An online doctor consultation does not have one price. The fee depends on the provider, the type of visit and your insurance. It also depends on whether labs, medication and follow-up are billed separately. Published figures in the US run from a few dozen dollars for a general visit to nearly $200 for a first psychiatry visit. The only way to know your own cost is to get the fee, and what it covers, in writing before you book.
Disclosure: AirMedFit provides doctor consultations, so we have an interest in this topic. This guide explains cost factors in general. It then lists the fees we publish, and only those. It is educational and is not medical or insurance advice.
TL;DR
- Cost depends on the provider and your insurance. Health plans often treat telehealth like in-person care, so ask your insurer or the provider what you will owe, per HHS Telehealth.gov.
- Separate four things: the consultation fee, lab costs, medication costs and follow-up charges. Never assume one price covers all four.
- AirMedFit publishes two consultation fees: $49 for an Async Doctor's Consult and $120 for a Sync Doctor's Consult. Other prices are not published, so ask for a written quote.
- Bring your medication list, recent lab results and health history to avoid paying for time spent collecting them.
- A consultation is not a promise of a prescription. The clinician decides what, if anything, is appropriate.
Table of Contents
- What online doctor visits cost in the US
- How insurance changes what you pay
- Is an online visit cheaper than going in person?
- AirMedFit's published consultation and lab fees
- The four cost layers to separate
- Questions to ask before you book
- Documents and information to prepare
- Cost checks for hormone and weight-management care
- Our perspective
- Book a consultation with AirMedFit
- FAQ
- Sources
What online doctor visits cost in the US
The price range is wide because "online doctor visit" covers very different services. A general medical visit, a mental-health visit and a specialist hormone consultation are priced differently.
A 2026 member flyer from Blue Shield of California is a useful snapshot of how one health plan's telehealth benefit prices things. It lists a general medical rate of $60 per visit. It lists $195 for an initial psychiatry visit and $95 for a recurring psychiatry visit. It lists $85 for visits with a psychologist, counselor, therapist or clinical social worker. Those figures belong to that plan and that year. They show the pattern: the type of clinician and whether the visit is a first or repeat visit move the price.
A few things commonly shape what you are quoted:
- Visit type. A first visit usually takes more time than a repeat visit, and some providers price them differently, as the psychiatry rates above show.
- Format. Some services let you send information and receive a reply later (asynchronous). Others schedule a live video or phone call (synchronous). Live time with a clinician is typically priced higher.
- Clinician type. Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and behavioral health clinicians may bill at different rates.
- Payment route. You may pay a flat cash fee, or a copay, coinsurance or deductible through insurance.
- What is bundled. Some fees include a review of your records. Others charge separately for lab ordering, prescriptions or messaging after the visit.
Be cautious with round-number price claims you find in search results. Many are marketing for a single company, and the figure may describe a basic urgent-style visit instead of the specialist care you need.
How insurance changes what you pay
If you use insurance, the visit fee is only the starting point. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan design.
HHS Telehealth.gov says many private insurers pay for telehealth and many treat it like in-person care. It says Medicare pays for many telehealth services, often at the same cost as in-person care, and that Medicaid coverage differs by location. Its advice is simple: ask your insurer or provider what you will pay before the visit.
Copay, coinsurance and deductible
HealthCare.gov defines these three terms. A copayment is a fixed amount for a covered service. Coinsurance is a percentage of the cost. A deductible is the amount you pay for covered services before your plan starts to pay.
The deductible is where surprises happen. The Blue Shield of California flyer above notes that members in high-deductible plans may pay the full consultation fee until the deductible is met, after which the copay is $0. So a "$0 copay telehealth visit" can still cost real money early in the plan year.
Medicare and the facility fee
For Medicare, the details are technical. CMS's 2026 Physician Fee Schedule summary sets the telehealth originating-site facility fee payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or $31.85. It states that beneficiaries remain responsible for unmet deductibles and Medicare coinsurance. That facility fee applies to the site where the patient is located, not to the clinician's professional fee. If you want a plain-language walk-through of what Medicare covers, Medicare telehealth coverage is a good place to read further, and your plan's customer service line can confirm your exact cost share.
State rules differ
Coverage and payment laws vary by state. The AMA publishes a state-by-state chart of telehealth coverage and payment requirements from January 2021. Laws change, so treat it as a starting point and confirm current rules with your insurer or state insurance department.
Cash-pay services and insurance
Some online services are fee-for-service and do not bill insurance. If that is the case, ask whether the provider can give you documentation of what you paid, and whether your plan or an HSA or FSA accepts it. Do not assume either. Ask.
Is an online visit cheaper than going in person?
Not always. HHS's research recap on telehealth and economic impact cites a study that found no cost difference between telehealth and in-person visits. It also notes that telehealth can reduce travel-related costs for patients.
That matches how people tend to experience it. The fee itself may be similar, but you may save on gas, parking, childcare and time off work. Those savings are real, but they are personal to you. When you compare options, count both the visit fee and your own travel and time costs. Also compare scope: a short general visit and a specialist consultation on hormones or weight are not like-for-like.
AirMedFit's published consultation and lab fees
Here is what we publish, as read from our site on September 12, 2026. Please confirm current details on the listing before you buy, since pricing and availability can change.
| Service | Published price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Async Doctor's Consult | $49, one-off | Listed on our consultation products page |
| Sync Doctor's Consult | $120, one-off | Listed on the same page |
| Doctor's Consultation (general listing) | No published price | Ask for a written quote |
| Lab Panels, Men's Essential (home kit included) | $129, one-off | Listed under medical services |
| Lab Panels, Women's Essential (home kit included) | $139, one-off | Listed under medical services |
| Lab Panel, TruLab TRT, Homekit | No published price | Ask for a written quote |
| Signature HRT Membership | No published price | Ask for a written quote |
| Signature TRT Membership | No published price | Ask for a written quote |
The details of each visit are on our Doctor's Consultation page. Use the contact options there if you have a question the listing does not answer.
What we have not published, and so will not state here: insurance coverage, refund terms, whether any follow-up is included in a consultation fee, and medication prices. If any of those matter to your decision, ask for them in writing.
The four cost layers to separate
The most common budgeting mistake is treating "the consultation" as the whole bill. Break any quote into four lines and ask about each.
1. The consultation fee
This pays for the clinician's time and review. Ask whether it is a one-off fee or recurring, whether it differs for a first visit and a repeat, and whether it is refundable if the clinician decides not to proceed.
2. Lab costs
Some consultations lead to lab work. Ask whether labs are included, who orders them, whether you use a home kit or visit a draw site, and what the lab panel costs. If you already have recent results, ask whether they can be used so you do not pay twice. Our own published panels are listed in the table above.
3. Medication and supply costs
A consultation fee does not by itself tell you what treatment would cost. Whether any medication is appropriate is a clinical decision, and the price of any medication, supplies or compounding is separate from the visit. Ask whether the quote covers only the visit or also anything prescribed. For specific examples of how medication pricing is explained, see our guides on TRT costs in the US and semaglutide cash costs and the Medicare bridge.
4. Follow-up charges
Treatment plans often involve monitoring. Ask how follow-up works: whether messages between visits are included, whether a follow-up visit is a new fee, and whether a membership replaces per-visit charges. Our separate follow-up guide goes into that topic in detail, so here the point is only the cost question: get the follow-up fee in writing.
Questions to ask before you book
Copy this list into an email or message. A clear provider should be able to answer in writing.
- What is the total fee for the visit, and what exactly does it include?
- Is the fee charged at booking, or only after the clinician reviews my information?
- If the clinician decides a consultation is not appropriate for me, is any part refunded?
- Do you bill insurance? If not, can you provide an itemized receipt?
- Are labs required, and what do they cost? Can I use recent outside results?
- Is there a separate charge for prescriptions, if one is issued, or for sending it to a pharmacy?
- Are follow-up visits or messages included, and for how long?
- Is there a membership or subscription, and what are its renewal and cancellation terms?
- Which licensed clinician will I see, and is that clinician licensed in my state?
- Who do I contact if I have a billing question or a problem after the visit?
For a deeper list focused on hormone care, see our guide to six questions to ask at a hormone therapy consultation.
If a price, insurance coverage, availability or refund term is not stated on the provider's page, ask for a written quote and keep it. A written answer protects you whichever provider you choose.
Documents and information to prepare
Preparation can shorten a visit and helps the clinician spend time on your questions instead of paperwork.
- Medication and supplement list. Include names, strengths and how long you have taken each, as shown on the label.
- Recent lab results. Bring anything from the past year, with dates and the reference ranges printed on the report.
- Health history. Diagnoses, surgeries, allergies and family history that may be relevant.
- Symptom notes. What you notice, when it started and what makes it better or worse. Brief and dated is best.
- Insurance card and plan details. Even if you plan to pay cash, have it available in case a question about coverage comes up.
- Pharmacy details. The name and location of your preferred pharmacy, in case the clinician needs it.
- Your questions. Write them down before the visit, with the cost questions above.
- Photo ID and your location. Telehealth clinicians generally need to confirm who you are and which state you are in.
Cost checks for hormone and weight-management care
Hormone and weight care often involve more than one visit, which makes the total cost harder to see from the headline fee.
For hormone care, the cost usually includes baseline labs and later monitoring labs. Ask how often labs are repeated and who pays for each round. If a membership is offered, ask what it covers and what it does not.
For weight management, ask about the clinician's scope. Whether a telehealth clinician can prescribe a particular medication, such as a GLP-1, is a clinical and legal judgment made case by case. A consultation fee does not guarantee a prescription, and it does not include the price of any medication. Ask the provider to explain which medication categories they handle. In particular, ask whether a product is FDA-approved, compounded or investigational, because the three are not the same. Facility registration is not the same as product approval. We do not give dosing advice in articles, and treatment decisions belong to you and a qualified clinician.
Our perspective
We built the consultation listing around a simple idea: you should be able to see what a visit costs before you commit. That is why we publish the $49 and $120 consultation fees and the $129 and $139 lab panel prices on our site.
For the services where a price is not published, such as memberships, we ask you to request a written quote instead of guessing. We would rather you have a clear number than a surprise.
Our approach is to separate the pieces: the visit, labs, anything prescribed and follow-up. Each can be priced and explained on its own. A consultation is a conversation with a clinician about your history and goals, and we make no promise about the outcome of that conversation.
If you are comparing providers, hold all of them, including us, to the same standard: written fees, plain terms and a named way to reach someone.
AirMedFit
Book a consultation with AirMedFit
If you are ready to talk with a clinician about hormone, weight or general wellness questions, our Doctor's Consultation page shows the current options. The Async Doctor's Consult is listed at $49 and the Sync Doctor's Consult at $120, both one-off fees, on our consultation listings. Ask for a written quote for anything without a published price.
A consultation does not promise a prescription. Whether treatment is appropriate is the clinician's decision after reviewing your information. You can also browse everything we list from our home page.
FAQ
Does insurance cover online doctor consultations?
Often, yes, but it depends on your plan and state. HHS Telehealth.gov says many private insurers treat telehealth like in-person care, and Medicare covers many telehealth services. Ask your insurer or the provider what you will owe before the visit. Cash-pay services may not bill insurance at all.
Are follow-up visits and lab tests included in the consultation fee?
Do not assume so. Fees are set by each provider, and labs, prescriptions and follow-up may be billed separately. Ask what the fee includes and get the answer in writing. For AirMedFit, we publish lab panel prices separately from consultation fees, and we have not published follow-up terms, so ask for a written quote.
Can a telehealth clinician prescribe a medication like Ozempic?
That is a clinical decision made for each patient, and a consultation fee does not guarantee a prescription. Whether a clinician can prescribe depends on your health, your state's rules and the clinician's judgment. Medication cost is separate from the visit fee. Ask the provider how they handle it.
Is telehealth cheaper than going to an office?
Sometimes, but not automatically. HHS's research recap cites a study finding no cost difference in visit cost, while noting telehealth can lower travel-related costs. Compare the visit fee, your travel and time savings, and what is included.
What should I ask for if a price is not listed?
Ask for a written quote that lists the visit fee, any labs, any medication or supplies and follow-up charges. Also ask about refunds and renewal terms. If the provider cannot put it in writing, treat that as information about how billing may go.
Sources
- How do I pay for telehealth? (HHS Telehealth.gov)
- Telehealth and economic impact research recap (HHS)
- Blue Shield of California 2026 telehealth flyer
- CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule summary, CY 2026
- HealthCare.gov quick guide to the Marketplace
- AMA: Private and Medicaid coverage and payment for telemedicine (January 2021)
- Medicare telehealth coverage
Recommended
- TRT Cost in the U.S.: What You'll Actually Pay
- Doctor's Consultation | Telemedicine Appointment
- Hormone Therapy Consultation: Six Questions to Ask
- Medical Weight-Loss Consultation: What to Ask
This article provides general educational information and is not personalized medical advice. A licensed clinician should assess treatment suitability, risks, and options.