Telehealth for Small Business Owners and Self-Employed Professionals

TeleDirectMD visits start at $49 self-pay — no insurance required. You know the cost before you book, with no surprise bills afterward. For comparison, a Penn Medicine study published in JAMA Network Open found that telehealth visits average $96 compared to $509 for equivalent in-person episodes. Urgent care without insurance typically runs $150–$350, and an ER visit can reach $500–$3,000 or more. For a self-employed professional without employer benefits, a $49 telehealth visit is often the most cost-effective option for the vast majority of non-emergency conditions. We also accept HSA and FSA funds, which many small business owners use to manage out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

Yes. Chronic condition management — including hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, and other ongoing conditions — is one of the most common and valuable uses of telehealth for self-employed professionals. Rather than scheduling a dedicated appointment every time you need a medication refill or a routine check-in, you can connect with a board-certified physician via video on your schedule. TeleDirectMD can review your history, manage refills, and advise on treatment adjustments. Conditions requiring lab work or in-person evaluation will be triaged appropriately, with referral guidance when needed.

No. TeleDirectMD is designed specifically for people who cannot afford to lose half a business day to a waiting room. Same-day visits are available, including evenings and weekends. A typical visit takes 10–15 minutes via secure video on your smartphone — no app download required. You can connect between client meetings, during a lunch break, after business hours, or on a Saturday morning. There is no commute, no waiting room, and no lost revenue from closing your business for the afternoon.

TeleDirectMD is licensed in 41 states. The states we serve include Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and 34 more across the country. The states we do not currently serve are New York, Alaska, Arkansas, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. As long as you are physically located in one of our covered states at the time of your visit, you can be seen — regardless of where your business is registered or where you primarily live. Visit our States We Serve page for the complete list.

Yes, when clinically appropriate. TeleDirectMD can prescribe a wide range of non-controlled medications, including antibiotics, blood pressure medications, cholesterol management drugs, thyroid medications, migraine treatments, acid reflux medications, and more. Prescriptions are sent electronically to any pharmacy you choose — CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid, or any independent pharmacy near you. TeleDirectMD does not prescribe controlled substances. If your condition requires a medication that cannot be prescribed via telehealth, we will advise you accordingly and provide referral guidance.

For the conditions TeleDirectMD treats, the comparison is straightforward. Urgent care without insurance typically costs $150–$350 and requires a trip to a physical location with wait times that can stretch to an hour or more. TeleDirectMD starts at $49, connects you with a board-certified physician via video from wherever you are, and a typical visit takes 10–15 minutes. GoodRx data consistently shows telehealth as the most affordable option for non-emergency conditions. The one trade-off: telehealth is not appropriate for conditions requiring physical examination, imaging, or lab work at the time of visit. For those, we will refer you to the appropriate in-person resource.

TeleDirectMD is a solo physician practice. When you visit TeleDirectMD, you are seeing Dr. Parth Bhavsar, MD — a board-certified family medicine physician licensed in 41 states. This means continuity of care is built into the model. Your physician knows your history, your medications, and your ongoing conditions from visit to visit — which is meaningfully different from large telehealth platforms that route you to whoever is available. Consistent care with a physician who knows your history is especially valuable for small business owners managing chronic conditions over time.

TeleDirectMD accepts credit cards, debit cards, HSA (Health Savings Account) funds, and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) funds. Many self-employed professionals and small business owners use HSA or FSA accounts to pay for healthcare expenses tax-advantaged — and TeleDirectMD visits qualify. Insurance is also accepted in select states. You will see your payment options clearly at checkout before completing your booking, with no hidden fees.