Temi vs HelixVM: Which refill service wins in 2026?
Looking for a HelixVM alternative? Temi reviews one medication for $15, shows you that price before you pay, never bills your insurance, and sends the prescription to the pharmacy you choose.
- $15 per medication
- 24/7 support by phone or text
- Temi Satisfaction Guarantee
TL;DR: Temi vs HelixVM quick verdict
- What you pay
- $15 per medication
- Price shown before you pay
- Yes
- Insurance
- Never billed
- Who fills it
- The pharmacy you choose
One flat fee you see before you pay, and nothing billed to your insurance.
- What you pay
- Billed to your insurance
- Self-pay price
- Not published
- Payment
- “Treatment first, payment last”
- Who fills it
- Your preferred pharmacy
A copay or unmet deductible can cost more than you expect, and with no self-pay price published, you cannot see the cost before you start.
About Temi
Temi reviews a medication you already take and sends the prescription to the pharmacy you name. There is no plan to join and no appointment to book.
- $15 per medication, shown before you pay, never billed to insurance
- Reviewed by Kevin Brandstetter, M.D. or another physician licensed in the state you are in
- A person answers 24/7 by phone or text: (855) 554-3030
About HelixVM
HelixVM calls itself a “Virtual Care & Telemedicine Provider Marketplace”: an insurance-first virtual practice for urgent care, prescriptions, and refills. On payment, their FAQ says “Helix Virtual Medicine accepts most major insurance plans. We also offer self-pay rates.”
- Billed to your insurance first, so a copay or unmet deductible can apply, per their FAQ
- No self-pay price published, so you cannot see the cost before you start
- “Our clinical processes backed by AI are reviewed by a Doctor.”
Feature comparison: Temi vs HelixVM
Price
- Temi
- $15 per medication, shown before you pay
- HelixVM
- Billed to insurance; self-pay rates not published on their site
No copay, deductible, or insurance bill
- Temi
- Never billed to insurance. One flat fee, nothing after
- HelixVM
- Billed to insurance first; a copay or deductible may apply, per their FAQ
Pharmacy
- Temi
- Your choice
- HelixVM
- Your preferred pharmacy, per their site
Who reviews
- Temi
- A physician licensed in the state you are in
- HelixVM
- A network of physicians; AI-backed processes reviewed by a doctor, per their site
Supply
- Temi
- The physician decides the supply and refills
- HelixVM
- Up to 28 day refills, short-term prescriptions, per their site
Support
- Temi
- 24/7 by phone or text
- HelixVM
- 7am to 10pm EST, per their FAQ
Satisfaction guarantee
- Temi
- Temi Satisfaction Guarantee
- HelixVM
- No refund policy on the pages we read
New prescriptions
- Temi
- Yes, through the $79 New Prescription service
- HelixVM
- New prescriptions and refills, per their FAQ
Urgent care and video visits
- Temi
- No. Prescriptions only, no exam
- HelixVM
- Yes, per their site
Controlled substances
- Temi
- None, non-controlled only
- HelixVM
- Not prescribed, per their site
States served
- Temi
- 10 states
- HelixVM
- All 50 states, per their site
HelixVM figures are from helixvm.com, read September 29, 2026. HelixVM is their name, not ours.
Who should use Temi?
- You want one flat $15 fee, shown before you pay
- You want no copay, deductible, or insurance bill for the review
- You want the physician to decide your supply and refills
- You want a person on the phone 24/7, backed by the Temi Satisfaction Guarantee
Who should use HelixVM?
- You want the visit billed to your insurance
- You need urgent care or a video visit
- You need care in any of the 50 states
- The patient is under 18, with a parent or guardian present
Pricing comparison: Temi vs HelixVM
Temi
$15 per medication
Each request buys one physician review and one prescription.
$79 per new prescription
A medication you have not taken before, reviewed the same way.
$0 for shipping
You collect at the pharmacy you choose.
Your pharmacy bills you for the medication, and you can use insurance or a discount card there. New prescriptions go through the New Prescription service.
HelixVM
Insurance billed as primary, per their site
Their site says their physicians accept insurance as a primary form of payment.
Self-pay rates offered, amount not published
Their site says self-pay options are available and does not state a price.
Copay or deductible, per your plan
Their FAQ says they claim your insurance before billing you for your share.
Their FAQ answers “What does a virtual visit cost?” without an amount, and suggests calling your insurance carrier to confirm coverage before you register. Their pages, read September 29, 2026, publish no self-pay price and no refund policy, so you cannot see what a visit will cost before you register.
What HelixVM reviewers report
Trustpilot
484 reviews
“This company's rating is unavailable due to a breach of our guidelines.”
Read September 29, 2026: HelixVM on Trustpilot.
BBB
F BBB rating. Not BBB Accredited. 121 complaints.
“Failure to respond to 86 complaint(s) filed against business”
Read September 29, 2026: Helix VM on BBB.
HelixVM's Google rating is 4.0 from 1,387 reviews.
The 200 most recent Google reviews
Four or five stars164 of 200
Three stars or under36 of 200
The 35 low-star reviews about the online service
Unexpected or disputed charges or insurance billing22 of 35
Trouble reaching support19 of 35
Prescription not sent, delayed, or sent wrong13 of 35
The 95 positive reviews with written text
Mention speed44 of 95
Mention ease36 of 95
Counted from the text of each Google review, read September 29, 2026. One review can carry several themes, and one low-star review about an in-person clinic visit is left out.
Three Google reviews, copied word for word: two from the low-star reviews and one from the high-star reviews. HelixVM's Google rating is 4.0 from 1,387 reviews.
“Terrible, overcharges if you utilize insurance. Very hard to reach and their billing department does not respond to emails within a reasonable timeframe. Do not use them.”
“Never got prescription. Got the run around Everytime I contacted them.”
“Super fast service and fulfillment”
Reviews are individual experiences and are not a promise of the same outcome. Pages read September 29, 2026 on Google, Trustpilot, and BBB.
What Temi reviewers report
4.6 from 21 reviews on Trustpilot
Reviews of Temi, copied whole from Trustpilot
Every review below is a review of Temi. All 21 reviews on Temi's profile are here, all five stars, each copied word for word.
Reviews are copied from Trustpilot word for word and are never edited. Some name prices from the date they were written, which may not be Temi's price today.
Reviews are individual experiences and are not a promise of the same outcome. Temi's score and reviews were read September 30, 2026 on Temi's Trustpilot page. Every review Temi has, on one page: Temi reviews.
Final verdict: Temi vs HelixVM
Choose Temi for one flat $15 you see before you pay, never billed to your insurance, and a physician who sends the prescription to the pharmacy you choose.
Choose HelixVM for a visit billed to your insurance, or for urgent care or a video visit, per their site.
What Temi will not do
No controlled substances. That includes stimulants, opioids, and benzodiazepines.
No isotretinoin. Accutane and its generics dispense only through a federal program with monthly in-person steps.
No patients under 18, and no care that needs a physical exam.
No emergency care. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, or another emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Temi reviews refills for patients located in California, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. More on how a $15 refill works.
FAQ
Questions about Temi vs HelixVM
What is the difference between Temi and HelixVM?
Temi charges one flat $15 per medication, shown before you pay, never bills your insurance, and sends the prescription to the pharmacy you choose.
HelixVM is an insurance-first virtual care practice: it bills your insurance as the primary form of payment, its site publishes no self-pay price, and it sends the prescription to your preferred pharmacy.
How much does Temi cost?
$15 per medication, shown before you pay, with no membership needed. A medication you have not taken before is $79 through the New Prescription service. Your pharmacy bills you for the medication, and you can use insurance or a discount card there.
How much does HelixVM cost?
Their site says “Helix Virtual Medicine accepts most major insurance plans. We also offer self-pay rates.” Their pages, read September 29, 2026, do not publish a self-pay amount, so what you pay depends on your insurance or on a self-pay rate they quote you. Billed to insurance, you can owe a copay, or the full visit until your deductible is met.
Does Temi bill my insurance?
No. Temi's fee is cash-pay and Temi never bills insurance. The prescription goes to the pharmacy you choose, and you can use your insurance or a discount card there to pay for the medication.
Can I use insurance at HelixVM?
Yes. Their site says their physicians accept insurance as a primary form of payment, and their FAQ says they submit the claim to your insurance provider before billing you for your share. A copay or deductible may apply, and their FAQ suggests calling your insurance carrier to confirm coverage before you register.
Is Temi a HelixVM alternative?
Yes, for refills and new prescriptions of non-controlled medications. Temi needs no video visit and sends the prescription to your pharmacy. It charges one flat $15 per medication that you see before you pay, and the review is backed by the Temi Satisfaction Guarantee. Temi does not offer urgent care or video visits.
What if the physician says no?
The $15 pays for the physician's review, whatever the decision. A decision you did not want is not by itself a refund. If you are not satisfied with Temi's clinical service, tell the team why, and the Temi Satisfaction Guarantee refunds the review fee.
Can I keep my own pharmacy?
Yes. You name the pharmacy and the prescription goes there. Temi does not dispense or ship medication, so the pharmacy you already use, around the corner or by mail, stays your pharmacy.
Do I pay Temi again for every refill?
Not for every pickup. Each $15 request buys one physician review and one prescription, and the reviewing physician decides the supply and how many pharmacy refills to put on it. Collecting a refill your pharmacy already holds costs nothing at Temi. When the prescription runs out, you submit a new $15 request.
How fast is the review?
A licensed physician reviews your request within 48 hours, often sooner. Timing depends on what the physician needs from you, so it is not a guaranteed turnaround.
Can Temi prescribe something new?
Yes. Temi's New Prescription service reviews a medication you have not taken before, for $79, or $0 with Temi Care.
What medications qualify?
Non-controlled maintenance medications. That covers blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid, diabetes, acid reflux, asthma, antidepressants, birth control, and other routine prescriptions. Controlled substances and isotretinoin are refused at intake, before you pay anything.
Is there a membership, and do I need it?
No, you do not need one. The $15 on this page is the price without any membership. Temi Care is $449 a year and includes unlimited $0 prescription renewals for eligible non-controlled medications and a $0 New Prescription service. Your pharmacy still bills you for the medication either way.
What is the Temi Satisfaction Guarantee?
Tell the team you are not satisfied with Temi's clinical service and why, and the review fee is refunded. A decision you did not want is not by itself a refund, because the fee pays for the physician's review either way. Money Temi collected for something it did not deliver is always refunded.
Which states does Temi cover?
Temi reviews refills for patients physically located in California, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. What matters is the state you are in when you submit the request, not where you used to see a doctor.
More from Temi
Prescription refills
How a $15 refill works, from the request to the pharmacy.
New Prescription service
A medication you have not taken before, reviewed for $79.
Kevin Brandstetter, M.D.
Temi's founding physician, board certified in emergency medicine.
All Temi comparisons
Every service and medication comparison Temi publishes, in one place.