GoodRx built its reputation as the go-to app for prescription drug coupons, saving Americans an estimated $55 billion on medications since its founding. But the company has expanded into telehealth with a service that lets you see a doctor online without insurance. A GoodRx virtual visit through GoodRx Care (formerly HeyDoctor) provides on-demand medical consultations at flat-rate prices, pairing a diagnosis with the discount prescription coupons GoodRx is already known for. The result is a compelling one-stop experience for cash-pay patients who want both affordable care and affordable medications. For a wider view of how virtual care works across platforms, our telehealth guide covers the landscape.
How GoodRx Virtual Visits Work
GoodRx Care operates as both an asynchronous and synchronous telehealth platform, and this flexibility is one of its distinguishing features. For many common conditions, you don’t need a live video call. Instead, you complete a detailed questionnaire about your symptoms, medical history, and current medications. A licensed provider (physician or nurse practitioner) reviews your submission and responds with a diagnosis, treatment plan, and prescription (if appropriate) within 1 to 3 hours.
For conditions that require more conversation or visual evaluation, a live video or phone visit is available. The provider conducts a real-time consultation, asks follow-up questions, and can request photos of skin conditions or other visual symptoms. Live visits are scheduled or offered on-demand depending on the time of day and provider availability.
This asynchronous model is one of GoodRx Care’s key differentiators in the telehealth market. You don’t need to schedule a time, sit in a virtual waiting room, arrange childcare, or have your camera on. You submit your information when it’s convenient — on a lunch break, after the kids are in bed, or in between meetings — and the provider responds when they’ve reviewed everything thoroughly. For straightforward issues like UTIs, sinus infections, cold sores, and prescription refills, this approach saves considerable time compared to a live video visit.
The asynchronous model also allows providers to spend more time reviewing your information without the time pressure of a live appointment. Some healthcare professionals argue this can actually improve diagnostic accuracy for simple conditions, since the provider isn’t splitting attention between taking notes and engaging in conversation.
GoodRx Virtual Visit Pricing
GoodRx Care uses a flat-rate pricing model that varies by condition rather than by visit length. This means you know exactly what you’ll pay before starting the process, with no surprise bills. Typical prices as of 2026:
- UTI treatment: $39
- Sinus infection: $39
- Cold sore treatment (herpes simplex): $25
- Birth control prescription: $25
- Erectile dysfunction: $49
- Acne treatment: $49
- Yeast infection: $39
- Smoking cessation: $49
- Hair loss treatment: $49
- General medical consultation: $49 to $75
- Mental health consultation: $99 to $199
These prices are all-inclusive for the consultation itself. Prescription costs are separate, but here’s where GoodRx’s unique position shines: the same app that diagnoses your sinus infection automatically finds you the cheapest pharmacy for your antibiotic. After your provider prescribes a medication, GoodRx applies its discount coupons and shows you the lowest price at pharmacies near you. This integration is genuinely unique in the telehealth market and can save you significant money on medications.
For context on how these cash prices compare to insurance-based costs and when paying out of pocket makes sense, our healthcare costs guide breaks down the broader picture. Many patients on high-deductible health plans find that GoodRx Care’s flat rates are lower than the contracted rates that would apply toward their deductible through insurance-based telehealth.
Conditions Treated Through GoodRx Care
GoodRx Care covers a solid range of common conditions, though the service is more focused than full-service telehealth platforms like Teladoc or MDLIVE. The platform has deliberately concentrated on conditions where the diagnostic pathway is well-established and treatment is straightforward.
Infections and acute conditions: Urinary tract infections, sinus infections, strep throat, yeast infections, cold sores, pink eye, and minor ear infections. These are conditions with clear symptom profiles that experienced providers can diagnose confidently through questionnaires and, when needed, photo submissions. For UTI-specific details, see our guide on getting an online UTI prescription.
Skin conditions: Acne, rosacea, eczema, mild psoriasis, fungal infections, and other dermatological concerns. GoodRx Care typically uses photo submissions alongside symptom questionnaires for these visits, and a board-certified dermatologist or dermatology-trained provider reviews the images.
Sexual and reproductive health: Birth control prescriptions and renewals (including pill, patch, and ring options), emergency contraception, erectile dysfunction treatment, and STI testing orders. These services benefit from the privacy of the asynchronous model, as some patients prefer not to discuss these topics face-to-face, even on video.
Mental health: GoodRx Care offers mental health consultations including therapy and medication management for anxiety and depression. However, the behavioral health offering is less extensive than dedicated platforms like BetterHelp, Talkspace, or Cerebral. For patients with complex mental health needs, a specialized platform may be more appropriate.
Preventive care and chronic management: Cholesterol management, smoking cessation (prescription for Chantix or similar), hair loss treatment (finasteride, minoxidil), and prescription refills for maintenance medications. These recurring needs benefit from GoodRx Care’s straightforward model: request a refill, get the prescription, and use a GoodRx coupon at the pharmacy.
The GoodRx Prescription Discount Integration
What truly sets GoodRx apart from every other telehealth platform is the seamless prescription savings. After your provider prescribes a medication, GoodRx automatically shows you the lowest available price at pharmacies near your zip code, complete with a discount coupon. The app compares prices at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid, Costco, and independent pharmacies, presenting the cheapest option first.
This can result in substantial savings, especially for uninsured patients or those paying out of pocket:
- A 7-day course of nitrofurantoin for a UTI might cost $25 to $40 at retail but drop to $8 to $15 with a GoodRx coupon
- Generic amoxicillin for a sinus infection can fall from $15 to $25 retail to $4 to $8 with a coupon
- Metformin for diabetes management, which retails for $30 to $60 without insurance, often falls to $4 to $10 with a GoodRx coupon
- Generic birth control pills that cost $15 to $50 at retail can drop to $9 to $20 with a coupon
According to GoodRx, the average user saves 80% off retail prescription prices. While this figure includes all prescription types (not just those from GoodRx Care visits), the integration between telehealth and pharmacy savings creates a uniquely cost-effective experience for uninsured and cash-pay patients.
Understanding how deductibles affect your medication costs is worth exploring in our deductible vs. out-of-pocket maximum explainer. In some cases, GoodRx coupons can actually produce a lower price than your insurance copay, which is worth checking before you automatically use your insurance card at the pharmacy.
GoodRx Virtual Visit vs. Sesame vs. Insurance Telehealth
Choosing between GoodRx Care, Sesame, and your insurance company’s telehealth platform comes down to cost, convenience, and the type of care you need.
GoodRx Care vs. Sesame: Both are cash-pay platforms that bypass insurance. Sesame is a marketplace where providers set their own prices, starting as low as $29 for general consultations. GoodRx uses flat rates by condition ($25 to $75). For straightforward issues with a clear diagnosis (UTI, cold sore, birth control refill), GoodRx’s condition-specific pricing and asynchronous model may be faster and simpler. Sesame offers broader services (including specialist consultations and ongoing mental health care), more provider choice, and the ability to rebook with the same provider. GoodRx wins on prescription integration; Sesame wins on breadth and continuity.
GoodRx Care vs. insurance telehealth: If your insurance plan offers $0 telehealth copays (common with UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Cigna employer plans), your insurer’s platform is cheaper for the consultation. But if your copay is $30 or more, or if you haven’t met your deductible on a high-deductible plan, GoodRx Care may cost less overall, especially for targeted conditions like UTIs and cold sores where the flat rate is $25 to $39.
Speed comparison: GoodRx Care’s asynchronous model means no scheduling or waiting rooms, but the trade-off is that responses take 1 to 3 hours rather than the real-time interaction you get with live video platforms. For non-urgent conditions where a few hours’ wait is acceptable, the asynchronous model is perfectly adequate. For middle-of-the-night concerns where you want immediate interaction, live video platforms like MDLIVE or Teladoc have the edge.
Prescription advantage: No other telehealth platform matches GoodRx’s prescription savings integration. If you’re uninsured or your insurance pharmacy benefit has high copays, the medication savings alone can justify choosing GoodRx Care over competitors, even if the visit fee itself is slightly higher.
Limitations of GoodRx Care
GoodRx Care does not accept health insurance for the visit itself. All consultations are cash-pay, and costs do not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. If you’re strategically accumulating costs toward your deductible, using your insurance for telehealth visits makes more sense even if the immediate cost is higher.
The platform’s condition list, while covering common needs, is narrower than what Teladoc, MDLIVE, or even Sesame offers. Complex or multi-symptom presentations may not fit neatly into GoodRx Care’s condition-specific workflows. If your symptoms don’t match one of the listed conditions, you may need a different platform. Chronic disease management beyond basic refills and simple adjustments is also limited.
Controlled substance prescribing is restricted per DEA regulations. GoodRx Care cannot prescribe opioids, benzodiazepines, or stimulants through virtual visits. Some psychiatric medications may also be limited. If you need controlled substances, you’ll need an in-person provider or a platform that specifically handles those prescriptions within regulatory guidelines.
Availability varies by state. While GoodRx Care operates in most states, specific services may not be available in every jurisdiction due to state telehealth regulations and provider licensing requirements. Check the platform’s availability in your state before relying on it for a specific condition.
Continuity of care is limited compared to platforms like Sesame where you choose and can rebook with a specific provider. GoodRx Care assigns providers based on availability, and you may see a different provider each time. For one-off acute conditions, this matters less. For ongoing care, it’s a meaningful drawback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GoodRx accept insurance for virtual visits?
No. GoodRx Care is a cash-pay service. You pay the listed flat rate at the time of your visit. The cost does not apply toward your insurance deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. However, GoodRx prescription coupons can be used alongside or instead of your insurance pharmacy benefit, and in some cases the coupon price is lower than your insurance copay.
How long does it take to hear back from a GoodRx provider?
For asynchronous visits (questionnaire-based), most patients receive a provider response within 1 to 3 hours during business hours. Response times may be longer during evenings, weekends, and holidays. Live video visits, when available for your condition, connect you with a provider in real time with minimal wait.
Can GoodRx Care prescribe antibiotics?
Yes. GoodRx Care providers routinely prescribe antibiotics for conditions like UTIs, sinus infections, strep throat, skin infections, and ear infections. The prescription is sent electronically to your chosen pharmacy with a GoodRx discount coupon automatically applied, often reducing the antibiotic cost to under $10.
Is GoodRx Care the same as GoodRx Gold?
No. GoodRx Gold is a subscription service ($9.99/month for individuals, $19.99/month for families) that offers deeper discounts on prescriptions at the pharmacy. GoodRx Care is the telehealth consultation service where you see a provider for a medical issue. They are separate products under the GoodRx umbrella. GoodRx Gold members can use their enhanced discounts on prescriptions from GoodRx Care visits for even lower medication costs.
Can I use GoodRx Care for ongoing prescriptions?
Yes, for certain maintenance medications. GoodRx Care handles prescription refills for birth control, cholesterol medications, blood pressure medications, and other non-controlled maintenance drugs. You complete a brief questionnaire, a provider reviews your refill request, and the prescription is sent to your pharmacy. This is useful between regular doctor visits or if you’re between insurance plans.
The Bottom Line
A GoodRx virtual visit makes the most sense for patients who want a fast, affordable consultation for a specific condition and who value the integrated prescription discount. The asynchronous model is efficient for clear-cut issues like UTIs, sinus infections, and prescription refills. If you need broader telehealth services, live video interaction, ongoing provider relationships, or have $0 copay insurance telehealth available, other platforms may serve you better. But for cash-pay patients who want diagnosis and discounted medication in one streamlined experience, GoodRx Care delivers a uniquely cost-effective solution.