Doctor On Demand is a legitimate telehealth platform that has been operating since 2012 and now functions under the parent company Included Health, formed after a merger with Grand Rounds Health. It connects patients with licensed, board-certified physicians, therapists, and psychiatrists through video visits. The service is used by major employers like Walmart and health plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, which speaks to its credibility as a healthcare option.
What Doctor On Demand Actually Offers
The platform covers a range of non-emergency medical needs through video consultations. On the urgent care side, you can see a doctor for common problems like colds, sinus infections, headaches, upset stomachs, urinary tract infections, skin rashes, and similar everyday health issues. Doctors can evaluate your symptoms, make a diagnosis, and send prescriptions to your pharmacy.
Beyond urgent care, the platform offers ongoing behavioral health services. You can schedule sessions with licensed therapists for conditions like anxiety and depression, or see a psychiatrist for medication management. Included Health reports a 63% reduction in depression symptoms (measured by a standard screening tool) among its users, suggesting these services produce real clinical results rather than serving as a superficial substitute for in-person care.
The service also supports chronic condition management, post-surgical follow-ups, lab result reviews, and medication adjustments. It is not designed for emergencies, severe injuries, or conditions that require a physical exam or imaging.
How Much It Costs
If you have insurance that covers Doctor On Demand, your cost is typically a copay similar to what you’d pay for an office visit. Without insurance, a standard virtual visit costs around $75. Therapy and psychiatry sessions generally cost more, though exact pricing depends on session length and provider type.
Many people access Doctor On Demand through an employer-sponsored benefit, which can reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs entirely. If your employer or health plan partners with Included Health, the platform may be available to you at no additional charge. It’s worth checking with your HR department or insurance provider before booking a visit.
Prescription Limitations
Doctors on the platform can prescribe many common medications, from antibiotics to antidepressants. However, there are real restrictions. Psychiatrists and physicians cannot prescribe controlled substances (DEA Schedule I through V), which includes medications like Adderall, Xanax, Ambien, and most opioid painkillers. If you need a controlled substance, the platform will direct you to an in-person provider.
This is a standard limitation across most telehealth services, not something unique to Doctor On Demand. Federal and state regulations around controlled substances require specific protocols that virtual-only visits often can’t satisfy.
Privacy and Data Security
As a healthcare platform handling electronic health information, Doctor On Demand is required to comply with HIPAA, the federal law governing medical privacy. This means the company must encrypt data transmissions, secure stored health records, require authentication to access patient information, and conduct ongoing risk assessments for potential security vulnerabilities.
Because the platform uses internet-based video rather than traditional phone lines, the full HIPAA Security Rule applies to its operations. This includes protections against unauthorized interception of video sessions and safeguards for any recordings or session data stored in cloud infrastructure. The company also needs formal agreements with any third-party vendors that handle patient data, ensuring those vendors meet the same security standards.
The Included Health Merger
Doctor On Demand merged with Grand Rounds Health and rebranded as Included Health. Grand Rounds was a company focused on helping patients navigate the healthcare system, find specialists, and get second opinions. The combined company aims to offer a more complete virtual care experience, from urgent visits to specialty referrals to ongoing primary care.
For existing users, the transition means a broader set of services under one platform. Included Health reports that members who use virtual primary care visits see 35% lower medical costs and a 24% reduction in unnecessary in-person visits. The Doctor On Demand name still appears in some contexts, but the underlying company and technology now operate as Included Health.
What It Can’t Do
No telehealth platform replaces a full in-person medical practice, and Doctor On Demand is no exception. You can’t get blood drawn, have imaging done, receive a physical examination, or get treated for anything requiring hands-on care. Conditions that need lab work for diagnosis (like strep throat or certain thyroid issues) will still require a trip to a clinic, though your telehealth doctor can order those labs and review the results with you afterward.
The platform also isn’t built for ongoing relationships with a single provider in the way a traditional primary care office is, though Included Health has been moving in that direction with virtual primary care options. If continuity of care with one doctor matters to you, ask whether you can schedule repeat visits with the same provider before committing to the service.