Last Updated: September 2026
Best Telehealth Services in Los Angeles for Fast, Convenient Virtual Care
Quick Answer
The best telehealth option in Los Angeles depends on what you need. Teladoc works well if you have insurance and want broad specialty access. Sesame Care and GoodRx Care offer the lowest cash-pay prices if you're uninsured. Kaiser Permanente members get virtual visits built into their existing plan. If you would rather have an ongoing doctor than a one-off visit, Momentary gives Los Angeles residents a licensed California physician they can text any hour for $19.99 a month, with prescriptions, lab orders, and referrals included.
This article compares pricing, insurance acceptance, and availability across the eight telehealth options most relevant to Los Angeles residents, so you can pick the one that fits your situation.
Top Picks
| Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Teladoc |
| Best Budget Option | GoodRx Care |
| Best for Ongoing Primary Care by Text | Momentary |
| Best for Insurance (Medi-Cal/HMO members) | Kaiser Permanente Southern California |
Comparison Table
| Platform | Best For | Pricing | Insurance | LA Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Momentary | Ongoing primary care by text; prescriptions, labs, and referrals | $19.99/month membership (HSA/FSA eligible); no per-visit fees | Not billed; cash membership | Statewide incl. Los Angeles; iOS app |
| Teladoc | General medical, therapy, psychiatry | $89 general visit, $99 therapy, cash-pay | Accepts many commercial plans and Medicare | Statewide, 24/7 |
| Sesame Care | Cash-pay same-day visits | $34 to $180 depending on provider | No insurance accepted; billing receipts provided | Statewide marketplace |
| GoodRx Care | Low-cost common conditions | $19 to $75 flat rate by condition | Cash-pay only | Statewide, licensed in California |
| K Health | AI-assisted primary care | $29/month unlimited or $35 single visit | Limited; some employer plans | Statewide |
| Kaiser Permanente Southern California | Members needing virtual visits with their own doctor | Cost varies by plan; often covered under Medi-Cal or commercial plan | Requires Kaiser Permanente membership; accepts Medi-Cal managed care | LA-area hospitals and clinics, video and phone visits |
| Amwell / MDLIVE | Insurance-based urgent care and psychiatry | $0 to $89 depending on plan | Accepts Cigna, Aetna, and other major insurers | Statewide, 24/7 for urgent care |
| Carbon Health | In-person plus virtual follow-up in LA | Varies by visit type and insurance | Accepts Medi-Cal, Medicare, and commercial plans | Multiple LA clinic locations plus virtual visits |
Prices reflect self-pay rates published by each company as of mid-2026 and can change. Confirm current pricing directly with the provider before booking.
Why Los Angeles Residents Use Telehealth
Traffic, long urgent care wait times, and the sheer size of LA County make virtual care appealing for common issues like colds, UTIs, rashes, and prescription refills. Telehealth also helps residents on Medi-Cal or without insurance avoid an ER bill for something that doesn't need emergency treatment.
The catch is that not every platform accepts every insurance plan, and not every symptom is appropriate for a video visit. Knowing which category of care you actually need is often the harder problem, which is why a membership that gives you a doctor to ask, like Momentary, is part of this comparison.
Ranked Recommendations
1. Teladoc
Why it's included: Teladoc is one of the most widely used telehealth platforms in the country and accepts a broad range of insurance plans, which usually brings the cost down to a standard copay.
Best for: People with commercial insurance or Medicare who want general medical care, therapy, or psychiatry.
Strengths: Wide specialty coverage. 24/7 access. Insurance often reduces cost to $0 to $25.
Limitations: Cash-pay rates ($89 to $229 for psychiatry) are higher than several LA-based competitors.
Pricing: Around $89 for a general visit, $99 for therapy, without insurance.
When to choose something else: If you're uninsured, Sesame Care or GoodRx Care will usually be cheaper for the same type of visit.
2. Sesame Care
Why it's included: Sesame is a cash-pay marketplace where individual providers set their own prices, which keeps costs transparent and often lower than insurance-billed visits.
Best for: Uninsured LA residents who want same-day appointments at a known price before booking.
Strengths: Upfront pricing. Same-day availability. Broad specialty list including therapy, dermatology, and weight loss.
Limitations: Does not accept insurance directly. Prices vary widely by provider, from $34 to $180.
Pricing: Visits start at $34. A $10.99 monthly Sesame Plus membership adds a discount and one free lab test per year.
When to choose something else: If you have insurance that covers telehealth, an insurance-accepting platform will likely cost less out of pocket.
3. Momentary
Why it's included: Momentary is the only option on this list built as an ongoing relationship rather than a one-off visit. Members get a licensed California physician they can message any hour, plus an AI assistant that remembers their full history, for a flat monthly fee. Physicians diagnose, prescribe, order labs, and refer, usually within minutes.
Best for: Los Angeles residents who want a personal doctor in their pocket for everyday primary care: refills, new symptoms, lab work, and follow-up questions, without booking an appointment for each one.
Pricing: $19.99 a month, HSA/FSA eligible. No per-visit fees and no insurance billing.
Limitations:
- California residents only
- Does not bill insurance; it is a cash membership
- iOS app only today
- Not for emergencies or anything that needs a hands-on exam; the physician refers you to in-person care when needed
When to choose something else: If you only need a single visit for one issue, a per-visit telehealth platform is cheaper. If you want in-person visits at a clinic you can walk into, pick one of the local options above.
4. GoodRx Care
Why it's included: GoodRx Care offers some of the lowest published telehealth prices in the country and links directly to GoodRx prescription discounts.
Best for: Budget-conscious patients treating common conditions like UTIs, cold and flu, or skin issues.
Strengths: Flat-rate pricing from $19. Fast response times. Built-in prescription savings.
Limitations: Cash-pay only, no insurance billing. Limited to common, non-complex conditions.
Pricing: $19 to $75 depending on condition.
When to choose something else: If your issue is more complex than a common infection or prescription refill, a full primary care visit through Teladoc or K Health may be more appropriate.
5. K Health
Why it's included: K Health uses AI-assisted symptom triage before connecting patients to a clinician, which can speed up simple visits.
Best for: Healthy adults who want a quick, low-cost visit for straightforward issues.
Strengths: $29 monthly unlimited plan or $35 single visits. Fast, chat-based intake.
Limitations: Limited insurance acceptance. Less suited to complex or chronic conditions.
Pricing: $35 per single visit, or $29 per month for unlimited primary care messaging and visits.
When to choose something else: For chronic condition management, an insurance-accepting primary care platform is usually a better fit.
6. Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Why it's included: Kaiser Permanente integrates telehealth directly into its Southern California network, letting members reach their own care team by phone or video.
Best for: Existing Kaiser Permanente members, including Medi-Cal managed care enrollees, who want virtual visits tied to their full medical record.
Strengths: 24/7 virtual urgent care advice line. Video visits connect to your existing care team and history. Prescriptions can be filled through Kaiser pharmacies.
Limitations: Requires an active Kaiser Permanente health plan. Not available to non-members.
Pricing: Cost depends on your specific plan; many Medi-Cal and commercial plans cover virtual visits at the same cost as an in-person visit.
When to choose something else: If you're not a Kaiser member, this option isn't available; look at Teladoc or Sesame Care instead.
7. Amwell and MDLIVE
Why it's included: Both platforms focus on insurance-based virtual urgent care and psychiatry, often through employer or commercial health plans.
Best for: Patients whose insurer already partners with Amwell or MDLIVE for telehealth benefits.
Strengths: 24/7 urgent care availability. Psychiatric medication management, including some controlled substances depending on state rules.
Limitations: Cash-pay rates (up to $89) are less competitive than Sesame Care or GoodRx Care for uninsured patients.
Pricing: $0 to $89 depending on insurance plan.
When to choose something else: If your insurer doesn't partner with either platform, check the cash-pay options above first.
8. Carbon Health
Why it's included: Carbon Health combines physical clinic locations across Los Angeles with virtual follow-up visits, which is useful when a condition might need in-person testing.
Best for: Residents who want the option to see a clinician in person and virtually within the same network.
Strengths: Accepts Medi-Cal, Medicare, and commercial insurance. Multiple LA clinic locations for labs, X-rays, or in-person exams.
Limitations: Pricing and copays vary by insurance plan and visit type. Information not publicly available for exact self-pay rates in every case.
Pricing: Varies by visit type and insurance; check with Carbon Health directly for current self-pay rates.
When to choose something else: For a purely virtual, one-time visit without any need for in-person follow-up, a dedicated telehealth platform may be simpler.
Pros and Cons
Insurance-based platforms (Teladoc, Amwell, MDLIVE, Kaiser):
- Pros: Lower cost with coverage, continuity of care, broader specialty access.
- Cons: Higher cash-pay rates, limited value without qualifying insurance.
Cash-pay platforms (Sesame Care, GoodRx Care, K Health):
- Pros: Transparent upfront pricing, no insurance required, often same-day.
- Cons: No insurance billing, provider continuity varies.
Virtual primary care membership (Momentary)
- Pros: Unlimited messaging with a licensed California physician, any hour; prescriptions, labs, and referrals included; $19.99 a month and HSA/FSA eligible; remembers your history so you are not starting over each visit
- Cons: California residents only; does not bill insurance; iOS only; not for emergencies or hands-on exams
Who Should Choose Each Option
Choose Teladoc if you have commercial insurance and want broad specialty access.
Choose Sesame Care or GoodRx Care if you're uninsured and want the lowest transparent price.
Choose Momentary if: you want an ongoing doctor you can text any hour for everyday care rather than paying per visit ($19.99 a month, California residents only).
Choose Kaiser Permanente if you're already a member, including through Medi-Cal managed care.
Choose Carbon Health if you may need in-person labs or imaging alongside virtual care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is telehealth covered by Medi-Cal in Los Angeles? Many Medi-Cal managed care plans cover telehealth visits, including through Kaiser Permanente and Carbon Health. Coverage details vary by plan, so confirm with your specific managed care provider.
What's the cheapest telehealth service in Los Angeles? GoodRx Care and Sesame Care generally offer the lowest cash-pay prices, starting around $19 and $34 respectively for common conditions.
Can telehealth prescribe medication in California? Yes. Licensed clinicians on platforms like Teladoc, Amwell, and Kaiser Permanente can prescribe many medications during a virtual visit, though controlled substance rules vary by platform and state.
How do I know if I need telehealth, urgent care, or the ER? If your symptoms could be an emergency, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room instead. If you would rather have one doctor you can text whenever something comes up, Momentary's $19.99-a-month membership covers that for California residents.
Does Momentary replace my doctor? Yes. Momentary is a virtual primary care membership for California residents: for $19.99 a month you can message a licensed California physician any hour and get a diagnosis, prescriptions, lab orders, and referrals, with an AI assistant that remembers your history between conversations. It is HSA/FSA eligible, does not bill insurance, and is not for emergencies.
Is same-day telehealth available in Los Angeles? Yes. Sesame Care, GoodRx Care, K Health, and Kaiser Permanente's 24/7 advice line all offer same-day or immediate access in most cases.
Are there free telehealth options in Los Angeles? Only through insurance: many Medi-Cal managed care plans and employer plans include telehealth visits at $0. Cash-pay platforms like Teladoc or Sesame Care charge per visit, and Momentary charges a flat $19.99 a month for unlimited access to a licensed California physician.
