Question 1

What is pre-insurance?

Accepted Answer

EqualityMD's national pre-insurance virtual care/Rx benefit platform is a claim prevention tool that resolves healthcare upstream, so expensive downstream insurance is rarely needed. Pre-insurance addresses everyday health needs before they trigger insurance—no claims, deductibles, or copays—reducing overall plan spend by 20-30% while enhancing employee wellness and satisfaction.

Because EqualityMD operates outside of America’s broken insurance-based health ecosystem, it enjoys the enviable freedom to craft bespoke per-employee-per-month (PEPM) contracts that fit any budget for any size business or organization nationwide.

Pre-insurance does not replace insurance. It’s a cost-saving complement to any existing employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) plan. For any in-person care needs, employees and individuals can always rely on their existing insurance plan.

Insurance is backup protection solving catastrophic risks. 
Pre-insurance is front-line care solving everyday health needs. 
Together, they form a complete care system.

Question 2

How does pre-insurance work?

Accepted Answer

Pre-insurance eliminates all the greedy middlemen that are responsible for making healthcare so expensive.

America's broken insurance-based health system relies on the following entities to function... the problem is that these entities artificially raise health costs to earn higher profits at the expense of employers and patients nationwide.

1) Health insurance companies 
They underwrite risk and set premiums.
• They add $3,000–$4,500/employee/year in profit margin (5–7%) + overhead (10–12%) on top of medical claims. 
• They drive 6.5–11% annual premium hikes (Mercer 2025) through actuarial loading, marketing, and shareholder returns, inflating total employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) spend by 25–30% beyond pure care costs.

2) Third-Party Administrators
They process claims and manage plan operations.
• They charge $15–$25/claim + 17% of premiums.
• This adds $2,000–$3,000/year/employee in admin fees (Mercer 2025).

3) Pharmacy Benefit Managers
They negotiate drug prices but take rebates/spread pricing.
• This adds $1,200–$1,800/year/employee in hidden costs (KFF 2024).

4) Insurance Brokers and Consultants
They advise employers on plans, earning 3–6% commissions.
• This adds $200–$400/employee in hidden costs (SHRM 2025).

5) Utilization Review Firms
They pre-approve treatments, and often delay care.
• This adds $100–$300/claim in overhead (Peterson-KFF 2025).

6) Medical Billing Companies
They code and submit claims
• They upcode and add errors, which costs $50–$150/claim in disputes (AMA 2025).

7) Re-Insurance Carriers
They cover high-cost claims.
• This adds 5–10% per claim, which are baked into premiums via higher costs (Aon 2025).

8) Legal and Compliance Vendors
They handle ACA/ERISA filings.
• This adds $300–$600/employee/year in hidden costs (Mercer 2025).

9) Data Analytics Firms
They provide risk scoring.
•They charge $100–$200/employee for reports (McKinsey 2025).

With no third parties artificially inflating healthcare costs:
1) Our doctors make more money, 
2) Our partners pay less, and 
3) Our patients receive high quality care on their terms.

Normally, doctors and digital healthcare companies are forced to work in a "managed care" model (meaning insurance companies are involved). Managed care models take control out of the hands of doctors and puts it in the hands of third party middlemen that don't actually treat patients. These third parties add overhead and unnecessary expenses to patients' bills and pay doctors less.

By removing middlemen from the process, we're able to pass the savings along to our partners! Without greedy middlemen clogging up the healthcare system, our partners/patients pay less and our doctors are paid more!

Also, our doctors are able to have organic relationships with patients because they don't have to worry about restrictions placed on them by third parties
 
EqualityMD's pre-insurance virtual care solution delivers healthcare the way it should be: Patient-focussed, transparent, affordable, and accessible.

Question 3

How much does it cost to join EqualityMD?

Accepted Answer

The cost of joining EqualityMD depends on your organization’s size and whether you choose to cover memberships for your team or offer our platform as an optional benefit. Companies that pay for memberships save the most on healthcare costs and see higher utilization for preventative care. Memberships include 36 virtual visits annually (12 each for primary care, mental health, and urgent care), AI coaches, wellness resources, and a FREE pharmacy savings benefit. With no premiums, deductibles, or hidden fees, our platform is affordable and commitment-free. Cancel anytime. Contact hello@equalitymd.com for more details.

Question 4

Why should you join EqualityMD if you already have telemedicine through insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes! EqualityMD offers a unique, hassle-free alternative to traditional telemedicine tied to insurance. While insurance-based telehealth often comes with copays and fees, our pre-insurance virtual care platform provides unrestricted access to care with no out-of-pocket costs. Take control of your health journey with patient-focused care available across all 50 states.

Question 5

Does EqualityMD accept insurance for its services?

Accepted Answer

No, we don’t accept insurance. EqualityMD is designed to make healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone by eliminating the need for insurance. Enjoy high-quality care without the complexities of traditional insurance systems.

Question 6

Do EqualityMD's providers deliver inclusive care?

Accepted Answer

Yes!

Our network of 25,000+ providers have received evidence-based, cultural competency training materials to ensure they know how to create safe digital spaces for patients from all walks of life across all 50 states.

At EqualityMD, your workforce can enjoy peace of mind knowing that whomever they pick to be their providers are ready to embrace their unique intersectional identities, meet them where they are, and deliver the inclusive care they deserve.

Question 7

How long are virtual visits?

Accepted Answer

A mental health session is 50 minutes.
Other telehealth companies cut corners by offering 20, 30, or 40-minute sessions.
Not EqualityMD! 
We want to help your team achieve their health and wellness goals, so we make sure they get a FULL 50-minute therapy session EVERY TIME they book an appointment.

A standard primary care visit can last anywhere from 10-20 minutes (depending on the patient's situation).

A standard urgent care visit can last anywhere from 5-15 minutes (depending on the patient's situation).

Question 8

What are common reasons to use Primary Care virtual visits?

Accepted Answer

EqualityMD virtual visits are not intended for use in medical emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or other local emergency services and/or go to the emergency room of a nearby hospital or medical clinic.

EqualityMD Primary Care is commonly used to address the following issues:
 • Abdominal pain
 • Allergies
 • Anxiety (mild cases)
 • Arthritis
 • Asthma (stable/non-emergency)
 • Athlete’s foot
 • Back pain
 • Bee sting
 • Birth control pills
 • Bladder infections
 • Bronchitis
 • Cellulitis (skin infection)
 • Cold
 • Conjunctivitis
 • Cough
 • Cystitis
 • Diarrhea
 • Diabetes
 • Dry scalp
 • Dry skin (eczema)
 • Erectile dysfunction (mild cases)
 • Eye irritation
 • Fever
 • Genital lesions
 • Gout
 • Hay fever
 • Headache
 • Heartburn (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, "GERD")
 • Influenza
 • Lab interpretation
 • Lice
 • Menstrual symptoms
 • Nasal congestion
 • Nausea
 • Nosebleed
 • Painful urination
 • Pharyngitis
 • Pink eye
 • Poison oak/ivy
 • Preventative health lab test
 • Rash
 • Respiratory infection
 • Rolled ankle
 • Scabies
 • Sinusitis
 • Skin infection
 • Sports injuries
 • STD screening lab tests
 • Thyroid disease (hypothyroidism)
 • Travel medicine
 • Upper respiratory infection
 • Urinary tract infection
 • Vaginal itching
 • Yeast infections

Always call 911 or your local emergency service immediately if you think you have an emergency. For example, if you experience any of the following medical issues, go immediately to an emergency room:
 • Chest pain or pressure
 • Convulsion or seizure
 • Difficulty breathing
 • Mental health or substance abuse urgency
 • Moderate to severe burn
 • Pain medication overdose or reaction (narcotics) 
 • Poisoning
 • Serious head, neck, or back injury
 • Serious limb impairment or broken bone
 • Significant, uncontrolled bleeding
 • Suicidal ideation
 • Unconsciousness
 • Any other critical or life-threatening situation

Question 9

What mental health challenges can we help you navigate?

Accepted Answer

Our therapists and behavioral clinicians are here to support you through a variety of mental health challenges, including anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem, work or family-related issues, relationship concerns, identity-related struggles (e.g., LGBTQ+, racial minorities, veterans, neurodiversity, immigrants), trauma, and more. Most of our patients feel better after just three visits. When life feels overwhelming, lean on us for affirming care tailored to your needs. For immediate help during a crisis, please contact: • Call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (English & Spanish) • Call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline • Call 911 for emergencies.