Teladoc Review 2024: Pros & Cons, Cost, & My Experience

Teladoc is a comprehensive healthcare platform that provides mental health, psychiatric, and primary care services. Teladoc offers same-day or next-day availability in most states; however, it is available nationwide and covered through most commercial insurance plans. In my independent review, it earned 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Teladoc made it easy to find and see a therapist quickly. The platform’s intake process and overall design were positive. Unfortunately, my personal experience with the therapist I saw left a lot to be desired.

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Teladoc provides comprehensive telehealth services for mental health, psychiatric, and primary care services across all 50 states. They accept most commercial insurance plans, with no subscription fees. The cost of services depends on the type of care: Teladoc therapy costs $119 per session, psychiatry costs $299 for initial sessions and $129 for follow-ups, and general wellness visits cost $119 per session.

Teladoc Mental Health: Therapy

Teladoc therapy offers users access to licensed therapists for a variety of acute mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Users can schedule sessions via their mobile app based on availability, specialty, gender, and language preferences. Therapy can also be conducted via phone or video.

During my intake with Teladoc, I was prompted to add information about my health history, lifestyle, and medications. I was also given a questionnaire to assess my symptoms in the last two weeks.

A Disappointing First Session

When it was time for my first therapy session with Teladoc, connecting through the app was a breeze. I easily tested my microphone and camera before my therapist joined. Originally, I was in the living room with my toddler, but my therapist promptly advised me to move to a private space, arrange childcare, or reschedule the session. Fortunately, I was able to relocate and still stay within earshot, as I was the only one home at the time.

Part of my presenting concerns and stressors were related to being a special needs parent and the lack of support from the healthcare systems. I immediately felt unsupported at how quickly my therapist insisted that I go into another room or reschedule. Within the next five minutes, my therapist expressed that they did not feel they would be the best fit to help me with my concerns, as they primarily focused on “symptom management.”

Attempting to give them the benefit of the doubt, I started to speak using “therapist language,” sharing symptoms I was experiencing, rather than the intimate details of my stressors. I expressed that I had difficulty feeling motivated to get out of bed, was experiencing crying spells, and often felt hopeless. Based on their response, I felt they expressed a real lack of empathy.

My therapist often shrugged their shoulders and repeated phrases such as, “You have to find things you like.” They also encouraged me to schedule with a different therapist for a follow-up session. At the 30-minute mark, my therapist gave me the option to continue for the remaining 15 minutes or end the session early. Feeling dismissed and invalidated, I chose to thank my therapist and end the session early.

My therapist followed up with a message containing 14 pages of scanned copies of coping skills and information about patterns of thinking and reflexive actions. Personally, I wish my therapist had reviewed some of these with me during the session instead of sending so many pages all at once without any explanation.

Finding a New Therapist

Despite my negative experience with the therapist, I still think Teladoc is a useful resource for finding care. When finding mental healthcare, it’s somewhat common to come across therapists who aren’t a good fit for you. It’s important to continue trying, and Teladoc makes it easy to schedule with a different therapist on the platform.

When you select a new therapist, your records and notes automatically transfer, providing them with easy access to your information.

No Between-Session Messaging

A major downside to Teladoc’s therapy program was the inability to message a therapist between sessions. While the Teladoc platform allows you to message your “care team,” this feature seems to route messages to a generic customer service chat instead of your therapist. This is in contrast to what we saw in our BetterHelp review. BetterHelp allows you to message your therapist directly in a dedicated chat room.

Teladoc Mental Health: Psychiatry

Teladoc psychiatry requires an initial visit with a board-certified psychiatrist. Phone and video appointments are also available. I did not schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist for the purposes of this review; however, selecting one utilizes the same basic system as selecting a therapist, wherein you can filter based on symptoms, availability, gender, and language.

Similar to what we saw with Teladoc’s therapy system, you cannot message your prescriber directly within the app. Your messages seem to filter to a more general support line. The inability to message your provider directly can be concerning, as there may be private details you would like to share with them prior to your next sessions.

The message responses are automated and provide the number to call if you have any questions about your account or medications. It notes to call 9-1-1 if you are in a crisis. Their automated message explicitly states a provider cannot answer medication questions through messaging, which reduces accessibility and support. Problems with medication are one of the common complaints about Teladoc from other users.

Teladoc Wellness Care

In addition to therapy and psychiatry, Teladoc primary care offers a range of general wellness, dermatology, sexual health, back and joint care, nutrition, and expert medical opinions. Teladoc seems to strive to be a one-stop shop for all of your healthcare needs.

In addition to being able to meet with a medical professional, Teladoc has an online library of resources available 24/7.

Teladoc Cost & Insurance

Teladoc therapy costs $119 per session, psychiatry costs $299 for an initial session and $129 for follow-ups. General wellness care with Teladoc costs $89 per session. Teladoc accepts most commercial insurance plans, which could lower the cost of care, depending on your insurance plan. Teladoc accepts FSA/HSA cards, credit cards, and PayPal as payment methods.

Details about Teladoc pricing include:

• Teladoc Therapy – $119 per session
• Teladoc Psychiatry – $299 initial session; $129 follow-up appointments
• Teladoc Wellness Care – $89 per session

Who Does Teladoc Serve?

Teladoc serves individuals nationwide aged 18 and older. Parents are also able to make appointments for their teens aged 13-17. Teladoc addresses a number of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. However, in my experience, online mental health platforms like Teladoc are often better equipped for symptom management rather than severe mental health concerns.

Teladoc is available in all 50 states, though provider availability may vary by location.

User Reviews for Teladoc

The majority of reviews for Teladoc speak to primary care providers and experiences related to physical health needs rather than mental health. Positive reviews often highlight the quick and easy access to a telehealth provider, the wide range of availability based on insurance and location, and the support received during sessions.

Negative reviews are mostly concerned with inaccurate charges, unexpected cancellations, and an overall lack of professionalism from both providers and customer service.

Who May Want an Alternative to Teladoc?

Teladoc is not a good solution for anyone struggling with severe mental health symptoms, those with good in-network options for therapy, or those seeking couples counseling or caregiver support.

Teladoc Vs. Competitors

Teladoc is a good solution for those who need quick access to therapy or psychiatry, but other competitors may be a better fit for some. BetterHelp is subscription-based and hosts a huge collection of therapists. Meanwhile, Brightside Health is one of the most affordable online psychiatry platforms we’ve tested. Talkspace is another great option, especially if you’re looking for teen or couples therapy.

Teladoc Review – Our Final Verdict

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