Can Teladoc Prescribe Birth Control

One of the most annoying things about being sick is leaving the house for medical care, filling out

Can Teladoc Prescribe Birth Control? (Explained!)

Birth control has been available in America for over 60 years. Despite that, access to it has not always been easy. With the recent rise in telemedicine, and the growth of giants like Teladoc, a lot of patients are turning to it with questions surrounding reproductive health.

So, can Teladoc prescribe birth control?

Teladoc physicians can prescribe birth control. But it is both state and case-dependent. The laws surrounding birth control prescriptions, without physical examination, vary. As Teladoc’s physicians are certified by state, there’s no guarantee of prescription. It’s also only available for certain types of contraceptives.

As a health student interested in telemedicine and the possibilities it offers, the question is an interesting one. I’ll go into it more in depth in this article.

Here’s what else we’ll cover:

• How Teladoc works in terms of birth control
• What types of physicians are best to talk to
• When you can get birth control prescriptions
• Other important things to consider

It’s super important you do your research when it comes to telemedicine and your own personal health. Using services like Teladoc, although it offers lots of advantages, isn’t always for everyone.

Honest answers to common questions are crucial!

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

Interested in learning more about telemedicine? Check out our guides here.

How does Teladoc work in terms of birth control?

Because Teladoc puts patients in direct contact with board certified physicians, it is possible to get birth control prescriptions.

As the topic is generally considered “non-emergency”, it could be considered a common use of the service.

Patients can book a “visit” through the website or app, arrange a phone or video call with a doctor, and discuss their options. Physicians can then issue prescriptions that can be picked up via local pharmacies (more on this later).

When can Teladoc prescribe birth control?

It’s important to understand that not every Teladoc consultation may end in a prescription for birth control. It’s at the physicians’ discretion.

Something else that determines when or if you can get birth control via the service are state laws surrounding the issue.

In the US, there are five States where it is illegal to issue prescriptions for birth control without in-person consults. These are:

1. Indiana
2. Arizona
3. New Jersey
4. New Mexico
5. Nevada

If you make a consult with a Teladoc doctor while you reside in any of these states, you will not be able to get a prescription for birth control (Source).

You will have to see a physician in-person, outside of telemedicine, to do so.

What type of birth control can Teladoc physician’s prescribe?

Teladoc physician’s can prescribe most common forms of birth control via the service. A common exception here is intrauterine devices (IUD’s). These must be fitted by medical professionals to ensure proper functioning.

Commonly prescribed birth control medications include:

• Progestin-only minipills
• Combination pills (estrogen and progestin)

It’s recommended to discuss these options (and the pros and cons of each) during your patient-doctor consultation.

What type of physician can prescribe birth control via Teladoc?

The most obvious specialists that offer important advice surrounding birth control are obstetrics and gynecologist (OB-GYN) doctors. These are specialists in reproductive health who know best the benefits and risks of using birth control and contraceptive medicines.

You can arrange consultations with OB-GYN practicioners directly via the Teladoc website or app.

Family medicine doctors are also well placed to discuss sexual health concerns and questions surrounding birth control.

As mentioned before, not all physicians will be able to prescribe birth control. Laws surrounding the issue are state dependent.

Although it’s perfectly fine to use telemedicine services to discuss concerns or questions related to sexual health, you can’t always expect the doctors you talk to will write you prescriptions.

Can Teladoc refill birth control?

Teladoc doctors can refill birth control prescriptions.

As long as you do not reside in any of the states listed above, a consulting physician should be able to issue a prescription to your local pharmacy.

Refills, just as prescriptions, are typically short-term (up to a month).

What to ask about birth control during a Teladoc consult

It’s really important to be open and honest about your needs and concerns surrounding birth control.

The doctors you talk to through the service are trained professionals with extensive experience dealing with female reproductive health issues.

Ensure you provide your doctors with an accurate medical history (take your time to complete your account survey information beforehand) and a prepared list of questions.

Physician’s need to ensure your safety for this type of medication before prescribing it.

Telemedicine birth control

The COVID-19 pandemic saw a growing trend in people taking to telemedicine services like Teladoc to discuss issues surrounding reproductive health.

According to Healthline, although more people are turning to telemedicine to address their needs concerning birth control, there are still “gaps in coverage” (Source).

Several petitions have been raised looking to relax telemedicine restrictions pertaining to contraceptives.

During the pandemic there were also issues concerning supply chains.

One of the biggest barriers to telemedicine and birth control has been awareness. Many individuals are simply unaware they can get access to birth control medications through telemedicine services.

Summary

Teladoc can prescribe birth control. If you reside and make a virtual consult inside of the U.S. States where it is legally permitted to get a prescription (without an in-person consult), you can obtain a prescription.

You’ll need to either pay for a flat-fee consultation or have access to Teladoc’s services via a subscription to benefit, however. And you’ll also need to fill it at a local pharmacy in the same state.

Sources

These Online Services Offer Birth Control Without Visiting a Doctor

If you take birth control pills and are sick of visiting your doctor just to get prescription refills approved, or you’d like to start but can’t find a doctor you trust, there is a better way. These apps and websites have your back.

Oral contraceptives are safe enough that groups like the American Association of Family Physicians and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say it should be available over the counter . In fact, you can get birth control without a doctor’s prescription in California, Washington, and Oregon, but that’s no guarantee you can find it in a pharmacy near you. Of course, it’s still a good idea to find a provider you trust and see them, in person, on a regular basis. But regular exams and checkups and your birth control prescription don’t have to be connected, and that’s where these services come in.

Before you sign up, know that online birth control prescription services are a little different from regular telemedicine services like Teladoc . The process is only a little more involved than ordinary online shopping. The details depend on the service and on your state’s laws, but expect to fill out a questionnaire that asks for your basic medical information, as well as a few oddball requests: you may need to provide a blood pressure reading ( one from a drugstore kiosk is usually fine ), and upload a photo of yourself. In some states, you may need to do a video call with the online doctor before they can fill the prescription.

Can You Visit a Doctor Without Leaving the House?

One of the most annoying things about being sick is leaving the house for medical care, filling out

• Prjkt Ruby (Web) serves the most states, as you’ll see on our chart below, but only offers a few brands of the pill. After your questionnaire or video visit, you just wait for your pills to show up in the mail. They do not take insurance, though. Bonus: Prjkt Ruby also offers emergency contraception.
• Lemonaid (Web/iOS/Android) offers birth control and a few other drugs, including medications for acid reflux and for erectile dysfunction. They only provide the prescription, for a $15 visit fee, and then you pick up the pills at your local pharmacy, using your insurance as usual.
• Nurx (Web) fills prescriptions by mail, and takes insurance, making it the cheapest option on this list. (Remember, contraception is free under almost all insurance plans ). If you’d like a preview of the questionnaire, read about this woman’s experience —she found it very straightforward.
• Virtuwell (Web) offers online visits for $45, but they take insurance, so your total may be less. Virtuwell sends the prescription to your local pharmacy.
• Planned Parenthood Care (Web/iOS/Android) offers video visits, and mails the medication to you..
• Planned Parenthood Direct (iOS/Android) charges a $15 visit fee and you pick up the prescription from your local pharmacy.

These services take a doctor visit off your to-do list, but since not all of them include a pharmacy, you may still have to leave your house and interact with a pharmacist. Since judgey pharmacists may be the reason you’d rather do this all online, your problem is only halfway solved.

Once you have a prescription, though, you can use an online pharmacy like PillPack to receive medications by mail. Verify before you start that your prescribing service, your pharmacy, and your insurance all play nice together, and you may be able to get your pills without ever having to see an unfriendly face.

Some of these services may be extra cautious about who they prescribe to. For example, they may set a minimum age to use the service. Definitely read your chosen service’s policies, and set aside some extra time when you fill out the questionnaire, just in case it ends up that the service can’t help you and you have to try another.

A State-by-State Guide to Where You Can Get an Online Prescription

Each state has their own laws about when and whether it’s okay for a provider to write a prescription without meeting you in person. Only Arkansas, Louisiana, and North Carolina don’t allow online prescriptions at all, as of December 2016. If you’re in one of those states, you’ll need to meet your doctor in person, but then you should be able to get the prescription filled by mail.

Because states’ laws are so different, and because the providers who do the prescribing behind the scenes need to be licensed in the customer’s state, companies have to choose which states they want to operate in, and make sure they jump through all the appropriate hoops. Check out our chart of which services are available in which state:

If you live in California, you’re in luck—plenty of prescription services operate there, including Pandia and Pill Club in addition to the ones on our chart. Other states don’t give you as much choice, but 47 out of 50 have Prjkt Ruby if nothing else. That means that for most of the country, your next birth control refill is only a few clicks away.

Illustration by Angelica Alzona.