These are the most common questions people have about Teladoc.

Behavioral Health 

What do I do if I feel I am in immediate danger of self-harm?
This is considered an emergency. You should immediately dial 911 for assistance. 

Do I have to schedule an appointment or can I just call and get the next available time?
All Behavioral Health visits are scheduled. Teladoc does not support an on-demand option at this time.

How long is the typical Behavioral Health visit?
Our first-time Behavioral Health visits average 45 minutes. Psychiatry visits vary in length based on the patient need. 

Can a Behavioral Health visit be scheduled for someone under the age of 18?
Behavioral Health Teladoc services are not available for children under age 18. US Family Health Plan members who need help finding a Behavioral Health specialist who provides telehealth services for a child under age 18 should call Member Services at 1.800.818.8589.

Can I use the Behavioral Health service for an emergency?
This program is not intended to be used for emergency situations. Visit requests require an advance scheduling notification.

Are there Behavioral Health issues not treated by Teladoc?
There are some prescriptions not provided by our service, but the licensed specialist will determine if you are best seen for an in-person visit for further evaluation.

What should I expect during my call?
After completing a quick intake assessment, you will have a conversation with the Behavioral Health professional just as if you were in person.

Can I talk to the same specialist each time I request a visit?
Yes. A member can choose to see the same specialist or a different one. It’s your choice.

How secure is the communication line and who retains my medical records?
Confidentiality is very important to Teladoc and we follow the same strict security protocols as we do for our core services. All medical records are kept in a secure environment and Teladoc does not share the information with anyone outside of the patient’s specific request or as required by law.

If you would like, your Teladoc doctor will send documentation of your treatment to your primary care provider for your medical records. You can make this request in writing or by phone to your Teladoc doctor; however, you must provide written approval to the Teladoc doctor to release your records.

How do I access this service?
Members can access the Behavioral Health service by downloading the app, by logging into their online account, or by calling  1.800.835.2362.

What type of equipment do I need for a Behavioral Health visit?
You will need a telephone for telephonic visits. For video visits, you will need to have internet connectivity and a webcam. Video visits are strongly encouraged by our specialists.

What if I need a medication?
Psychiatrists are able to prescribe from a limited formulary. If the Behavioral Health specialist determines a different/higher level medication is appropriate, they may refer you for an in-person visit.

Can I select my doctor based on preferences such as specialty, gender, language?
Our specialist profiles display information about each Teladoc professional, including gender, language and specialty. This information will display when making your specialist selection online.

Will I be able to schedule recurring appointments? If so, how far in advance can I schedule?
At the end of the visit, the provider will schedule a follow up if the individual specialist deems necessary. At this time, only the next visit can be scheduled.

Is there bilingual assistance provided when I contact Teladoc for the visit?
Teladoc does display a provider’s languages on the profile screen when making your selection. If a bilingual Teladoc specialist is not available, an interpreter will be provided.

What type of Behavioral Health specialists does Teladoc have?
Psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, clinical social workers, and therapists (marriage and family). 

What types of specialists can prescribe medications? 
Only psychiatrists can prescribe medications.

Does Teladoc follow up after each visit?
Teladoc specialists utilize the member message center after each visit, but our licensed nursing staff will also be reaching out to patients directly by phone after their second and sixth visit to see how things are going. Ongoing outreach will occur as needed after the sixth visit.

Why do I have to fill our additional intake questions?
To make sure our specialists have the best information possible to assist members, we do require a short intake with specific questions about their Behavioral Health status.

Are there limits to how many visits can be scheduled within a month?
Not at this time. However, Teladoc is committed to evaluating this program to ensure compliance with patient safety standards. 

Are there a maximum number of days for which a prescription can be issued?
At the discretion of the appropriate licensed specialist, prescriptions can be issued between 30-90 days.