Nearly every plan lists telemedicine now. The difference between plans is what it costs you per visit.
Telemedicine stopped being a differentiator and became a checkbox. The real variable is price: one plan charges around $50 a visit, another charges nothing, and over a year with a family that gap is not small.
What it handles well
- Sinus infections, rashes, pink eye and similar straightforward complaints
- Prescription refills and routine follow-ups
- Mental health sessions, which many people find easier remotely
- A first opinion on whether something warrants an in-person visit
What it cannot do
Anything requiring hands, imaging or a lab: chest pain, injuries, abdominal pain, anything needing bloodwork or an X-ray. A virtual visit that ends in a referral to urgent care has still saved you a trip you did not need to make, but it is not a substitute for one you did.
What to check
Ask what a telemedicine visit costs on the specific plan, whether it applies before the deductible, and whether mental health visits are included at the same rate. Those three answers tell you whether the feature is real or just listed.
