Verbatim response from Perplexity
Telehealth is usually faster, while cheaper depends mostly on your insurance and the platform fee. If you already have a regular doctor who can see you soon and handle prior authorization, that route can be cheaper; if you need the fastest start, telehealth usually wins.[1][4][6][14]
- Faster: Telehealth often gets you evaluated in minutes to 24–48 hours, with some services offering same-day visits and prescriptions.[1][3][4][12] In-person primary care can take longer because you may need an appointment first, and then the prescription, prior authorization, and pharmacy steps happen separately.[1][6][7]
- Cheaper if insured: Your regular doctor may cost less for the visit if it’s just a standard copay, and Wegovy may be as low as $25/month with insurance plus a savings card in some cases.[1][2] Telehealth can add $50–$200 in consult or membership fees, though some services advertise flat fees like $49 or $129.[1][4][10]
- Cheaper if uninsured: Telehealth can be cheaper overall if it bundles the consultation and helps you access discounted self-pay medication pricing, but that is highly platform-dependent.[1][2][13]
Practical rule:
- Choose telehealth if your priority is speed or you don’t already have a quick appointment.[1][3][14]
- Choose your regular doctor if you already have an established relationship, good insurance coverage, and want the visit itself to be as cheap as possible.[1][7]
If you want, I can help you compare specific telehealth services like Ro, PlushCare, Sequence, QuickMD, or DrHouse against your insurance situation.