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Telemedicine, or virtual healthcare delivered online, can certainly make it easier to get help for medical and mental health symptoms from the security and comfort of your own home.

Still, you might find yourself juggling multiple telehealth platforms if you need care for both physical and behavioral health concerns. This may feel slightly less frustrating than making trips to two (or three) different clinics, sure. Still, it probably falls short of what you consider valuable use of your time.

But what if you could access support for physical and mental health needs with one service?

That’s what MDLIVE aims to provide. This virtual doctor’s office, you can connect with a doctor, physician, therapist, or psychiatrist.

You’ll find an in-depth exploration of MDLIVE’s healthcare options below, including information about how the service works, conditions treated, cost, and more.

MDLIVE offers a 24/7 virtual clinic for non-emergency medical and mental health symptoms.

The service treats more than 80 concerns, including:

You can also use MDLIVE to get a prescription for birth control pills or to refill other medications.

When it comes to behavioral health, MDLIVE professionals can provide support for several mental health conditions, including:

You can also use the service to get help coping with life stress and other emotional concerns that may not necessarily represent a mental health diagnosis, such as:

Because MDLIVE also offers psychiatry services, you can also make an appointment with a psychiatrist to discuss medication options for treatment.

Pros

  • The service accepts insurance.
  • You can choose your own therapist or psychiatrist.
  • You can schedule psychiatry or therapy appointments for children ages 10 and up.
  • If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, you can use live chat during your appointment. This feature complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and works only on the MDLIVE website.
  • You can request an MDLIVE appointment 24/7, on any day of the year.
  • Therapy appointments are available over video or telephone.
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Cons

  • While you can request an appointment at any time, you may have to wait some time to see a doctor or mental health professional.
  • Therapist availability may be more limited, so you may have a harder time scheduling an evening or weekend appointment.
  • MDLIVE psychiatrists can prescribe medications to treat mental health symptoms, but they can’t prescribe stimulant medications, benzodiazepines, and certain other psychiatric medications.
  • Mental health professionals can’t provide recommendations for emotional support animals or complete disability paperwork.
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You can sign up for MDLIVE using your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Download the app at:

Getting started

Begin the registration process by visiting the MDLIVE website or downloading the app. From there, you’ll enter personal information like your name and date of birth, insurance information, and any existing health conditions. Next, you’ll describe any concerns bringing you to MDLIVE.

You can then review the list of available mental health professionals to choose your therapist or psychiatrist and schedule an appointment.

If you don’t have insurance, you’ll need to pay for the appointment once you schedule it.

Choosing a therapist or psychiatrist

All MDLIVE mental health professionals hold current licenses and have experience providing mental health support. They also have experience in telehealth, which can make for a smoother transition as you get started with online therapy.

Available professionals may depend on your location, but you can choose from different types of mental health professionals, such as:

  • licensed clinical social workers
  • licensed professional counselors
  • licensed mental health counselors
  • licensed marriage and family therapists
  • psychologists
  • psychiatrists

You can review a therapist’s profile and credentials before booking an appointment, just as you would when searching for any mental health professional.

Types of therapy offered

Therapists take widely varying approaches to treatment, depending, in part, on their areas of specialty.

Examples of therapy approaches offered by MDLIVE therapists include:

Again, different therapists specialize in treating different mental health concerns. Not all therapists will offer every approach.

Getting a prescription

If you’d like to try treating mental health symptoms with an antidepressant or other psychiatric medication, you’ll want to make an appointment with a psychiatrist.

During the consultation, your psychiatrist can evaluate symptoms, provide a mental health diagnosis, and recommend medication.

Keep in mind, though, that making an appointment with a psychiatrist doesn’t guarantee they’ll prescribe any medication. They may recommend reaching out to a psychiatrist in person for further evaluation, particularly if you need a prescription for:

  • controlled substances, including stimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or benzodiazepines for anxiety or panic disorder
  • medications that require lab work, like the mood stabilizer lithium or the anticonvulsants sodium valproate or carbamazepine
  • medical cannabis
  • sleeping pills
  • detox medications

The cost for MDLIVE varies based on the type of appointment you schedule:

  • To connect with a therapist, you’ll pay $108 for each 45- to 60-minute therapy session.
  • To connect with a psychiatrist, you’ll pay $284 for your initial 15- to 30-minute consultation and $108 for a shorter follow-up appointment.
  • Urgent care appointments are $85.
  • Dermatology appointments are $95.

These rates don’t include any insurance benefits you might have.

MDLIVE does accept insurance from a number of plans, including:

  • Regence
  • Cigna
  • Humana
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Independence
  • AvMed

You can also use HSA or FSA funds to cover your MDLIVE visit.

Your copay and coverage will vary, depending on your insurance, but some insurance plans may completely cover the cost of some health visits.

While online therapy may not work well for everyone, it can have a lot of benefits. This is especially true if you find it tough to schedule or keep in-person appointments.

MDLIVE offers flexible appointments, and you might be able to book evening or weekend therapy and psychiatry appointments. You can “show up” for these appointments, so to speak, without even leaving your house. This can add a layer of convenience if you’re sick or working from home.

In terms of mental health support, teletherapy can offer a few key benefits, such as increasing your access to mental health professionals and making therapy more affordable.

One 2017 review considered 25 different studies on telemental health treatment approaches. Researchers found evidence to suggest options for online therapy and psychiatric care could provide affordable, adaptable, and efficient treatment for people in need of support.

A 2020 review noted that options for online medical and mental health treatment do more than increase access to care. They also help prevent the spread of COVID-19. In short, teletherapy and telepsychiatry appointments can have even more benefits during the pandemic.

Find other options for affordable mental health care.

What do the reviews say?

MDLIVE earns mostly high ratings from reviewers.

  • At Trustpilot, the service averages 4.7 stars from over 11,600 reviews.
  • At Google Play, the service averages 4.7 stars from over 7,200 reviews.
  • At the App Store, the service averages 4.7 stars from over 56,000 reviews.

Some reviewers report issues like:

  • long wait times for appointments
  • technical issues and bugs that make it difficult to use the service
  • cancellations from therapists with no notice
  • negative experiences with their therapists

Some people mention that scheduling ongoing appointments with the same therapist can be something of a challenge, unless you can book those appointments as soon as you finish your session.

For the most part, though, people report positive experiences with treatment. They call their therapists helpful, knowledgeable, and caring.

MDLIVE could be a good option for your mental and emotional health needs if you have limited time for in-person sessions and want professional guidance and support with:

  • everyday life challenges, like work and financial concerns or family and parenting difficulties
  • stress, workplace difficulties, and burnout
  • substance use or addiction
  • learning and practicing new coping skills
  • symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma
  • relationship issues — some therapists specialize in couples counseling

A few symptoms and conditions this service can’t help with are:

  • hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms of psychosis
  • any mental health condition with symptoms severe enough to keep you from participating in regular activities or daily life
  • mental health symptoms in children younger than 10 years old
  • moderate or severe autism
  • mental health crises that involve thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Need help now?

Thinking about hurting yourself or someone else? MDLIVE may not be able to offer support, but you still have options.

Trained crisis counselors can offer compassionate support 24/7, 365 days a year, no matter your mental health crisis. They’ll help you explore coping strategies for the moment and offer information about resources for ongoing support.

Find more suicide prevention resources here.

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In some cases, MDLIVE therapists may recommend working with an in-person therapist who can offer better support for severe symptoms — even if those symptoms relate to a concern that MDLIVE does treat, like anxiety or depression.

Their goal involves helping you get the right kind of support for your needs, after all. Online therapy simply can’t meet every mental health need.

Healthcare professionals generally acknowledge the potential benefits of telemedicine. Still, many caution against relying on telemental health care for regular, ongoing support. This is especially important when it comes to serious mental health symptoms.

All the same, virtual treatment platforms like MDLIVE can help you get professional support when you need it most, especially when you have few (if any) options for in-person treatment.

Interested in exploring how MDLIVE can help with behavioral health concerns? Get started here.

Crystal Raypole writes for Healthline and Psych Central. Her fields of interest include Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health, along with books, books, and more books. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. She lives in Washington with her son and a lovably recalcitrant cat.