What “virtual primary care” means
One-off telehealth gets you a clinician for one problem. Virtual primary care is an ongoing relationship: the same team knows your history, handles refills and chronic conditions, orders labs, and follows up. That difference matters more than price if you have kids, a chronic condition, or mental health needs.
Published prices, side by side
| Option | How you pay | Published price (Oct 15, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Sesame | Per visit (cash marketplace) | From $34; optional Sesame Plus $10.99/mo or $99/yr for $10 off visits |
| Teladoc (self-pay) | Per visit | Urgent care $89; nutrition $89; dermatology $89 per review; mental health $119. Primary care isn’t offered for self-pay. |
| MDLIVE | Per visit | Urgent care up to $89; therapy up to $179 first visit, $140 follow-up; psychiatry up to $299 first, $159 follow-up |
| Amazon One Medical | Membership + billed visits | $99/yr with Prime ($199/yr without); on-demand virtual care included, scheduled visits billed to you or your plan. Pay-per-visit from $29/$49. |
| Plum Health DPC (MI) | Monthly membership, in person + virtual | $95/mo single; $180 member + 1; $270 family |
| Direct Primary Care of West Michigan | Monthly membership, in person | $120/mo adults; $30/mo ages 0–19; family max $250 |
| Amaze Health | Monthly membership, virtual | About $49/mo single; about $59/mo family (sign-up form listed $49.99 / $59.99 on Oct 15, 2026); unlimited visits, no copays; includes counseling and psychiatric care and virtual pet care |
Sources listed below. Medications, labs and imaging are usually billed separately by the pharmacy, lab or imaging center under every model; ask what’s included before you join.
A simple break-even check
Membership only makes sense if you’ll use it. Here’s an illustration using published self-pay prices. It’s not a quote or a promise; your own use will differ.
| Household & year | Pay-per-visit (Teladoc self-pay prices) | Amaze membership |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult, 2 urgent-type visits | 2 × $89 = $178 | 12 × $49.99 = $600 |
| Single adult, 3 urgent-type visits + monthly counseling | 3 × $89 + 12 × $119 = $1,695 | $600 |
| Family with kids, 6 urgent-type visits + 1 nutrition visit | 6 × $89 + $89 = $623 | 12 × $59.99 = $720 |
| Family, 8 urgent-type visits + 6 counseling sessions | 8 × $89 + 6 × $119 = $1,426 | $720 |
The honest takeaway: if you rarely need care, pay-per-visit is cheaper. A membership pays off when you’d use care more than a handful of times a year, especially counseling, or when several family members share it. It also helps when you’d rather text a question early than wait until something turns into an urgent-care trip.
What none of these replace
No virtual membership pays for a hospital stay, surgery, an ambulance or specialist care. That’s the job of a health plan. Amaze works alongside your health plan and the doctor you love, and Amaze’s team can help you figure out when to use your plan, cash or a health savings account.
Using an HSA?
Federal rules changed for 2026. Telehealth before your deductible is now permanently allowed with an HSA-eligible plan, Bronze and catastrophic plans count as HSA-compatible, and certain direct primary care arrangements are allowed (IRS, Notice 2026-05). Whether a particular membership fee can be paid from your HSA depends on how it’s set up, so check with your tax advisor before you assume it can.
How to choose: 5 questions
- Will I see the same team over time, or a different clinician every visit?
- Is mental health included, and are visits limited?
- Can I text, call and video, including from a basic phone?
- Does it cover my kids (and my pet)?
- Does it work alongside my current doctor and health plan?