, Sophie, the MDLIVE chatbot, will support you with ongoing help and education on your condition and guide your progress with self-reported biometrics, including blood pressure, weight, and blood glucose levels.
It's recommended that you have a wellness screening appointment before scheduling routine care.
Adults and minors under the age of 18 can be seen with parent or guardian consent.
Please note that pregnant or nursing mothers, or those trying to become pregnant, are not permitted to conduct a dermatology appointment. Dermatology services are not to be used in the event of an emergency. In case of a life-threatening medical emergency, dial 911 immediately.
Yes. You can choose a dedicated primary care doctor and see that same doctor for each appointment, just like in-office visits. You also have the option to change your doctor at any time.
Yes, a parent or legal guardian must be present during the MDLIVE visit for any patient under 18 years of age.
First, remember that seeking therapy is very common. You can expect to speak with a compassionate, knowledgeable therapist who will listen and provide guidance. Therapy is also about more than sharing your concerns. You will learn coping strategies to use outside the session and how to set reasonable and attainable goals to work toward in partnership with your therapist.
Many medical conditions you seek in-person care for can be effectively treated via video or phone call. Your MDLIVE doctor will discuss your symptoms and provide a reliable diagnosis and treatment plan. Your doctor can order prescriptions to your preferred pharmacy and provide short-term renewals of existing medications. A summary of your visit can be shared with your local doctor upon request. MDLIVE doctors are specially trained in conducting telehealth appointments.
While most issues are successfully resolved online, the doctor may determine that an in-office appointment is needed for a more accurate diagnosis or to best address the condition. That in-office appointment would be outside of MDLIVE Dermatology services, and payment or insurance coverage for those services would be separate.
Yes, you can choose your doctor from our national network of board-certified doctors.
Yes. Before speaking with a doctor, you must sign up for an account and create profiles for your children.
MDLIVE Primary Care offers a convenient, effective way to supplement your existing PCP with fast, reliable care, so it's easier to stay on top of your health from the comfort of home. Upon request, your MDLIVE doctor can share notes and wellness screening results with your existing PCP so nothing is missed.
Your employer's benefits will apply to these appointments. Your appointment cost will be displayed before starting an appointment.
Your cost will vary depending on your benefit and coverage. You can cancel your appointment and receive a full refund, provided that you cancel at least 24 hours before your appointment time. MDLIVE accepts most major credit and debit cards.
Yes, if your MDLIVE psychiatrist believes medication is warranted, they can write a prescription and send it directly to the pharmacy of your choice. MDLIVE does not guarantee a prescription will be written; that is at the discretion of your doctor. Please be aware that we do not prescribe controlled substances (e.g., narcotic medications, anxiolytics, stimulants), nor do we prescribe certain other medications (see Full List here).
Having a visit with an MDLIVE pediatrician is quick and easy:
- Sign up for an MDLIVE account for yourself as your child's parent or legal guardian (you must be the insurance holder for the child).
- Add your child or children to your account as dependents.
- Complete your child's health profile.
- Click on your child's profile to provide information about their symptoms. Then you can either start your visit or schedule one for later.
Your MDLIVE doctor can order prescriptions, if warranted, right to your preferred pharmacy and provide short-term renewals of existing medications. We do not prescribe controlled substances (e.g., narcotic medications, anxiolytics, stimulants) or certain other medications (see Full List here). MDLIVE does not guarantee a prescription will be written.
MDLIVE has a vast, nationwide network of board-certified, licensed doctors in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. You can pick a doctor from the list of providers closest to you when you schedule your appointment.
We have the largest national network of dermatologists certified by the American Board of Dermatology or the American Osteopathic Association. All dermatologists live in the United States and only see patients in states for which they are licensed. Each dermatologist is credentialed according to NCQA guidelines.
Yes. You may select any dermatologist in our network who is licensed to practice in your state. If you are currently seeing a dermatologist and they are in our network, you may select that doctor — or pick someone new. If you choose "no preference," you will be treated by the next available dermatologist licensed to practice in your state.
Yes. Just add the doctor's information to your child's profile, and you'll have the option to share a summary of your child's visit. If you select this option, a record will be sent automatically after your appointment.
No, MDLIVE therapists and psychiatrists do not make any formal written recommendations or complete any outside paperwork. We suggest you contact your primary care doctor or seek an in-person evaluation for any written recommendations.
Yes. Prescriptions can be written, if necessary, as determined by your doctor. Find out what we can and cannot prescribe here.
No. Each child must have their own profile, complete with their medical history, and appointments are made using that profile. If you want to have appointments close together, it is sometimes possible to schedule back-to-back visits with the same MDLIVE pediatrician.
If your MDLIVE doctor assigns you a health tracking program for blood pressure, weight, or blood glucose, you'll self-report or journal your biometrics using the secure health tracking tool. The MDLIVE chatbot, Sophie, checks in with you through text or inbox notifications with personalized questions and patient education. Sophie will also send you appointment reminders and prompt you with an 'out-of-range' alert to follow up with your MDLIVE PCP if you have a biometric that is too high or too low.
You may submit questions via message to your online dermatologist for up to 30 days after your appointment through the MDLIVE portal at no extra cost if you have an additional question. Simply follow the same login process and click on "Start/Resume Appointment," where you will see the option to message your doctor.
No. Each appointment covers the review, diagnosis, and treatment plan for one condition of the skin, hair, or nails.
When setting up your child's visit, select the type of doctor you want. Then you'll be given a list of doctors. Choose a specific doctor and schedule an appointment, or, for faster care, you can choose to see the first available doctor. After that, you'll describe the reason for your visit and decide whether you want a phone consultation or a video visit (if available).
Your MDLIVE Primary Care doctor can provide specialist referrals, if needed, to providers within your network and easily collaborate with other doctors, labs, and diagnostic services for follow-up care. Staying within the MDLIVE platform and in-network can also reduce your costs.
Yes. Using a five-part formula, our board-certified doctors deliver accurate, quality care to patients of all ages for a wide range of conditions.
Our formula includes:
- Clinical Guidelines
- Sophie
- Temperature
- Images
- Our Specially Trained Providers
Learn more about how we deliver accurate diagnoses and treatment for common conditions like cold and flu, strep throat, and pink eye. While many conditions can be cared for by phone or video, your provider may recommend in-person care based on your child's symptoms.
You complete your lab visit for your wellness screening before you see your PCP. Having your lab visit beforehand makes your appointment and time with your MDLIVE doctor more effective and focused on your needs. You can expect your doctor to review your lab results and the online health risk assessment you completed during your wellness screening. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or follow-up with routine care or specialists if needed.
Routine care appointments are similar to ongoing in-person PCP visits but conducted from the comfort of home. Your MDLIVE doctor may order labs as needed to review the success of your treatment plan. Your doctor will also ensure you're maintaining your health goals and taking medication as prescribed.
Yes. MDLIVE pediatricians can prescribe most medications if required. MDLIVE cannot prescribe ADHD medications that are controlled substances. For patients under 18, a parent or legal guardian must approve any prescription, whether it's a new medication or a refill of an existing maintenance medication.
See the list of medications that MDLIVE providers cannot prescribe.
Once MDLIVE receives your lab work, you will receive a text message informing you that the labs have been received. You will be able to review your lab results in your Lab Folder found in the MDLIVE patient portal and prepare any questions for discussion with your doctor.
No. Currently, Wellness Screenings and Routine Care visits are only available for adults 18 years and older.
Yes. Pediatricians and family medicine doctors are available 24/7 on weekdays, weekends, and holidays. There are no extra fees for after-hours visits.
Yes. Keeping our patients' information private and secure is our top priority, and all records are completely confidential. We use robust encryption methods to protect the Personal Health Information (PHI) of all patients in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Primary Care appointments are available to suit your schedule with flexible scheduling options for evenings and weekends.
Yes. Our mental health professionals can treat childhood and adolescent issues in children ten years and older. Children can be seen by an MDLIVE board-certified psychiatrist or licensed therapist with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
No. Primary Care should not be used for type 1 diabetes, routine care, severe cases of type 2 diabetes, severe cases of high blood pressure, symptomatic heart disease (heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and end-organ disease), erectile dysfunction, HIV (PrEP), psychiatric conditions requiring intensive management, ADHD, or FMLA/requests to fill out paperwork.
A parent or legal guardian must be present at the start of each session to consent to the visit. After that, the therapist or doctor will determine if they should stay for the rest of the session.
MDLIVE offers reliable 24/7 health care by phone or video. Our national network of board-certified doctors, pediatricians, dermatologists, psychiatrists, and therapists provides personalized care for hundreds of medical and mental health needs. MDLIVE is dedicated to helping you get better and stay well. No surprise costs. No hassle.
Have an appointment from the comfort, privacy, and convenience of home or wherever you are, whenever you need care – nights, after hours, weekends, and holidays. MDLIVE offers urgent care, primary care, mental health appointments with licensed therapists and board-certified psychiatrists, as well as dermatology services, and more. All MDLIVE doctors are board-certified and state-licensed, with an average of 15 years of experience, and are available by phone or video. Specially trained in telehealth, our network of providers is committed to helping you with reliable, trusted care without the hassle of long wait times to see a doctor or driving to an in-office appointment. You'll receive reliable, trusted care from the safety of home without having to wait with strangers in a waiting room. MDLIVE has two National Committee for Quality Assurance certifications and is accredited by the American Telemedicine Association. Best of all, nine out of 10 people would recommend MDLIVE to their friends and family in need of a doctor's appointment.
No, but they may be recommended. Most patients, including children, benefit from multiple sessions with a therapist. This allows your child to form a relationship with their therapist, which generally contributes to a better outcome overall. Your therapist will advise on follow-up sessions on a case-by-case basis.
No. Urgent Care, Primary Care, Mental Health, and Dermatology are designed to handle non-emergency medical and mental health conditions.
Urgent Care can often substitute for a doctor's office, urgent care clinic, or emergency room visit for common conditions like the flu or pink eye.
Primary Care provides care for non-urgent medical concerns and ongoing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure. Primary Care is for adults 18 years and older.
Mental Health provides care for hundreds of non-emergency concerns like anxiety, life changes, divorce, and depression. However, if you are experiencing an emergency or crisis situation, need ADHD stimulant medication, or any condition that hinders normal day-to-day activities, we suggest visiting an urgent care center or emergency department.
Dermatology provides care for non-emergency hair, skin, and nail conditions. While most issues can be successfully treated through MDLIVE, your dermatologist may determine that an in-office diagnostic or procedure is needed for a more accurate diagnosis or to best address the condition.
You should not use MDLIVE if you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency. In the case of a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency, dial 911 immediately.
The fastest way to create a new account with MDLIVE is to click CREATE MY ACCOUNT below or located on the top right of the navigation bar.
- Go to the MDLIVE Homepage.
- Click on “Create my account.”
- Fill in your details to log in and schedule an appointment.
You can sign up with MDLIVE in three ways:
Online – Visit MDLIVE.com and click “Create my account”
Phone – Call 1.800.400.MDLIVE (6354)
Our mobile app – Available in the iTunes store or Google Play
Urgent Care is a reliable and affordable alternative to urgent care clinics for more than 80 common, non-emergency conditions like flu, sinus infections, pink eye, ear pain, and UTIs (Females, 18+).
Primary Care can help with wellness screenings and ongoing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure.
MDLIVE therapists and psychiatrists can help with anxiety, stress, depression, and other mental health conditions resulting from relationships, home, work, or other life events.
Dermatology provides care for nagging skin, hair, and nail issues such as acne, alopecia, eczema, fungal infections, and suspicious spots or moles.
Click here to see the full list of conditions we care for.
If you are seeking medical care for illness or injuries, you can choose to see the first available doctor or make an appointment for a specific date and time with a provider you select using the doctor profile information available on MDLIVE. MDLIVE board-certified doctors have an average of 15 years of experience.
Schedule Primary Care visits with a board-certified doctor for preventive wellness screenings and routine care. You can see the same MDLIVE doctor for each appointment so your doctor can get to know you and your health and wellness needs.
All Mental Health appointments, including talk therapy, are scheduled in advance with a therapist or psychiatrist you select. You can choose the same provider for every appointment or switch at any time.
- Go to the MDLIVE Home Page.
- Log in to the primary account holder's MDLIVE account.
- Select your name in the upper right corner of the MDLIVE web page.
- Select "Add New Dependent" from the drop-down menu.
- Complete the new member form. Be sure to double check spelling and contact information for the account and select "Add Family Member".
You will receive an email confirmation upon completion of registration for every member added to the account. All members on the account must have their own account, including children.
- Go to the MDLIVE Homepage.
- Click on "Sign In."
- Click "Forgot Username or Password."
- On the left-hand side, under "Forgot Password," enter your Username or Email Address and click "Send."
- A link will be sent to the email address on file. Please check your email and click on the link to reset your password.
Please contact our Customer Service line at 1.800.400.6354 and speak with a Health Service Specialist to unlock your account.
You can start using MDLIVE immediately after you create your free account. If you are required to pay for your appointment, you will only be asked for your credit card information when you get care from a doctor or therapist. Be sure to fill out your medical history profile to better prepare your MDLIVE doctor or therapist for your appointment.
Please contact our Customer Service line at 1.800.400.6354 and speak with a Health Service Specialist. They will assist in providing a status update regarding your scheduled appointment.
Urgent Care doctors are available 24/7/365, including weekends and holidays, to provide on-demand care for illnesses and injuries. Appointments scheduled with specific providers, including talk therapy and primary care appointments, are subject to the provider's availability. To provide convenient options that fit your schedule, evening and weekend appointment times are typically available for all services.
Please contact our customer service line at 1.800.400.6354 and speak with a Health Service Specialist to request a refund.
MDLIVE is available anywhere in the United States* and Puerto Rico. With our national network of board-certified doctors, you can ensure that each doctor available to you is fully licensed to practice medicine in your state.
*Availability of phone visits varies in accordance with state regulations
Creating an account is free. If you have MDLIVE services from your health plan or employer, your appointments could cost as little as $0, depending on your benefits. If you are required to pay, you will only be charged after you schedule an appointment and your appointment time and payment information are confirmed. You can cancel your appointment and receive a full refund, provided you cancel at least 24 hours before your appointment time. MDLIVE accepts most major credit and debit cards.
Don't see your question? Don't worry. Just call us at 1.800.400.6354. We have highly trained health service specialists standing by to take your call 24/7/365.
Yes, if your MDLIVE doctor believes medication is warranted, they can write a prescription and send it directly to the pharmacy of your choice. MDLIVE does not guarantee a prescription will be written; that is at the discretion of your doctor. Please be aware that we do not prescribe controlled substances (e.g., narcotic medications, anxiolytics, stimulants), nor do we prescribe certain other medications (see full list here).
Yes. Confidentiality is a respected part of the MDLIVE Code of Ethics. We take your privacy very seriously. Laws, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule, are also in place to protect your privacy and personal health information. MDLIVE can share your information with your PCP in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
To have a video appointment, you need:
- Windows®7, Vista, or XP
- A Mac running OSX 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or superior.
- Highspeed internet connection
- A webcam with at least 1.3 megapixels
- Microphone (most webcams already have a microphone built-in)
After you create an account, you will be able to use a simple online simulation to test your configuration and check if you are ready for a video appointment.
Yes. Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients can communicate with a doctor using our secure, HIPAA-compliant live chat feature on our website. Patients can communicate with their doctor in an environment that works much like texting. To activate this feature, select "hearing-impaired" and any other categories that apply to you from the Accommodations menu, and complete the online registration process. The feature is automatically available each time you log in by clicking the icon located at the bottom right-hand side of the screen. At present, live chat is only available on the MDLIVE website and not on the MDLIVE app.
SUMMARY
Like all medications, antibiotics have both benefits and risks. Used for the right reason, they are lifesavers, but if used incorrectly, they can cause a variety of problems, from allergic reactions to side effects. Additionally, inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to "antibiotic resistance," which means the antibiotics might not work for you when you really need them! Read more below to become an expert on this subject:
- When to use antibiotics: Your MDLIVE provider has many years of education and experience they use to help decide if your problem requires an antibiotic. If they think you have a BACTERIAL infection, then they will likely prescribe an antibiotic, but if they think you have a VIRAL infection, they will avoid giving you an antibiotic since it will not help and may actually cause some harm. In an otherwise healthy individual, most upper respiratory infections (e.g., sinusitis, ear infections) start as a VIRAL illness and only occasionally develop into BACTERIAL infections after 1-2 weeks.
- Can MDLIVE help with VIRAL Infections? Absolutely! When you present with symptoms for under a week, your physician will assess your full story and may treat you with decongestants and various anti-inflammatories but will avoid giving you an antibiotic in this viral phase since it does not help and may cause problems. However, if you have more severe symptoms, then your physician will use their best judgment in deciding if you have developed an early bacterial infection, and thus antibiotics would help.
- Overuse of antibiotics may make them less effective in the future. "Antibiotic resistance" means that antibiotics are becoming less effective overall in the United States as we have overused them for many years. Additionally, no new types of antibiotics have been developed within the last ten years, so we have to be careful with what we have! In other words, not using an antibiotic today may mean that you (and others) may respond better to antibiotics when you really need them in the future.
- Antibiotics can sometimes do more harm than good. Antibiotic side effects may include gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, vaginal yeast infections, and decreased effectiveness of oral birth control. Even worse, you may develop an allergic reaction that can range from a mild rash to severe life-threatening breathing difficulties and anaphylactic shock. Finally, an increasingly common risk is developing a severe form of diarrhea (called C. Dificile) which occurs when the "good bacteria" in your gut are killed off by an antibiotic, allowing these "bad bacteria" to grow.
- A doctor often spends more time with patients when they do NOT need an antibiotic. The decision about whether to use an antibiotic is not taken lightly. When your physician decides to NOT use an antibiotic, that often means they have taken more time to consider the best option for you. Your physician has considered the risks and benefits of treatment and asked the appropriate questions to arrive at the best course of action. Further, there is increasing evidence in the medical community that it is a good idea to take a "wait and see" attitude towards antibiotic usage due to increasing resistance and side effects, especially in children. Conditions such as ear infections, sore throat, sinus infection, and cough can often be managed with a variety of other medications instead.
While some providers speak different languages, MDLIVE is currently only available in English and Spanish.
MDLIVE accepts most insurance plans, but it depends on the specific insurance plan you have. To find out if we accept your insurance, you can sign in to your MDLIVE account or register for a free account in about 90 seconds.
MD Live primary care doctors can order certain preventive and follow-up screenings for eligible members, including mammograms, DEXA bone density scans, ultrasounds for aortic aneurysms and breast cancer, and diagnostic mammograms for breast cancer screening follow-up. MD Live doctors cannot order diagnostic scans, including X-rays, and high-end imaging, such as CT or MRI scans. If the patient’s MD Live doctor recommends these types of diagnostic tests, they can refer the patient to a brick-and-mortar provider for follow-up care.
Yes, you can have a virtual doctor visit with MDLIVE – even if you don't have insurance. We will always show you the cost of your visit before it begins. Please note the price you pay without insurance or if your plan is not in the MDLIVE network will usually be higher than an insurance copay but may be less expensive than Urgent Care Clinic or Emergency Room visits.
If MDLIVE accepts your insurance, the MDLIVE visit fee for you and your eligible dependents will typically be covered according to the details of your benefit plan. We will show you your out-of-pocket visit cost whenever that information is available to minimize surprise costs. Many insurance plans also cover prescriptions and diagnostic tests ordered by a physician during a virtual visit. Consult your insurance plan for details.
A copay is a flat fee you pay for specific medical services – usually doctor visits or prescription drugs – often regardless of whether you have hit your deductible. Copays are shown as a dollar amount. For example, "$10 copay per visit" or "$5 copay for generic medications." For MDLIVE visits, your copay, if any, will be displayed before your visit starts.
Many High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) use coinsurance instead of copays for doctor visits. Coinsurance is the portion of covered medical expenses you can expect to pay out-of-pocket after you have hit your deductible. Your insurance plan pays the remainder of the bill. Coinsurance is shown as a percentage. For example, if you have reached your deductible and have 20% coinsurance, you would pay $10 out-of-pocket for a visit that costs $50.
An annual deductible is an amount you're responsible for paying each year for covered medical expenses before your insurance plan begins to pay. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and 20% coinsurance, you will generally pay 100% of expenses up to $1,000. After that, you'll pay 20% until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum. The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you have to pay in one year, out-of-pocket, for your health care before your insurance plan covers 100% of the bill.
If your insurance plan is in the MDLIVE network, we will typically know your obligation concerning copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. We will use that information to inform you of your likely out-of-pocket costs for your MDLIVE visit.
Most doctor visit copays, including MDLIVE visits, typically do not count toward your annual deductible. The most common items that count toward deductibles are surgeries, lab tests, diagnostic tests, and hospitalization.
If your MDLIVE virtual visit is not covered by a copay, it may be eligible to count toward your deductible. Consult your insurance plan for details.
These accounts are ways to pay for qualified healthcare expenses with pre-tax dollars, but they differ in several ways. Individuals can contribute to an HSA if enrolled in a qualifying HDPD. The individual owns these accounts, and the money does not expire.
An FSA is an account that individuals can contribute to in order to pay for qualifying expenses with pre-tax dollars; however, there are limits to rolling over the funds from year to year. FSAs should be primarily used for known and anticipated healthcare spending because of the 'use it or lose it' feature.
Yes, you can use HSA or FSA funds to pay for the out-of-pocket cost of an MDLIVE visit.
If you have a medical or mental health emergency, call 911.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a life-threatening condition or acute or severe symptoms.
888.700.8312
888.450.1572
3350 SW 148th Avenue
Suite 300
Miramar, FL 33027