How to find the right virtual health service

Virtual health, sometimes called telehealth, is an idea whose time has come.

First and foremost, there is the convenience of using online video, mobile apps, texting and various social platforms to deliver medical services that used to be available only in person.

When you’re sick or nursing a minor injury, you don’t necessarily want to deal with the hassle of making and going to an appointment with your doctor. Why disrupt your work day, or necessary recovery, to commute to a doctor’s office when you can receive high-quality healthcare through your laptop?

Virtual health options can also be customized. As the Harvard Business Review noted in 201

8, “In the process, patients may become more engaged in their own care, and one-size-fits-all care services will slowly be replaced by increasingly personalized options—enabling people to choose care on their own terms.”

Think of it this way: If, say, Spotify™ or Netflix® can learn your cultural tastes and make concrete recommendations, why not your virtual doctor?

Then there is the greater benefit. The American Association of Medical Colleges projects a shortage of about 40,000 primary care physicians by 2030 — a problem that requires creative solutions, including virtual health services. The remaining doctors will likely be overwhelmed serving our aging population, leaving even less time to help those of us on the younger side dealing with things like the flu or the common cold.

Finally, there’s the bottom line: Virtual health services are cheaper than an in-person visit to your doctor. The savings actually go far beyond what you see on your bill. A recent analysis by Accenture found that replacing regular doctor visits with virtual health options could save the U.S. health system nearly $10 billion annually. Accenture also found that if virtual health were applied to just one condition, diabetes care, it would free up nearly 12 million hours of physician time for other work.

So virtual health services are often more convenient, more personalized, less expensive for you and the health system at large, and generally more efficient within an extremely complex medical system. But which virtual health services are right for you?

Here are the leaders in the field, based on a survey of online reviews and our own impressions of services offered. All these apps are available for Google Android™ smartphones and iPhone™.

American Well is more of an online doctor than a virtual health service, in the sense that you just log in (online or on your phone) and see the first available doctor. This is different than making an appointment or selecting a specialist in advance.

Membership fee: $0

Cost per visit: 69 USD

Pro: AmWell acts as a network doctor. Once you’ve registered for the service (free), you’ll enter an online waiting room, with an average wait of around three minutes.

Fool: You cannot book an appointment.

You may know this from TV’s Phil McGraw, aka Dr. Phil, who co-founded this service with his son.

Membership fee: $0

Cost per visit: $75 for a consultation

Pro: Doctor On Demand now offers Synapse, a service that helps you connect your on- and offline care.

Fool: It does not accept Medicare.

LiveHealthOnline is one of the most affordable services, with visits starting at just $49 per visit – and that’s without insurance.

Membership fee: $0

Cost per visit: 49 USD

Pro: It offers a wide range of services, including dermatology and psychiatry. It also offers Spanish language services.

Fool: It has no way of contacting individual doctors with follow-up problems.

This live video service is backed by some of the biggest players in the healthcare industry. MDLIVE has partnered with Walgreens™ and Skype®. It is backed in part by healthcare giant Cigna.

Membership fee: $0

Cost per visit: $75 or less for an urgent care visit.

Pro: Physicians have an average of 15 years of experience, and the service is available in all 50 states.

Fool: It is among the more expensive services.

Although not strictly a virtual health service, MinuteClinic, in CVS Pharmacy™ and Target® stores, includes video visits as part of its offerings. This is part of a larger trend of telehealth becoming an offering from the larger players, rather than a niche service from start-ups. (Eligible Haven Term policyholders have access to Haven Life Plus, which includes a 15% discount on every single MinuteClinic service.)

Membership fee: $0

Cost per visit: 59 USD

Pro: It has a 40-state network of doctors and a huge suite of offerings.

Fool: Health insurance coverage for video visits “coming soon.”

PlushCare, founded by a San Francisco-based doctor who ran appointments out of the back of his office, is now available in all 50 states and offers a wide range of services.

Membership fee: $0

Cost per visit: 99 USD

Pro: All doctors are selected from the top 50 medical schools in the US and are interviewed and tested before being selected for the app.

Fool: While most virtual health care apps are on-demand, this one requires you to make an appointment (although it only requires 15 minutes’ notice).

Founded in 2002, Teladoc is one of the oldest virtual health services, and for good reason: it’s the top-rated virtual health provider in terms of both satisfaction and customer service, according to JD Power. More than 200 Fortune 1000 companies provide Teladoc to employees.

Membership fee: $0

Cost per visit: 49 USD

Pro: Teladoc has a large network of providers and compatibility with many health insurance plans.

Fool: There may be a lack of choice when it comes to your doctor, and a lack of communication between Teladoc and your primary care provider.

Choosing the best virtual health service for your goals

Although there are many virtual health services on the market, the best one is one you will actually use. A virtual health service can help you access quality healthcare and services for you and your family, but ultimately the service is a tool that is only as good as you make it.