Amwell review 2022 What to know Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Amwell review 2022 What to knowMedically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Stefano Iavarone on April 18, 2022We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Amwell is a digital healthcare platform that offers doctor consultations, other medical guidance, and prescriptions. It also provides urgent care advice and psychiatry services. Share on PinterestThis article describes Amwell in detail, including what it offers, how much it costs, and some pros and cons. It also looks at how Amwell compares with its competitors and answers some common questions. Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and was correct at the time of publication. Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here. What is Amwell Amwell is a digital healthcare brand. Customers can consult doctors and receive prescriptions via its platform. The company says that it offers treatment for more than 50 common health considerations, ranging from infections and acne to Alzheimer’s. It also says it offers birth control and urgent care guidance. Some upsides of using Amwell include:Accessibility: Logging on to the Amwell portal may be more convenient and accessible than making a doctor’s appointment.Choice: When more than one suitable doctor is available, a person can choose who to consult.Communication: A live video call option is available for doctor visits. This may be more suitable than using chat.Privacy: The company says it uses secure data transfers and complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This means that all health data, including video calls with doctors, are handled securely and confidentially.Coverage: The company accepts health insurance payments, including payments from UnitedHealthcare. Some downsides include:Cost: Each doctor appointment costs at least $79, not including the cost of treatment. Certain types of consultation cost more.Applicability: Amwell says that its services are not suitable for people with serious or life threatening conditions. Limits to prescriptions: The company says it adheres to legal restrictions about which medications a doctor can prescribe online, including those for controlled substances.Age restrictions: Amwell does not offer psychiatric treatment to people younger than 18. Who is Amwell for People who do not need medical attention for serious conditions but would like to consult a doctor may find Amwell suitable. The doctors can issue some prescriptions and conduct routine health checks. Some of the conditions that Amwell’s team can help with include:acnebulimiacellulitiseye carevertigo Amwell says that its service is not suitable for people seeking treatment for cancer or heart attacks, for example. However, a person can get second opinions about some serious health conditions. The company also says that its service is not appropriate for people with suicidal thoughts or behaviors.LEARN MORE How does Amwell work First, a person needs to create an account by providing personal details. A person can also set up insurance coverage at this stage. Next, a person chooses which doctor to consult, based on the doctor’s experience and ratings. Once a person makes a selection, they can start the virtual visit immediately using live video or chat. All of this is available on a desktop or via a mobile app. Amwell services Among other options, the company provides:Urgent care: This is for people with conditions such as allergies, acne, cold sores, or urinary tract infections.Therapy: This includes therapy for depression and panic attacks, as well as couples counseling.Psychiatry: These services include care and medication for people with anorexia, anxiety disorders, depression, or bipolar disorder.Breastfeeding support: A person can get help for common issues such as thrush and sore nipples, as well as guidance about returning to work.Nutrition counseling: This is appropriate for people with diabetes or vitamin deficiencies, for example, as well as for people interested in weight loss. Pediatrics: This includes treatments and guidance about issues such as ear pain, rashes, and bronchitis.Women’s health: This includes care for sexually transmitted infections and vulvodynia, for example, as well as guidance and prescriptions for birth control. However, an online consultation may not be suitable for people who may need physical examinations to investigate bleeding between periods or yeast infections.Second opinions: Amwell states that it is not a suitable platform for people with serious illnesses. However, a person can get a virtual second opinion from a specialist about a variety of severe conditions, including cancer, and about surgery and other high-risk treatments. Pricing and insurance The cost depends on the type of service a person chooses. For example, a person can expect to pay up to $129 for a therapy session, $279 for an initial psychiatry session, and $109 for follow-up sessions. The most expensive Amwell service is the second opinion service, which costs around $1,850. Amwell accepts insurance from a wide range of providers, including Cigna and Affinity.LEARN MORE Customer reviews and brand reputation On TrustPilot, Amwell has a rating of 2.9 stars out of 5, based on more than 2,000 reviews. Positive reviews mention that the service was useful, especially during lockdowns. Negative reviews cite a wide range of issues, including slow service, slow prescription delivery, and prescriptions not arriving at the pharmacy of choice. Some customers also report being charged twice. On the website of Better Business Bureau, which has not accredited the company, Amwell has a 1 out of 5 star rating based on three reviews. The bureau says that Amwell received 63 complaints over 3 years and closed 23 of them. Customers reported problems with payment, refunds, and customer support, as well as insurance refusal. Amwell vs competitors Here is how Amwell compares with some of its competitors.AmwellLemonaidDoctor on DemandBetterhelpTrustPilot rating2.92.62.44.6Price starts from$79$25$75$60 per weekLive video chatyesyesyesyesInsuranceyesonly for prescriptionsyesno, with some exceptionsPrescription serviceyesyesyesnoTreatment servicesurgent care, women’s health, and othersurgent care, men’s health, women’s health, and skinurgent care, mental health, preventive health, chronic carepsychology Online vs in-person therapy In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 154% increase in telehealth visits in March of that year, compared with the same month in 2019, driven in part by the change in health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current research suggests that online therapy can be beneficial, although research into its accessibility and effectiveness is still fairly limited. A 2020 review of studies comparing online and face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy sessions for depression found that online therapy was as effective as in-person therapy. A 2020 study notes that the advantages of online therapy include lower costs, no waitlists, and no travel. However, a 2014 study mentions concerns about online security and how adaptable online programs can be for the wider range of people using these services, compared with those seeking in-person therapy. Find out more about the benefits of online therapy. How to get started with Amwell To get started, a person needs to start creating an account on the Amwell platform, first by selecting their insurance provider. A person can then see the telehealth options available to them. A person then completes their account by submitting their personal information.LEARN MORE Frequently asked questions Here are answers to some common questions about Amwell. Is Amwell right for me Amwell is not suitable for everyone, and the company is open about what health conditions it cannot deal with. For instance, it does not provide services for people with many serious health conditions or those who need physical examinations. It is also worth noting that the cost can be very high. It is important to consider healthcare needs, coverage, and budgeting before signing up to use Amwell.LEARN MORE How much does Amwell cost per visit The cost depends on the service a person needs. For example, customers can expect to pay around $79 for urgent care appointments.LEARN MORE What types of therapy does Amwell provide A person can access psychiatry services for anorexia, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, and other conditions.LEARN MORE Summary Amwell is a telehealth company. It may suit people who require quick access to a doctor for certain reasons, such as for nutrition-related, psychiatric, or pediatric care. Reviews are varied, and many report problems with customer service and payment. A person cannot use Amwell for health emergencies, conditions that require a physical examination, or serious conditions, such as cancer. Also, a person cannot get some prescriptions online, and there is an age limit for some services. Last medically reviewed on April 18, 2022Mental Health 5 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Andersson, G., et al. (2014). Advantages and limitations of Internet-based interventions for common mental disorders.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wps.20083Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). (2018).https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.htmlKoonin, L. M., et al. (2020). Trends in the use of telehealth during the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, January–March 2020.https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6943a3.htmLuo, C., et al. (2020). A comparison of electronically-delivered and face to face cognitive behavioural therapies in depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30186-3/fulltextPescatello, M. S., et al. (2020). Treatment engagement and effectiveness of an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program at a university counseling center.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10503307.2020.1822559?journalCode=tpsr20FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Stefano Iavarone on April 18, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related Coverage9 of the best online therapy optionsMedically reviewed by Danielle Wade, LCSW Many online therapy options are available online, via video chat, text messaging, and voice chat. 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