Top 6 Best Health Sites with Online Doctors | 2017 Ranking | Most Popular “Ask a Doctor” & Doctor on Demand Websites

2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST ONLINE DOCTORS

What If You Could See a Doctor at Home?

For many patients, the idea of making an appointment to see the doctor fills them with dread. No matter how desperately they may need medical advice, scheduling an appointment to ask a doctor your questions can be time-consuming and inconvenient. What if there was a better way to ask the doctor about your pressing health concerns, outside of an emergency situation?

New “doctor on demand” websites are offering the opportunity to do just that: to ask a doctor online at your convenience.

Award Emblem: Best Health Sites With Online Doctors

With many of the top websites offering fully licensed and board-certified physicians from within the United States, your medical questions can be answered efficiently. The best part is that accessing a doctor online doesn’t mean you need to drive to their office, taking up additional time from your busy schedule. An online medical consultation gives you medical advice quickly with the flexibility you need.

How do you know which websites allow you to ask a doctor your medical questions and provide great value? You’ll find some of the best opportunities to ask a doctor online in the detailed reviews of our top ranking online doctor services.

If you’re suffering from the common cold or an embarrassing rash, all you need to do is find one of these websites for an online doctor consultation that could save you both time and money.

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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Online Doctors

List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the online doctor websites below to go directly to the detailed review section for that online doctor):

• Amwell
• HealthTap
• JustAnswer.com
• LiveHealth Online
• MeMD.com
• Premier Virtual Care 

Top 6 Best Online Doctors | Brief Comparison & Ranking

Table: Top 6 Best Doctors on Demand | Above list is sorted alphabetically

How Do Doctors Online Work?

For many patients who’ve been with their physician for years, the idea of switching to an online doctor or an “ask a doctor” service can be a little nerve-wracking. What should you really expect from an online doctor consultation?

We want to outline just what an online medical consultation should be like and what reasonable expectations you can set for an online doctor. Just like a traditional primary care physician, the quality of your treatment is highly dependent upon the qualifications of your specific doctor. You may want to ask the doctor what their credentials are prior to putting stock in their advice.

Image Source: Pexels

With many of the doctor on demand websites, the first thing that you will do is create an account. This gives you access to an online doctor chat or the ability to see previous history with a brief questionnaire. On many of the ask a doctor websites, you’ll find a nice selection of medical professionals who are available to meet your needs.

You may even be able to choose which of the available physicians you want to offer you medical advice.

Receiving medical advice over the internet through “telemedicine” can be a little risky. It may be best to limit asking health questions that are relatively simple. Examples of situations where a doctor on demand could be useful would be a stomach virus, suspicious rash, or follow-up visits for long term conditions like diabetes.

Can you receive a prescription from doctors online?

If your online doctor consultation results in the need for a prescription, it is helpful if the online doctor can prescribe it then and there. Some states do allow a doctor online to treat ailments through prescription medications. Others will only allow a doctor to issue a prescription with a face-to-face appointment.

If you believe that the best medical advice will still require the use of a prescription, you may want to check with your state guidelines first.

A “doctor on demand” service can certainly make taking control of your health more convenient than ever before. An online doctor chat can take place from the comfort of your home whenever it is convenient for you instead of based on busy scheduling. Not only that, but an online doctor can save costs as well.

Knowing what to expect when you talk to a doctor online can help to better prepare you with realistic standards and expectations. Doctors online are a great tool under the right conditions.

AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology

What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top rated lists?

Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.

Detailed Review – Top Ranking Online Doctors

Below, please find the detailed review of each website on our list of doctors on demand. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these doctors online to score so highly in our selection ranking.

Amwell Review

Highly reviewed in the media, Amwell offers a comprehensive solution to consumers who need medical advice in a pinch. Branching out beyond just the standard online doctor services and appointments, they offer a wide range of appointments and providers to meet each individual need at an affordable price.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Doctor on Demand Services

See more of the detailed reasons why Amwell is one of the top choices as an online doctor in the breakdown below.

Services

Like many of the doctor on demand websites, Amwell has a handful of specialties that set them apart. They do not specialize in offering appointments for routine medical care, as some of the other doctors online will promote. Instead, they have five areas where their online doctor chat really excels:

• Urgent care
• Nutrition counseling
• Breastfeeding support
• Online therapy
• Online psychiatry 

With their unique therapy perspective, an online doctor through Amwell charges just $95 per session. Clients give them a 96% satisfaction rating for this online doctor consultation.

Pricing

When it comes to urgent care appointments, the pricing is where Amwell truly has a lot to offer consumers who want to ask a doctor health questions from home. In comparison to an average rate of $139 for a traditional office visit, a medical visit on Amwell costs just $59 each.

In addition, your insurance may even assist with the payment for their doctor on demand service. During your initial enrollment, consumers have the option to enter insurance information to determine eligibility.

Image Source: Amwell

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HealthTap Review

HealthTap boasts an impressive number of clients served, with more than 5.7 billion answers given thus far. They maintain a staff of over 100,000 doctors online to keep patients healthier at any given time. They have developed their own programs and softwares to keep the medical industry moving forward with the times, as well as providing excellent medical advice.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Doctor on Demand Services

Understand more of the compelling reasons that HealthTap made it onto our ranking of the top ask a doctor services online.

Services

This online doctor website claims to be the first to have created a global platform for providing medical advice to patients whenever they need it most. In addition to their HOPES™ platform, they have several different methods for patients to receive the medical advice they’re searching for.

First, users are able to search their feed for personalized answers from doctors regarding topics that are important to them. They may even find helpful tips or news articles to keep them well-informed when it comes to areas of interest. From here, their online doctor website allows you to receive advice in two distinct ways: a subscription or through Dr. AI.

Their medical service subscription gives you the opportunity to ask a doctor questions whenever you need to. Available 24/7, your new online doctor can provide personalized solutions and medical advice based on your information. You can select a video, audio, or text message exchange with your online doctor.

Dr. AI is one of the only programs of its kind. Powered by artificial intelligence, this “online doctor” has been programmed by real physicians. It can help to direct patients to the appropriate level of care when necessary.

Pricing

The pricing to use HealthTap is slightly different than services such as Amwell. Where many will charge by the visit, HealthTap offers lower-cost opportunities to receive medical advice as well:

• Receive priority access to answers from their top doctors: $9.99 per question
• Answers from more than one doctor to your health questions: $9.99 per question
• Ability to add more detail to your question: $9.99 per question

Subscribers to their HealthTap Prime program can receive a doctor on demand for just $99 per month. This gives them an unlimited plan with access to virtual consults.

Virtual consultations with a specific online doctor or a specialist are costlier at $49 each. Prime subscribers can benefit from an additional discount, bringing this total down to $44 per online doctor chat.

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JustAnswer.com Review

JustAnswer.com is one of the most commonly reviewed “ask a doctor” websites in the media today. Featured in the likes of CNN, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and NBC, this simple platform gives patients the opportunity to ask a doctor for medical advice with responses in just minutes. The cost for access to this medical advice is minimal, which is part of what makes it such an attractive option.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Doctor on Demand Services

The speed and the pricing behind JustAnswer.com is the primary appeal for most consumers who want a doctor on demand. Find out the specific details about what allowed us to include this online doctor service in our ranking below.

Services

One of the unique aspects of this online doctor service is that it does not allow for video consultations. Patients who feel the need to see their online doctor in a “face-to-face” type setting may not find what they are looking for with an online doctor chat through JustAnswer.com. This service works through four very simple steps:

• Ask a question or describe your unique medical situation
• Get connected with an expert physician in the necessary field
• Receive an answer, usually within just minutes
• Provide a rating for the provider

Providers have different areas of expertise, ranging from autism to endocrinology to urology and everything in between. You can also view various medical articles for medical advice prior to paying to have a question answered.

Pricing

Pricing is based on a sliding scale, with fees ranging from $15 all the way to $90. The price of your specific medical advice will be determined based on the question itself and the unique category it falls into.

Initially, each patient is charged a deposit of $5 to submit a question, and payment information is collected at this time. When you ask a doctor and they respond, the rest of the payment is due upon completion of their response. They do note that PayPal users will be charged for the full amount of the question upfront.

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LiveHealth Online Review

LiveHealth Online offers one of the most affordable solutions for a doctor on demand website among those on our ranking. Great for common ailments such as colds, allergies, rashes, and more, you can find medical advice from the convenience of your home during a face-to-face session. Also offering medical advice for mental health issues, this makes LiveHealth Online a comprehensive treatment solution for patients.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Doctor on Demand Services

While their price and available services certainly played a factor in their placement on our ranking, LiveHealth Online has a lot to offer potential patients. More information on what they can specifically offer your unique situation is available in the detailed review below.

Services

Like many of the other top providers for medical advice over the internet, LiveHealth Online makes it quick and easy to ask health questions. You’ll first sign up and fill out a profile that allows you to see if insurance supports their doctor on demand service. From there, you can select a doctor from a list of available providers.

When you are attempting to choose a new physician to be your online doctor, their profiles are fairly detailed, showing you:

• Their star rating from other patients
• Full profile
• Languages spoken
• Their photo

You can save the information of the online doctor you use this time or any others that appeal to you under a preferred provider section.

They also allow you to select a psychologist or therapist for counseling. This is a unique service available from a few of the top choices for an online doctor; consumers can take care of both their physical and mental health needs all in one convenient location. This type of appointment ranges in price from $80 to $95 for a session that is approximately 45 minutes long.

Pricing

The cost for medical advice from a doctor on demand at LiveHealth Online is relatively inexpensive in comparison to some of their competitors. For their online medical consultations, a typical visit may cost as low as $49 per visit.

Bear in mind that their online doctor visits may also have coverage under some health insurance plans. Prior to having any visit with one of their doctors online, you will see the expected cost. This can help you to decide whether this ask a doctor service is within the range of what you would deem to be affordable.

Image Source: LiveHealthOnline.com

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MeMD.com Review

With an extensive list of exactly which ailments are treated, MeMD.com provides another great option for online medical advice. If you need to ask a doctor online your medical questions, all you need to do is create an account with this online doctor. One of the many benefits that make this a top-ranking provider is their flat-fee structure for one-on-one diagnoses.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Doctor on Demand Services

Find out the simple reasons why MeMD.com is considered to be one of the best solutions when it comes to online medical advice in the overview of their services and pricing below.

Services

When you first use this online doctor, you will need to sign up for the service by creating your own secure account. A licensed provider in your state will speak with you regarding your specific ailments that require attention. They even have a very clear list of the specific ailments that their physicians are equipped to treat with an online medical consultation:

• Abrasions, rashes, and many types of skin issues
• Fevers, flus, colds, or allergies
• Infections of various types
• Dehydration
• Cough and bronchitis
• Sexually transmitted infections

While this list is not as comprehensive as the one listed on their website, it gives you a better idea of what you can request medical advice for with an online doctor consultation. For the full list of treatable conditions, you can visit their website.

Pricing

One of the best features of the MeMD.com ask a doctor service is their flat rate fees. You can access a doctor through your webcam for a “face-to-face” interaction at reasonable rates. Each consult costs just $49.95 with no hidden fees.

Payment is accepted from HSA, FSA, and HRA accounts. You may also pay with a credit or debit card.

Premier Virtual Care Review

Providing medical advice 24/7 to patients in need, Premier Virtual Care is a great choice for a doctor online. You can ask the doctor any questions you may have regarding your common ailments and complaints for one reasonable flat rate fee. The extensive conditions covered under their services in combination with their pricing makes them an easy choice for your new online doctor.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Doctor on Demand Services

Uncover more of the top reasons why we considered Premier Virtual Care to be one of the top doctors online.

Services

Getting set up to ask a doctor your medical questions through Premier Virtual Care is relatively simple. All you will need to do is set up an online account. From there, you can select whether you prefer your visit to be over the telephone or via video.

Much like many of the other doctor on demand services included on our ranking, Premier Virtual Care specializes in minor ailments, injuries, and illnesses. For common conditions such as allergies, acne, colds, coughs, or rashes, you can receive all of the assistance you need through their online doctor.

Unlike some of the other top selections, there aren’t thousands of doctors vying for a position treating your illness. In fact, their staff page shows just six board-certified physicians offering treatment and medical advice for your unique situation.

Pricing

Much like MeMD.com, one the biggest advantages to utilizing the online doctor consultation from Premier Virtual Care is the flat rate pricing. With no appointments necessary, you can receive medical advice for a flat rate of just $45 per consultation. Each visit will last approximately twenty minutes.

They do not accept insurance coverage for their doctor on demand services, but you may be able to apply the cost toward your deductible.

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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Online Doctors

Finding the right online doctor to meet your medical need can be rather tricky. You want them to have expertise in their field, but you may also have preferences for how you want to communicate with them. These top doctor on demand websites allow you the freedom to make decisions regarding your future healthcare.

Do you prefer your medical advice to be written out or would you rather have an online doctor chat face-to-face? How you desire to ask the doctor your primary questions or share your symptoms may be a deciding factor in which of these medical advice sites is the best option for you.

You may also want to check with your health insurance provider to determine if any of these online doctor websites have some coverage.

Save yourself time and money next time you have an ailment by opting for an online medical consultation instead of a traditional appointment. You’ll have your medical advice faster so you can get back to feeling like yourself again in no time at all.