Telehealth services use two primary pricing models: monthly or annual subscription and pay-per-visit pricing. Which model produces better value depends on how frequently you need clinical contact, what the subscription includes, and whether ongoing medication management is involved.
Subscription Telehealth
In the subscription model, you pay a recurring monthly or annual fee that includes a defined set of services, typically unlimited messaging with a clinician, periodic scheduled visits, medication management, and prescription refills. Weight loss programs (semaglutide, tirzepatide), hair loss platforms (finasteride, minoxidil), and testosterone replacement therapy platforms typically use this model because the medications require ongoing prescribing and periodic monitoring.
When subscription makes sense:
- You need ongoing medication management that requires regular prescriber access
- You use the service at least monthly
- The subscription includes services you would otherwise pay for separately (lab monitoring, follow-up visits)
When subscription may not make sense:
- You need a one-time prescription that does not require active monitoring
- You are unlikely to use more than one or two services per year
- The subscription price significantly exceeds what you would pay per visit if services were unbundled
Red flags in subscription models:
- Subscription auto-renews without easy cancellation
- Pricing changes after the first promotional month without clear disclosure
- The subscription price does not include the medication, you pay subscription plus medication separately
Pay-Per-Visit Telehealth
In the pay-per-visit model, you pay for each consultation independently. Platforms like Teladoc, MDLive, and Amazon Clinic use this model for acute care consultations. Visit prices typically run $40-80 for urgent care visits and $100-250 for specialty consultations, depending on the platform and type of clinician.
When pay-per-visit makes sense:
- Acute conditions that require a one-time evaluation and prescription
- Infrequent needs (once or twice a year)
- When you want flexibility to use different services for different needs
Common pay-per-visit use cases in men’s and women’s health:
- Acute sinusitis, UTI, or other straightforward conditions that need a prescription
- One-time evaluation for a specific concern
- Second opinion on a diagnosis or treatment approach
Hybrid Models
Some platforms use a hybrid approach: a base monthly fee for prescription management and refills, with additional per-visit charges for synchronous consultations. This model reduces the barrier to routine refills while charging appropriately for clinician time when actual consultation is needed.
The Ro (Roman) and Hims platforms use variations of this approach, their base subscription covers medication and basic messaging, with scheduled video visits available at additional cost.
Evaluating Total Cost
The key calculation for any telehealth model: what is the all-in annual cost for the services you will actually use?
For weight management: Monthly subscription ($100-400) × 12 months = $1,200-4,800/year. Compare to: cost of prescriptions at a local pharmacy through your primary care physician + copays for monitoring visits.
For hair loss: Monthly subscription ($20-80) × 12 months = $240-960/year. Compare to: cost of generic finasteride ($20-45/90 days) + one annual telehealth or in-person visit for prescription renewal.
For many single-medication conditions (finasteride, generic sildenafil), the math often favors a one-time telehealth visit for a prescription, then filling generics at a local pharmacy through GoodRx, over a recurring subscription.
For ongoing conditions requiring active monitoring (testosterone replacement therapy, GLP-1 weight management), the subscription model’s included monitoring visits and clinical access may justify the cost.
For guidance on evaluating specific platforms, see How to Evaluate Any Online Men’s Health Clinic Before Signing Up. For the GLP-1 program comparison specifically, see How to Get Weight Loss Medication Online.
