When looking to find the best online therapy provider for you, the chances are quite high that you probably heard the name Teladoc at least once or twice. And before you go and guess that we’re psychic, the face you’re here makes that a pretty safe assumption. All kidding aside, what we want to do today is share the results of our Teladoc review.
We want to break down what services are offered, how easy it is to use, what we like and don’t like, how much it costs, and, most importantly, answer the question of ‘Is Teladoc worth it.’
2022 Teladoc Review Score – 5/5
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4.9/5.0 |
| Features | 5.0/5.0 |
| Cost | 5.0/5.0 |
| Experience | 4.9/5.0 |
| Final Score | 5.0/5.0 |
Contents of our Teladoc Review
- Pros and Cons of Teladoc Therapy
- Fast Facts About Teladoc Online Therapy
- The Sign-Up Process
- Services Offered by Teladoc
- Reviewing Teladoc Patient Privacy
- Teladoc Cost and Insurance
- Verdict – Is Teladoc Worth It?
- Teladoc FAQ
Pros and Cons of Teladoc Therapy
Pros
- Sessions available via phone, video, or app (your choice) 24/7/365
- Psychiatry (able to prescribe medicine) and therapy sessions are the same price
- Everything is on a per-session basis; no contracts or commitments
- App available on the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store
- Extremely user-friendly to schedule an appointment
- Links directly with your pharmacy
Cons
- Less involved therapist matching process as some other online therapy providers
- No advertised specialty therapy programs (insomnia, LGBTQ, etc.)
- No text-message type communication with your therapist, only more traditional visits
If the name Teladoc is new to you, it’s not because the company hasn’t been around for a while. Founded nearly two decades ago, the Teladoc group of companies has been offering medical services to people in new and innovative ways for a long time now.
And when it comes to online therapy, our Teladoc review revealed the company is no stranger to the space. Ever heard of the online therapy company BetterHelp? If you have, then you’ve heard of one of the subsidiary companies that’s actually owned by the Teladoc brand.
Overall, Teladoc is a pretty well laid out platform that offers affordable services for therapy and for psychiatry. What makes the company stand out from its sister company BetterHelp the most are two things—sessions are all on a per session basis (no subscription), and you have access to psychiatrists that can prescribe medicine.
And while Teladoc does offer services across the board, we’re focusing today on the online therapy and online psychiatry options.
Fast Facts About Teladoc Online Therapy
- Founded in 2002 in Dallas, Texas
- Parent company to the online therapy brand BetterHelp
- The average mental health visit is 45 minutes, which is longer than many other providers
The Sign-Up Process
Getting signed up with Teladoc is really simple and straightforward. By heading to the website through the link provided, you’ll input some basic information about yourself, any insurance or employer benefit programs you’re covered through, and then select the type of care you’re looking to get.
Compared with many other online therapy providers, it’s a lot faster of a process. For people looking to get signed up fast, this is a big plus. However, if you’re really concerned about matching with the perfect therapist or psychiatrist, you may be left wanting to provide more information than you’re asked for.
All in all, the sign-up process is very straightforward and takes no more than about five minutes. And for those wondering, there are no wild requests for medical records or in-depth health questions that require research on your part.
Services Offered by Teladoc
As a whole, Teladoc offers a full suite of online medical services, including everyday care, children and family services, mental health, medical expert opinions, and wellness and prevention. If you wanted to make Teladoc your doctor for everything, it would be pretty easy to do.
Specifically, regarding mental health, the Teladoc review we conducted found that the company offers two main areas of service—online therapy and online psychiatry services. For those that are new to these terms, a therapist is someone you talk to about your problems and issues who works to help you build strategies to conquer those issues. A psychiatrist fills a similar role, but their main method of treatment is prescribing medication.
If you’re unsure about whether or not you want to use medication (or need it), start by signing up with a therapist who can always refer you over to a psychiatrist on the platform.
How Teladoc Works
Teladoc operates a lot more like a traditional therapist or psychiatrist’s office, but online. What we mean is that all of your treatment will be done through one-on-one sessions. Some of the other online therapy companies out there offer additional services like text-message support with your therapist, self-help workbooks, and even some online group therapy sessions.
If you’re looking for something a little more innovative like that, the link we provided might be able to get you over to something more in line with that. But if you’re looking for a more traditional approach just online or you’re just looking to get a prescription, then Teladoc is probably a good fit.
Reviewing Teladoc Patient Privacy
Our Teladoc review certainly showcased for us a company that cares about your personal safety and privacy. The company is 100% HIPAA compliant and treats all of your data and information as Protected Health Information (PHI). If you’d like to learn more about the company’s privacy practices, there’s a link in the footer of the website from the link we provided on this page called ‘Privacy Practices.’ It’s a full breakdown of everything the company does to keep you safe.
Spoiler alert? It’s extensive. The company does a masterful job of caring for patient privacy. The 5.0/5.0 rating we gave the company during the Teladoc review process is fully earned.
Teladoc Cost and Insurance
he pricing structure at Teladoc for online therapy services is extremely straightforward. There are no plans, no subscriptions, and no bundle choices to make. Each session is the same cost, and you pay on a session by session basis.
What is really cool is that the cost of a psychiatry session is the same as the cost of a therapy session. Generally, psychiatry is much more expensive, so that’s pretty awesome to see.
Current Pricing at Teladoc for Therapy and Psychiatry Services
| Type of Service | Pricing Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy | 1 session without insurance | $99 |
| Therapy | 1 session with insurance | $0-$99 |
| Psychiatry | 1 initial session without insurance | $299 |
| Psychiatry | 1 follow-up session without insurance | $119 |
| Psychiatry | 1 session with insurance | $0-$299 |
Key Details About the Pricing at Teladoc
- No subscriptions or bundle plans to choose from
- Each session is the same price, regardless of the type of help
- Sessions on average last about 45 minutes
- Prices vary if you’re using insurance
Does Teladoc take insurance?
Yes, Teladoc takes insurance and many employer health plans. And one thing during our Teladoc review that we really liked was how easy it was to check your coverage. There’s no need to call your insurance company or even call Teladoc (unless you want to). During the sign-up process, you can input your insurance or employer information and find out right away what level of coverage you have.
Verdict – Is Teladoc Worth It?
We absolutely think so. One—you’re getting service from a company that’s been doing this for almost two decades. Two—the company goes over the top to care about your privacy. Three—the simplified pricing structure and willingness to work with insurance companies is great.
Here’s who we think Teladoc is best for:
- If you’re looking to get a prescription or meet with a psychiatrist, this is one of the most affordable options we’ve found.
- If you want to get some therapy help and don’t want to have to commit to a subscription or long-term contract, it’s a great option.
- If you’re looking for a more traditional approach to therapy except with the conveniences of it being online, then this Teladoc review rules this as a winner for you.
Teladoc FAQ
Are all of the therapists at Teladoc licensed?
Yes, Teladoc only works with licensed therapists and board-certified psychiatrists.
How long does it take at Teladoc to get matched with a therapist?
You can get matched with a Teladoc provider very quickly, as the matching process is not as in-depth as it is with some other options. If you’re looking to speak with someone sooner than later, this will be a good fit.
Does Teladoc take insurance?
Yes, Teladoc works with many major insurance companies and several employer health programs. Additionally, Teladoc works with many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans.
Is Teladoc better than Talkspace?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a more creative approach to your therapy services, then you might like Talkspace a bit more. However, Talkspace does require at least a month’s commitment. If you want to operate session by session, Teladoc may be a better fit. Additionally, the cost of a psychiatry visit is much less expensive with Teladoc (about half the price).
