Teladoc Health
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A Deeply Disappointing Experience
1. The Virtual Visit: I scheduled a Teladoc visit for severe back pain, hoping to receive appropriate and timely care. I want to be clear: I was fully aware of Teladoc’s policy regarding narcotic prescriptions. I did not ask for anything controlled or inappropriate—just a short-term prescription for a non-narcotic muscle relaxer to help with debilitating muscle spasms. Despite this, the doctor treated me as though I was asking for something unreasonable. From the beginning, he had an impatient and condescending tone. When I explained my situation, including the fact that I was following all basic at-home care like icing, rest, and limited movement, he belittled me and implied I wasn’t doing enough—or wasn’t doing it “correctly.” I was in extreme pain and looking for professional help, not judgment. When I calmly mentioned the muscle relaxer, he refused to prescribe anything and became visibly irritated. Rather than offering an alternative or discussing options, he shut me down and acted as if my request was somehow suspicious or inappropriate. It was deeply unprofessional and demeaning. I left the visit not only untreated, but completely dismissed—by someone who showed no compassion or interest in actually helping a patient in pain. 2. Urgent Care Visit After Teladoc Failed: After the disappointing Teladoc experience, I ended up going to urgent care. The difference was night and day. The urgent care provider immediately understood the severity of my symptoms, acknowledged my pain, and treated me with empathy and professionalism. I was given a steroid, a non-narcotic muscle relaxer, and pain-relieving injections—exactly what was needed. The fact that they could clearly see what I was going through, while the Teladoc provider dismissed me outright, is incredibly telling. It confirmed that my initial instincts were valid, and that the virtual doctor simply failed to provide even a basic standard of care. 3. Awful and Scripted Customer Service: Following the visit, I tried multiple times to contact Teladoc customer service to address my concerns. Each time I called, I had to repeat my story, was placed on hold multiple times, and then told the same thing: “We’re escalating this to Tier 2 support.” I was promised follow-up that never came. The responses were robotic and clearly scripted. At the end of one call, I stayed on the line to leave a review—when I selected “1” on the rating system, the voice message weirdly said “We’re sorry, we did not understand that,” and the survey ended. It genuinely felt like they were dodging negative feedback. The emails I received afterward only made things worse. One said my case was being moved to Tier 2. Another, encrypted and full of vague language, stated they had completed an “investigation” and were pursuing “system enhancements and training opportunities.” At no point did it feel like the customer—the patient—was the priority. It felt like a corporate checklist response designed to protect the company, not help the person who had a poor experience. Final Thoughts: I expected professionalism and care from Teladoc Health, and instead received judgment, dismissal, and a total lack of follow-through. I would strongly caution anyone considering using this service, especially for anything that requires empathy or actual treatment judgment. Thankfully, urgent care took me seriously—but I’ll never trust Teladoc again.