Healthcare is expensive. It’s even more so if you are underinsured or uninsured. If you are one of the millions of Americans struggling to get quality care that fits your budget, you are probably looking for low-or-no-cost methods of seeking medical attention.

Telehealth (online medical care) has made it easier to get affordable healthcare without the hassle of going to a clinic in person. It has also made it easier to pay for sub-standard health services. In this article, we’ll untangle the vast web of free and low-cost healthcare options available to consumers to help you find the type of care you need.

Finding a Free Online Doctor

Finding a free online doctor requires some patience and careful research. Unfortunately, many websites claim to offer free healthcare or free doctor visits but limit their options to make you pay for medical attention.

Many of these “free” sites work like this: you create a profile and submit a free query (a health issue or question) to a doctor or chatbot. These are messaging-based platforms, and you will receive the answer to your question via email or a messaging chain. This first step is often free, but any follow-up questions, video consultations, phone conversations, or prescriptions will incur a fee.

Most of these sites operate with a subscription-based pricing plan, meaning you pay a certain monthly amount for unlimited messaging with providers. These online doctor consultations offer medical advice to help address any worrying symptoms you have. Still, it's important to note that you might not see a doctor face-to-face, and you may have to pay for any communication beyond your first health query. When shopping for free or low-cost healthcare, you should check the site’s information or FAQ page for pricing.

Finding Low-Cost Online Care

The options listed below are not free of charge, but they do offer online care for many medical conditions and health issues. These services are often considerably cheaper than going to a clinic and paying for your care out-of-pocket. This way, the options listed below can save you time and money.

While healthcare on Sesame is not free, it is considerably more affordable than paying for care out-of-pocket. Doctor visits on Sesame are conducted in person or over video platforms, ensuring you will see an experienced doctor rather than a chatbot.

Sesame offers telehealth and in-person visits with specialists trained to diagnose and treat hundreds of conditions and health issues.

You can book a visit with:

• Primary care providers
  
• Urgent care specialists
  
• Pediatricians
  
• Weight loss experts
  
• Mental health providers (like psychiatrists and therapists)
  
• Dermatologists
  
• Women’s and men’s health specialists
  
• Allergy experts
  
  

All appointments on Sesame are HIPAA compliant, so your information is confidential and secure.

Sesame also offers upfront cash-pay pricing. Upfront pricing means that the price we list on the site for care is your price. You will not incur additional charges or fees for your care. If you need a prescription or a follow-up appointment, your provider will discuss how much those services cost.

For those seeking medical care that doesn’t break the bank, Sesame promises quality care from real, top doctors at transparent prices.

Your Doctors Online is a chat platform that allows patients to chat with doctors online. Your Doctors is free to join, but a subscription is required to chat with a doctor. To do so, click the “Download App” button on the website to get the app on your phone or mobile device.

During an appointment on Your Doctors, you can discuss any symptoms or concerns you are experiencing for medical advice. If appropriate, providers on Your Doctors can write prescriptions or refill existing ones. You will need to pay for your prescription or refill in the app.

Once in the app, you’ll fill out a profile with pertinent information (date of birth, country of residence, phone number) and list any dependents you may have. ‘

After completing your profile, you will be prompted by the app to describe the medical issue or health query you are seeking attention for. After this step, you will be connected to an online doctor via a chat platform. Healthcare providers on Your Doctors offer diagnoses and prescriptions for various medical conditions, including respiratory tract infections, skin conditions, and bacterial infections. Providers on Your Doctors also offer sick notes and prescription refills, if appropriate.

JustAnswer is an on-demand online doctor consultation platform that connects patients to providers through text-based chats. JustAnswer has a monthly pricing plan, offering unlimited access to provider communication for a $1 initiation fee and $46 monthly. This includes access to primary care providers, specialists, and mental health experts. While JustAnswer is not free, it is a low-cost way to chat with doctors 24/7 from the comfort of your home.

The chats on JustAnswer offer the opportunity to get medical advice and guidance from board-certified doctors without the hassle of going to a clinic. The first time you join the site, you will be greeted by an AI assistant who will ask you what you are seeking care for. From there, you will be referred to the best doctor for your needs.

After this referral, you can communicate with your provider over chat, email, or phone. You will usually get a quick response from providers on JustAnswer, and you can expedite the process (and make your doctor visit more effective) with any photos or test results related to your condition that you may have.

Finding Free Healthcare

To find quality free healthcare for your medical condition from licensed healthcare providers, we recommend enrolling in Medicaid or looking for community-based non-profit health organizations.

Medicaid is a government-funded healthcare program in the United States that provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families. It is jointly administered by federal and state governments, with states having some flexibility in determining eligibility criteria and benefits.

Eligible beneficiaries typically include low-income individuals, pregnant women, children, seniors, and people managing disabilities. Medicaid offers comprehensive healthcare coverage, including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and preventive services, to those who qualify based on income and other factors. Beneficiaries may not have to pay premiums, and their out-of-pocket costs are often minimal or nonexistent.

While not all clinics that work with Medicaid offer online health services, many do. Once you find a clinic that accepts Medicaid coverage near you, give them a call or check out their website to see if they offer telehealth services.

There are many free healthcare organizations that offer free or low-cost services to individuals who need them.

Not all of these free or low-cost clinics offer telehealth services. If you want medical advice or healthcare without going to a clinic in person, call the clinic or provider ahead of your appointment to ask if they can see you online or talk you through your health issue over the phone.

• The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
  
• US Department of Health and Human Services
  
• Preventive Health Services
  
  
  
  

Don’t pay for substandard care. Knowing your options helps you make the best choice for your needs and budget. Many sites do not list their prices upfront, and you might get stuck paying for a subscription you don’t want or use. If you want to know more about a service provider, check out their FAQ page or information page to get a sense of how the site works and what they offer—and how much it costs. Use the table above and your research to make the most informed decision about your healthcare. A little digging will go a long way toward saving you money and surprises on the type of medical treatment you receive.