Telehealth use surged in 2020 and then settled at a lasting plateau. Claims tracking from FAIR Health shows that telehealth now makes up a small single-digit share of medical claim lines nationally, and mental health conditions are the leading diagnosis category by a wide margin. Video visits did not replace in-person care, but they became a permanent part of how Americans reach clinicians.
Virtual care platforms deliver that access. Some employ clinicians and treat patients directly. Others license software to health systems, practices and payers. Many sit between the two, offering a mix of staffing, technology and care coordination. The distinction matters, because buying a video tool is different from outsourcing a clinical service.
Virtual care also covers more than video. It includes secure messaging, asynchronous visits where a clinician reviews information later, remote patient monitoring with connected devices and hybrid models that blend virtual and in-person care. The 20 platforms below span that spectrum, and the list is not a ranking. Whether a service is available in a given state depends on clinician licensing and local rules.
What Are Virtual Care Platforms?
Virtual care is the delivery of health services by digital means. Telemedicine refers to clinical services delivered remotely, and telehealth is a broader term that includes education, administration and monitoring. In practice the terms overlap, and regulators use them differently.
Synchronous care happens in real time by video or phone. Asynchronous care uses messages or forms that clinicians review later, which suits simple conditions and follow-ups. Remote patient monitoring collects data such as blood pressure or glucose at home and sends it to clinicians. Hybrid care combines virtual visits with in-person visits under one care team.
Continuity and records matter. A one-time video visit with an unfamiliar clinician is different from a longitudinal relationship with a team that has access to the full chart. Care coordination requires shared records, referral pathways and clear escalation when a problem needs an exam or tests.
Core Virtual Care Technologies
Platforms combine video conferencing, secure messaging, digital intake forms, electronic prescribing, remote monitoring integrations and links to electronic health records. Identity verification and consent capture support compliance. Scheduling and billing modules connect virtual visits to revenue systems. Analytics track utilization and outcomes.
Direct Care Versus Virtual Care Infrastructure
Direct care companies employ or contract clinicians and bill patients or payers. Teladoc, Amazon One Medical, Hims and Hers, Ro and K Health fall mainly in this group. Infrastructure companies sell software to health systems and practices, such as Doxy.me, VSee, eVisit and Caregility. Staffing and network companies, such as OpenLoop and Wheel, provide clinician networks for other digital health brands.
| Model | Communication type | Use case | Clinical limitations | Escalation requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synchronous video visit | Live video | Acute minor illness, follow-up | No physical exam | In-person visit when exam needed |
| Asynchronous review | Messages, photos, forms | Skin issues, refills | Delay, limited detail | Convert to live visit |
| Remote patient monitoring | Device data | Hypertension, diabetes, heart failure | Alert burden, data quality | Clinician action on alerts |
| Hybrid care | Mix | Primary care, chronic disease | Coordination | Clear referral to clinic |
| Virtual specialty | Video, records | Behavioral health, dermatology | Condition suitability | Escalation for severe symptoms |
20 Virtual Care Platforms and Providers
Candidates were selected for documented operations and a clear role in virtual care. Corporate structures have changed frequently in this sector. Doctor On Demand merged into Included Health, and Accolade, which owned PlushCare, was acquired by Teladoc. Two candidates that do not operate as virtual care platforms were replaced. Services should be confirmed by state before relying on them.
Virtual care companies fall into distinct groups: direct care providers that employ or contract clinicians, software vendors that license platforms to health systems, clinician network and staffing companies that power other brands, and remote monitoring programs. The profile for each identifies which it is. Licensing, reimbursement and prescribing rules vary by state and change often, so geographic availability and coverage should be confirmed with each company. Examples labeled hypothetical are illustrations and not documented deployments.
1. Teladoc Health
Model: direct care, employer and plan platform.
Site: teladochealth.com
Teladoc Health is one of the largest virtual care companies, offering on demand general medical visits, virtual primary care, behavioral health through BetterHelp and chronic condition programs that came from its 2020 acquisition of Livongo. It reported revenue of about $2.6 billion for 2024 and agreed in 2025 to acquire Accolade, which owns the PlushCare virtual primary care service. Employers and health plans buy most services, while BetterHelp is largely consumer paid.
A hypothetical employee with a sinus infection requests a visit by phone or video, a clinician reviews symptoms and sends a prescription to a local pharmacy. A member with diabetes might receive a connected meter and coaching. Strengths include scale and breadth. Limits include utilization that depends on employer promotion and the lack of in person exams. Large impairment charges tied to past acquisitions show that integration has been difficult.
2. Included Health
Model: navigation, virtual primary care and expert medical opinion.
Site: includedhealth.com
Included Health resulted from the 2021 merger of Grand Rounds and Doctor On Demand. It combines care navigation, virtual primary and urgent care, behavioral health and expert second opinions, typically sold to employers and health plans as an integrated benefit. Care teams help members find in person specialists and coordinate follow up.
A hypothetical member told to have back surgery can request an expert opinion and a matched surgeon, while a parent uses virtual urgent care for a child’s rash. The advantage is a single entry point that links virtual and in person care. Limits include the need for employers to promote use before members choose care on their own, and the fact that outcomes data come mostly from the company.
3. MDLIVE
Model: direct care owned by Evernorth, the health services arm of Cigna.
Site: mdlive.com
MDLIVE provides virtual urgent care, primary care, behavioral health and dermatology visits, delivered through a network of licensed clinicians. It reaches members mostly through health plans and employers, particularly those with Cigna and Evernorth, and also accepts consumers who pay directly in some cases. Cigna acquired the company in 2021.
A hypothetical employee schedules an evening behavioral health appointment by video through the plan’s app. Strengths are integration with plan benefits and cost sharing. Limits include variation by state in available clinicians and services, and the fact that continuity with the same clinician is not guaranteed in on demand visits.
4. Amazon One Medical
Model: hybrid primary care with membership and pay per visit options.
Site: onemedical.com
One Medical combines in person primary care offices in selected cities with virtual visits and messaging. Amazon completed its acquisition of the company in 2023 for about $3.9 billion. It sells membership to consumers, including a reduced rate for Amazon Prime members, and contracts with employers, and it offers pay per visit virtual care for some conditions. Pricing and eligibility change, so details should be checked.
A hypothetical employee in a covered city books a same day video visit for an urgent concern, then an in person physical in the same system, with records visible to both clinicians. Strengths are continuity and integrated records. Limits include the limited number of cities with offices and questions about data use under Amazon’s ownership.
5. PlushCare
Model: virtual primary care and urgent care, owned by Teladoc through Accolade.
Site: plushcare.com
PlushCare offers virtual primary care, urgent care and some chronic condition and mental health services, with a membership option and visits that insurance may cover. It was acquired by Accolade, which Teladoc agreed to acquire in 2025, so brand and service structure may change.
A hypothetical patient with high blood pressure uses PlushCare to renew a prescription and review home readings with a physician. Strengths are access to primary care without a clinic wait. Limits include the need for in person labs or exams for some conditions and the uncertainty that follows ownership changes.
6. K Health
Model: AI assisted intake with clinician delivered virtual primary care.
Site: khealth.com
K Health, founded in 2016, uses an AI symptom checker that draws on large sets of anonymized records to suggest likely conditions, then connects the user to a clinician for text or video visits. It launched a virtual care service with Cedars-Sinai in 2023, which shows how a health system can pair with a technology company. Its model is mainly direct to consumer and through partnerships.
A hypothetical user with urinary symptoms completes the AI intake, which routes to a clinician who reviews and treats. Strengths are speed and low cost for simple conditions. Limits include the fact that the symptom checker is not a diagnosis and that continuity across providers depends on partnerships.
7. Hims and Hers Health
Model: direct to consumer telehealth with its own pharmacy network.
Site: forhims.com
Hims and Hers, a public company, offers consultations and prescriptions for hair loss, sexual health, dermatology, mental health and weight management. It reported about $1.5 billion in revenue for 2024 and several million subscribers. Clinicians in affiliated medical groups review online intake forms, and products ship from its pharmacies.
A hypothetical customer completes a questionnaire about hair loss, a clinician reviews it and a prescription ships monthly by subscription. Strengths are convenience and discretion. Limits include regulatory attention to compounded weight loss drugs and advertising claims, and the fact that asynchronous visits provide less examination than in person care.
8. Ro
Model: direct to consumer telehealth and pharmacy.
Site: ro.co
Ro offers virtual care for sexual health, weight management, dermatology, smoking cessation and other needs, along with its own pharmacy. It has promoted programs that include GLP-1 medications through brand name arrangements and offers coaching for lifestyle support. Medical groups affiliated with the company supply the clinicians.
A hypothetical patient seeking weight management completes an assessment, a clinician reviews eligibility and prescribes if appropriate, with follow up through the app. Strengths include a single platform for visits and pharmacy. Limits include cost, since many programs are cash pay, and questions about whether telehealth only prescribing provides enough follow up for chronic conditions.
9. Talkspace
Model: behavioral health, with payer and consumer channels.
Site: talkspace.com
Talkspace delivers therapy and psychiatry through messaging, video and audio, and it has shifted from mostly consumer paid services to payer contracts so insurance covers visits. It is publicly traded and reports annual revenue of under $200 million, which makes it smaller than the largest virtual care companies.
A hypothetical member covered by a partner health plan chooses a therapist from a directory, books video sessions and uses messaging between visits. Strengths are the covered access to mental health care. Limits include variation in clinician fit and the inability to handle emergencies, so crisis services such as the 988 line are the proper route in an emergency.
10. Cerebral
Model: direct to consumer behavioral health.
Site: cerebral.com
Cerebral offers virtual therapy and medication management for conditions such as depression, anxiety and attention deficit disorder. It drew regulatory scrutiny, settling with the Justice Department in 2024 over controlled substance prescribing practices and with the Federal Trade Commission in 2024 over sharing sensitive data for advertising. It has since changed leadership and practices.
A hypothetical patient seeks an evaluation, meets a clinician by video and receives a treatment plan. The strength is access to care. The cautionary lesson is that enforcement actions show why buyers should review clinical governance, prescribing policies and privacy practices of any direct to consumer mental health provider.
11. Amwell
Model: technology vendor with some direct care.
Site: amwell.com
Amwell, formerly American Well, sells a telehealth platform to health systems, payers and government customers, including video visits, scheduling, hospital based virtual care and integrations with electronic health records. It went public in 2020 and reported revenue of roughly $250 million for 2024, with continuing losses. It also operates a services business that supplies clinicians for some clients.
A hypothetical health system might use the platform to add a virtual urgent care entry point branded as its own, with visits recorded in the system’s chart. Strengths include enterprise integration and a track record with large clients. Limits include financial pressure on the company and competition from systems that build tools in house or use their EHR vendor’s telehealth module.
12. Doxy.me
Model: software for independent practitioners.
Site: doxy.me
Doxy.me provides a browser based video tool with a virtual waiting room, widely used by therapists, physicians and allied health professionals. It offers a free tier and paid plans with extra features, and it states that it supports HIPAA compliance, including business associate agreements, which practices should confirm for their plan.
A hypothetical therapist in solo practice sends a client a link, with no app download needed, and conducts sessions through the browser. Strengths are simplicity and low cost. Limits include fewer electronic health record integrations than enterprise platforms and limited tools for large organizations.
13. VSee
Model: software for telehealth and remote collaboration.
Site: vsee.com
VSee, based in Sunnyvale, provides video and collaboration software for telehealth, designed to work on low bandwidth connections. It has been used in humanitarian settings, government projects and clinical programs, and it supports remote monitoring device integrations.
A hypothetical remote clinic with unreliable internet uses it to connect a nurse with a specialist for a consultation. Strengths are performance on constrained networks. Limits include a smaller ecosystem than the largest vendors and the need to confirm integrations for a specific EHR.
14. eVisit
Model: virtual care platform for health systems and practices.
Site: evisit.com
eVisit provides software for video visits, a virtual waiting room, scheduling and EHR integration, aimed at health systems and medical groups. Its focus is giving organizations their own branded virtual front door.
A hypothetical orthopedic group uses eVisit for follow up visits after surgery so patients avoid travel. Strengths are workflow fit for provider organizations. Limits include the need to verify integration depth and the fact that it is a software tool, so clinicians come from the customer.
15. Mend
Model: virtual care experience software.
Site: mend.com
Mend builds software for patient engagement around virtual and in person visits, such as reminders, waiting rooms and digital intake. It sells to health systems and practices. Confirm product scope and ownership before purchase, since vendors in this category often reposition.
A hypothetical health system uses Mend to send pre visit instructions and text updates to reduce no shows. Strengths include patient communication features. Limits include the fact that it does not provide clinicians and depends on integrations with scheduling and records systems.
16. Caregility
Model: hospital virtual care platform.
Site: caregility.com
Caregility provides software and video endpoints for hospitals, including virtual nursing, tele sitting, tele ICU and specialist consults. It targets staffing pressure by letting a remote nurse support bedside staff with admission and discharge tasks.
A hypothetical hospital places a camera in rooms for patients at fall risk and a remote observer monitors several rooms at once. Strengths are inpatient focus. Limits include the need for hospital infrastructure and change management, and the fact that evidence on patient outcomes continues to develop.
17. OpenLoop Health
Model: clinician network and operations for digital health brands.
Site: openloophealth.com
OpenLoop provides a network of licensed clinicians, medical group structures and operational support so digital health companies and retailers can offer telehealth under their own brands. It is infrastructure behind consumer services, not a consumer brand in itself.
A hypothetical startup launching a dermatology service uses OpenLoop for clinician staffing, licensing and compliance. Strengths are speed to market. Limits include that quality and governance depend on contractual oversight, and that patients may not know which medical group is responsible for care.
18. Wheel
Model: clinician network and compliance infrastructure.
Site: wheel.com
Wheel supplies a virtual care clinician network and technology that other companies use to offer telehealth services, handling clinician licensing, prescribing workflows and compliance. Its customers are digital health companies and enterprises that do not want to build a medical group.
A hypothetical consumer wellness brand adds virtual consultations through Wheel’s network rather than hiring physicians. Strengths include licensing coverage and clinical operations. Limits are similar to other networks: the brand is separate from the clinical entity, which can complicate accountability.
19. HealthTap
Model: virtual primary care for payers and employers.
Site: healthtap.com
HealthTap began as an online platform for physician answers to health questions and developed virtual primary care with AI assisted triage. It partners with health plans and employers to provide members with virtual visits and care navigation.
A hypothetical member uses the app to message a physician about a persistent cough and is directed to an in person visit when needed. Strengths include ease of access. Limits include a narrower specialty range and the need to confirm current partnerships, since its market position has shifted over time.
20. Cadence
Model: remote patient monitoring with clinician support.
Site: cadence.care
Cadence provides remote monitoring programs for chronic conditions such as hypertension and heart failure, shipping connected devices to patients and using nurses and physicians to review readings and adjust care. It addresses the alert fatigue problem by handling data review through its own clinical team and sending summaries to the patient’s practice.
A hypothetical patient with uncontrolled blood pressure receives a cuff, sends readings daily and a nurse contacts the patient when readings cross thresholds, with the primary care physician approving medication changes. Evidence from trials supports home blood pressure monitoring with clinician follow up. Limits include reimbursement rules, patient engagement and the need to coordinate with the patient’s regular practice.
| Company | Platform type | Clinical services | Target users | Geographic coverage | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teladoc Health | Direct care and platform | General, mental health, chronic | Employers, plans, consumers | National | EHR, plan feeds |
| Included Health | Navigation and care | Primary, behavioral, specialty | Employers, plans | National | Plan data |
| MDLIVE | Direct care | Urgent, primary, behavioral | Plan members | Most states | Plan systems |
| Amazon One Medical | Hybrid primary care | Primary and urgent care | Members | Selected metros plus virtual | Own EHR |
| PlushCare | Virtual primary care | Primary, urgent | Consumers | Many states | Pharmacy |
| K Health | AI plus clinicians | Primary care | Consumers, systems | Many states | Health system links |
| Hims and Hers | Consumer telehealth | Dermatology, sexual health, weight | Consumers | Many states | Pharmacy |
| Ro | Consumer telehealth | Weight, general | Consumers | Many states | Pharmacy |
| Talkspace | Behavioral health | Therapy, psychiatry | Consumers, payers | Many states | Payer billing |
| Cerebral | Behavioral health | Therapy, medication | Consumers | Many states | Pharmacy |
| Amwell | Platform and care | Video, hospital at home | Systems, payers | National | EHR |
| Doxy.me | Video tool | None, software | Practices | Global | Limited |
| VSee | Video tool | None, software | Systems, practices | Global | Limited |
| eVisit | Platform | None, software | Systems | National | EHR |
| Mend | Platform | None, software | Systems | National | EHR |
| Caregility | Hospital platform | Virtual nursing support | Hospitals | National | Hospital systems |
| OpenLoop | Clinician network | Staffing | Digital brands | Many states | API |
| Wheel | Clinician network | Staffing | Digital brands | Many states | API |
| HealthTap | Virtual primary care | Primary | Plans, employers | Many states | Plan data |
| Cadence | Remote monitoring | Chronic disease | Practices, plans | Many states | EHR |
Virtual Care Across Medical Specialties
Behavioral health is the strongest fit, because therapy and medication management work well on video, and mental health leads telehealth use. Primary care follow-ups, medication refreshes and minor acute illness also suit remote care. Dermatology works with photos, though skin cancer concerns need in-person exams. Chronic disease management benefits from remote monitoring and frequent check-ins. Urgent care by video suits conditions such as urinary tract infections or rashes but not chest pain or serious injuries.
Escalation pathways are essential. A clinician must be able to send a patient to an emergency room or schedule in-person tests when needed. Continuity requires that records move with the patient.
| Specialty | Remote suitability | Common applications | In-person requirements | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral health | High | Therapy, medication management | Crisis, some testing | Strong in trials |
| Primary care | Moderate | Follow-up, minor illness | Exams, vaccines, labs | Mixed, grows with hybrid |
| Dermatology | Moderate | Acne, rashes, follow-up | Biopsies, skin checks | Moderate |
| Chronic disease | Moderate to high | Hypertension, diabetes | Periodic exams | Positive for blood pressure |
| Urgent care | Limited | Minor infections | Injuries, severe symptoms | Observational |
| Specialty consults | Variable | Second opinions | Procedures | Varies |
Remote Patient Monitoring and Connected Care
Connected blood pressure cuffs, glucose meters and continuous glucose monitors, pulse oximeters and wearable sensors send data to care teams. Evidence is strongest for blood pressure. Trials and systematic reviews show that self-monitoring with clinician support lowers systolic blood pressure by several points more than usual care.
Challenges include data reliability, patient adherence, and alert fatigue. A program that floods clinicians with unfiltered readings can overwhelm them. Good programs use thresholds, nurse triage and workflow integration. Reimbursement rules also shape adoption, since Medicare pays for specific monitoring codes with documentation requirements.
AI and Automation in Virtual Care
Triage chatbots direct patients to the right level of care. Ambient documentation tools draft notes during visits. Scheduling bots reduce phone traffic. Clinical decision support suggests diagnoses or guideline steps. Messaging tools draft replies for clinician review.
Administrative AI, such as scheduling and documentation, carries lower risk than clinical decision making. Clinical applications need validation, bias testing and human oversight. Privacy is critical, because virtual visits create sensitive data, and tools must comply with health privacy law.
Security, Regulation, Reimbursement and Licensing
HIPAA governs privacy and security for covered entities and their business associates. State medical boards require that clinicians be licensed in the state where the patient is located, though interstate compacts for physicians and nurses ease this. Prescribing controlled substances by telemedicine is subject to federal DEA rules, which have been extended temporarily several times. Payers set coverage and payment policies.
Medicare telehealth coverage has depended on temporary congressional extensions, with periods of short term renewal and brief lapses. Providers and patients should verify the current status of flexibilities. Cybersecurity, identity verification, informed consent and record management are ongoing obligations.
| Requirement | Key issue | Implementation point |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Clinician must be licensed where patient is located | Compact membership, credentialing |
| Reimbursement | Medicare and commercial payment rules change | Track policy, use correct codes |
| Privacy | HIPAA safeguards | Business associate agreements |
| EHR integration | Shared records | Interface testing |
| Training | Clinician and staff workflows | Onboarding, protocols |
| Infrastructure | Bandwidth, devices | Support for patients |
Benefits, Limitations and Implementation Challenges
Benefits include convenience, geographic reach, shorter waits and fewer missed work hours. Rural patients and people with mobility limits gain the most. Limits include the lack of a physical exam, technology barriers, digital literacy gaps and fragmented care when a patient sees multiple unconnected services.
Implementation requires clinician training, workflow redesign and equitable access. Broadband access and device ownership remain uneven. Interpreters and accessibility features are needed. Provider adoption improves when the technology fits within the existing workflow rather than adding steps.
The Future of Virtual Care
Hybrid care is likely to become the default, with virtual and in-person visits managed by the same team. AI assisted consultations, home diagnostics and longitudinal digital health tools may expand. Hospital-at-home programs use virtual monitoring to treat selected acute patients at home.
The key variables are reimbursement, interoperability and patient experience. Rules that change every few months make planning hard. Appropriate clinical assessment, continuity and clear escalation remain essential regardless of the technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are virtual care platforms?
A: Virtual care platforms deliver health services through video, messaging, remote monitoring and digital tools. Some provide clinicians directly, while others sell software to providers. Services vary by state.
Q: What is the difference between virtual care and telehealth?
A: Telehealth is a broad term for remote health services. Virtual care often implies a fuller model that includes continuity, monitoring and coordination. Many people use the terms interchangeably.
Q: Can virtual care platforms provide primary care?
A: Yes, some offer ongoing primary care with a regular clinician. Limits include the lack of a physical exam, so hybrid models add in-person visits. Check whether records and referrals are coordinated.
Q: Are virtual consultations secure?
A: Reputable platforms use encryption and follow HIPAA requirements. Security depends on implementation and user practices. Patients should use private networks and trusted platforms.
Q: Can virtual care replace in-person doctor visits?
A: Not fully. It works well for many follow-ups, mental health care and minor illnesses. Procedures, physical exams and emergencies need in-person care.
Q: Do virtual care platforms accept health insurance?
A: Many accept insurance, especially those tied to employers and health plans. Direct to consumer brands may use cash pricing. Coverage rules vary, so check before booking.
Q: How does remote patient monitoring work?
A: Patients use connected devices at home to measure items such as blood pressure or glucose. The data go to a care team that reviews trends and adjusts treatment. Evidence is strongest for hypertension.
Q: What is the future of virtual healthcare?
A: Expect hybrid care, more AI support, home-based monitoring and better integration with records. Reimbursement and regulation will shape growth. Clear escalation to in-person care will remain important.