How Does Sesame Work? | Can You Trust Sesame? | Services | Pricing | Customer Experience | Website Review
In recent years, medicine has moved away from the traditional and towards the new and innovative—i.e., telemedicine.
This form of healthcare is usually conducted entirely online, though some in-person clinics offer telehealth as an option.
Telemedicine generally aims to cut out in-person appointments, opting for online visits and prescriptions delivered right to your door.
One of the companies that has embraced this recent trend is Sesame. This company offers virtual doctor appointments for a wide variety of health concerns, from mental health to skincare consults to refilling prescriptions.
According to their website, Sesame only employs doctors who have been rigorously vetted to ensure that their customers receive top-notch care.
Sesame also takes this innovative model one step even further. They have attempted to simplify the billing and payment process by offering a single, upfront price for each of their services.
They promise that you’ll never receive another bill or extra fee after that initial payment. In this way, Sesame aims to streamline medical care even more.
Does Sesame seem too good to be true? Well, in this article, we’ll help you get to the bottom of things.
We’ll take a detailed look at every aspect of this company, giving you the tools and information you need to decide if Sesame is right for you.
If you’re interested in trying out their services, read on—we’ll answer all of your burning questions.
How Does Sesame’s Telemedicine Work?
Before we go any further, it’s important to lay out how all of this actually works. Admittedly, it can be a little confusing for first-time users.
Thankfully, the whole process felt pretty simple, and even though we’re pretty tech-savvy, we think it’s simple enough for the not-so-technologically-inclined people, too.
First, you select the type of care you’re looking for. As we’ve already noted, Sesame offers a huge selection of services.
Once you find the one you need, you simply click the link. You’ll be taken to a page featuring dozens of doctors available for appointments in the coming weeks.
When you click on each doctor, you’re able to see their credentials, specialties, and the states in which they’re licensed.
You’ll also see a list of available appointment times, as well as the upfront price — the transparency is a definite plus on our list.
Next up, you’ll need to choose a time for your consultation. Finally, you simply fill out a few questions about yourself and the reason for your visit. You’ll pay for your appointment at this time, as well.
There you have it—that’s how it works! Your virtual consultation is all set. In our opinion, this whole process felt incredibly easy and simple.
Even someone who’s a bit lacking in technology skills could figure it out. That’s one thing we love about this company!
Can You Trust Sesame?
So, it’s clear that we think Sesame is simple and convenient to use. However, just because something is easy doesn’t mean it’s the best option. This raises an important question: is this company really trustworthy?
Having doubts about a telehealth business is totally fair if you’re unfamiliar with the concept, but telehealth has been around for a while now, and Sesame is doing it right.
Firstly, as we’ve noted, Sesame only employs certified, vetted doctors. They also provide ample information about each doctor, including their qualifications, areas of expertise, and the states in which they are licensed to practice.
In other words, they’re legit, and Sesame gives you the info you need to see for yourself.
Beyond this, there’s one other factor that leads us to believe that Sesame is a trustworthy company—they have really good online reviews.
In our experience, generally positive reviews tend to indicate that a company lives up to their promises.
If you don’t believe us, take a look at a few real customer reviews that speak to the legitimacy of Sesame:
“I recommend sesame for anyone who needs to find a good Doctor. Very affordable for an online doctor visit. I did telemedicine and met an excellent doctor who treated me with respect and listened to me!”
— JB Hern, Facebook
“This was a very easy service to use. The family nurse practitioner that we used was fantastic! She listened to my daughter’s symptoms, asked questions about her medical history, and was very compassionate. She did prescribe a prescription. I made an error when I initially signed into the service that caused an error. The NP graciously answered my call, and fixed it after the initial appointment. I just cannot say enough good things about this service.”
— Kathryn Quinn, 5/5 Stars, Trustpilot
“I had a great experience with Dr. Parker, using Sesame. He was very professional, knowledgeable and helpful. He listened to me and answered my questions. I would recommend Dr. Parker and Sesame without hesitation.”
— Tonia Anderson, 5/5 Stars, Trustpilot
There are hundreds of similar positive reviews across the Internet, but sadly we can’t post them all here. However, if there’s one takeaway from these snippets, it’s that tons of customers have had excellent experiences with Sesame, and in our book, that’s a very good sign.
Sesame’s Services
We’ve been discussing all of Sesame’s different services quite a bit. You’re probably wondering what, exactly, those services actually include.
Here’s a shortlist of the areas they cover:
- Urgent care
- Mental health
- Prescription refills
- Dental
- Skin Care
- Wellness & prevention
- Men’s health
- Diabetes care
- Chronic care
- Sleep
- Primary care
- Audiology
- And a lot, lot more!
We wanted to include this list to show you just how much variety this company really offers. In our view, this is one of the most prominent pros of Sesame.
No matter what non-emergency concern you’re dealing with, you can get the treatment from Sesame 95% of the time.
Pricing
Now, let’s discuss another subject of equal relevance: pricing. As a direct-to-consumer healthcare business, affordable pricing is a huge part of Sesame’s model. Are they really as affordable as they claim to be?
All in all, it’s safe to say that Sesame is very affordable compared to traditional healthcare, especially if you don’t have insurance.
Better yet, you only have to pay a one-time fee, so you know exactly what you’re getting into before your appointment.
This is one thing we love about Sesame—you never have to worry about surprise fees after the fact, which is a huge gamble if you’re not well-versed in your own, ever-changing insurance plan.
Speaking of insurance, we should mention that Sesame does not accept all forms of insurance. Eligibility for insurance coverage basically depends on your specific plan.
In some cases, you may be able to submit your Sesame receipt to your insurance company and receive reimbursement, but in some cases, you’ll be paying everything out of pocket.
If you have a solid insurance plan, this may look like a downside to you. However, if you don’t have insurance, this may be a huge plus.
Sesame is basically built for people who don’t have a plan or don’t want to use their insurance. You get to pay a single, flat rate without worrying about all the complications of insurance.
Finally, keep in mind that Sesame does allow you to use your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for their services.
At the end of the day, it’s important to determine what kind of healthcare payment is best for you. For anyone looking to pay an affordable, out-of-pocket fee, Sesame is an excellent choice.
Convenience
Next up, let’s talk abour the convenience factor.
This is another major reason that someone might sign up for a telehealth service like Sesame—appointments are easy to find and schedule, and you can do the actual consultation from the comfort of your own home.
You don’t have to go through the hassle of getting yourself to a doctor’s office.
In our experience, Sesame is very convenient to use. It seems like there are always appointments available, no matter what kind of issues you’re dealing with. Plus, they usually offer a wide range of appointment times. No complaints here!
If you’re still not convinced, take a look at a few of these customer reviews:
“I found a doctor near me using sesame for a same day visit. What was great was I could choose to see them for a telemedicine visit, or for an in person visit at their office. I did an online doctor visit/video visit, and it was fast, affordable, and got me exactly what I needed. I’d do it again next time I need to see a doctor.”
— Euthyphro Rama, 5/5 Stars, Trustpilot
“Got a great provider, at a reasonable price. From the time it took to make the appointment to the consultation, it was less time than what you would spend in the waiting room to see a provider. This service is amazing and we are thankful for Sesame and the wonderful medical professionals who work with this company!”
— Shawn Meyer, Facebook
Clearly, convenience is one of the most compelling factors about Sesame. If you’re trying to save a little time in your busy schedule, Sesame might just be a great choice.
Customer Experience
Dealing with health issues can be nerve-wrecking. Whether you’re struggling with your mental health or you’re concerned about a worsening physical symptom, finding proper help tends to be pretty stressful.
That’s why having a trustworthy, caring doctor is so important.
So, that raises the question: are Sesame doctors up to the challenge?
In our experience, Sesame doctors tend to be kind, patient, and empathetic. We’ve never had a bad experience with one of their team members. All in all, Sesame is an ideal place to turn if you’re looking to put your mind at ease about a worrying symptom.
Along similar lines, we should note another perk of the customer experience: if you need a prescription, they offer FDA-approved medication at prices as low as $5. Plus, as the cherry on top, you can get that medication delivered straight to your door with free shipping. What’s not to love about that?
Clearly, we think the overall customer experience of Sesame is pretty great.
Website Review
Finally, let’s discuss one more vital component of the Sesame brand: their website.
Overall, their website felt very easy to use. It’s full of useful information, and scheduling an appointment is simple.
Again, they’ve really done a great job of making it accessible for even those who might not be so tech savvy.
One of the best things about their website is that you can actually search for an appointment by symptom, type of care, service, or even by doctor.
This makes it even easier to book your consultation, especially if you already know exactly what kind of booking you’ll need.
If we had to note one downside of Sesame’s website, it would be this: the frequently asked questions (FAQ) page is pretty hard to find.
It’s not linked on their homepage (as far as we can tell), which means you have to search through several pages to actually find it.
This is unfortunate because their FAQ page is packed with useful information that we think should be one of the easiest component to find.
It’s very comprehensive, and it would be incredibly helpful for a first-time user. Hopefully, Sesame will address this issue someday soon—it’s a quick fix, and it would make a huge difference!
Final Thoughts on Sesame
As we wrap things up, we thought we’d provide a short summary of the pros and cons discussed above.
Here are a few of the biggest pros of Sesame:
- Sesame and their team of doctors are very trustworthy
- They offer a huge variety of services
- For the most part, their services are very affordable, and you only have to pay a single upfront fee
- Appointments are easy to schedule, and the virtual model makes the whole process convenient and quick
- Their website is very, very user-friendly
Of course, we have to mention the cons, as well:
- They don’t accept all insurance plans, so you may have to pay out-of-pocket
- The FAQ page on their website is difficult to find
So, as you can see, the pros outweigh the cons by a landslide. In our opinion, Sesame is worth a shot!
Sources:
Owner, entrepreneur, and health enthusiast.
Chris is one of the Co-Founders of USARx.com. An entrepreneur at heart, Chris has been building and writing in consumer health for over 10 years. In addition to USARx.com, Chris and his Acme Health LLC Brand Team own and operate Pharmacists.org and the USA Rx Pharmacy Discount Card.
Chris has a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation and is a proud member of the American Medical Writer’s Association (AMWA), the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), the National Association of Science Writers (NASW), the Council of Science Editors, the Author’s Guild, and the Editorial Freelance Association (EFA).
Our growing team of healthcare experts work everyday to create accurate and informative health content in addition to the keeping you up to date on the latest news and research.
Bridget Reed is a Tampa-based content development manager, writer, and editor at GR0; specializing in content related to varying fields including medicine, health, and small businesses. Bridget went to St. Petersburg College and majored in Management and Organizational Leadership.
How we built this article:
- Content Process
- Article History
Every piece of content we produce is meticulously crafted and edited based on the four core pillars of our editorial philosophy: (1) building and sustaining trust; (2) upholding the highest journalistic standards; (3) prioritizing accuracy, empathy, and inclusivity; and (4) continuously monitoring and updating our content. These principles ensure that you consistently receive timely, evidence-based information.
Current Version
2023-10-17
Edited By
2023-08-16
Fact Checked By
