MDLive Psychiatry, MD-Led Platform

MDLive is a Fort Lauderdale-based telehealth company founded in 2009 and one of the earliest large-scale platforms to bring on-demand virtual care to consumers at scale. The company provides mental health services — therapy and psychiatry — alongside urgent care, primary care, and dermatology through a single consumer-facing platform and mobile app. In 2020, Cigna acquired a majority stake in MDLive and integrated it as Cigna's primary telehealth network. This partnership is MDLive's most significant commercial relationship: Cigna customers in most states access MDLive as their in-network telehealth benefit, and many pay $0 per visit beyond their standard plan copay. For the subset of consumers who have Cigna coverage, MDLive is often the default recommendation simply because of this cost advantage. MDLive's behavioral health services cover therapy with licensed therapists and psychiatric medication management with board-certified psychiatrists. The platform accepts a wide range of commercial insurance carriers beyond Cigna, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and some Medicare and Medicaid plans. Benefit verification happens at sign-up, so patients know their expected cost before booking. One limitation of MDLive's model relative to specialized mental health platforms is that behavioral health is one vertical among many. MDLive does not offer ADHD diagnostic assessments, does not prescribe stimulants, and does not provide structured programs for conditions like alcohol use disorder or eating disorders. Patients who want a mental-health-only platform with dedicated clinical protocols for specific conditions will find better options in specialty-focused services. MDLive's appointment model is primarily scheduled rather than on-demand for mental health — unlike its urgent care line, therapy and psychiatry require advance booking, with wait times typically ranging from same-day to several days for therapy and a few days to a week for psychiatry. The platform operates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For commercially insured patients — particularly those covered by Cigna — MDLive represents one of the most cost-effective paths to telehealth therapy and psychiatric medication management, with essentially no upfront cost and the convenience of a platform many already use for other healthcare needs. mobile app. In 2020, Cigna acquired a majority stake in MDLive and integrated it as Cigna's primary telehealth network. This partnership is MDLive's most significant commercial relationship: Cigna customers in most states access MDLive as their in-network telehealth benefit, and many pay $0 per visit beyond their standard plan copay. For the subset of consumers who have Cigna coverage, MDLive is often the default recommendation simply because of this cost advantage. MDLive's behavioral health services cover therapy with licensed therapists and psychiatric medication management with board-certified psychiatrists. The platform accepts a wide range of commercial insurance carriers beyond Cigna, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and some Medicare and Medicaid plans. Benefit verification happens at sign-up, so patients know their expected cost before booking. One limitation of MDLive's model relative to specialized mental health platforms is that behavioral health is one vertical among many. MDLive does not offer ADHD diagnostic assessments, does not prescribe stimulants, and does not provide structured programs for conditions like alcohol use disorder or eating disorders. Patients who want a mental-health-only platform with dedicated clinical protocols for specific conditions will find better options in specialty-focused services. MDLive's appointment model is primarily scheduled rather than on-demand for mental health — unlike its urgent care line, therapy and psychiatry require advance booking, with wait times typically ranging from same-day to several days for therapy and a few days to a week for psychiatry. The platform operates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For commercially insured patients — particularly those covered by Cigna — MDLive represents one of the most cost-effective paths to telehealth therapy and psychiatric medication management, with essentially no upfront cost and the convenience of a platform many already use for other healthcare needs.