TL;DR. Sesame works well when you need a single, cheap visit for an obvious problem. Innocre is built for the visits after that — chronic conditions, follow-up, lab review, and a provider who actually knows you. If you only need one antibiotic, Sesame is faster and cheaper. If you need a primary care relationship without insurance, Innocre is what Sesame doesn't try to be.
What Sesame is, and what it isn't
Sesame is a healthcare marketplace. Independent providers list visit slots at upfront cash prices and patients book whichever one matches their problem and budget. A telehealth UTI visit on Sesame is advertised from $34. A 24-hour virtual urgent care visit is typically $34 to $89. Sesame's pitch is simple: lower price, no insurance, instant booking.
The model has real strengths. Pricing is genuinely transparent. Visits happen quickly. Most providers can prescribe basic medications and send them to your pharmacy the same day. For a textbook UTI, a sinus infection, or a poison ivy rash, Sesame delivers exactly what it promises.
What Sesame is not designed to do is build a relationship with you. Every time you book, you're choosing from a pool of available providers — and the next time you book, you'll likely see someone different. Each visit starts at zero: no history, no medication reconciliation, no awareness of what happened the last time. That is by design. Sesame is a marketplace; it isn't a practice.
What Innocre does that Sesame doesn't
Innocre is a small telehealth practice in Maryland, Washington, and Delaware. You see the same provider every visit. Visits are not capped at ten minutes. When labs are ordered, someone follows up with you on the results — not because you remembered to ask, but because it's their job. When a prescription needs to be adjusted, that happens without you booking a fresh visit and explaining your situation to a stranger.
This shows up most clearly in chronic care. Managing hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disease, or anxiety isn't a one-visit problem. It requires someone who knows what dose you started at, what side effects you reported last month, and what your blood pressure pattern has looked like over time. A marketplace cannot do that. A practice can.
Head-to-head: Innocre vs Sesame
| Feature | Innocre | Sesame |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Direct practice (you have a provider) | Marketplace (you book a slot) |
| Same provider every visit | ✓ Yes | ✗ Different each booking |
| Visit length | 30 minutes default, unhurried | Typically 10–15 minutes |
| Cheapest single visit | $23 (community care, qualifying patients) | $34 (UTI, advertised) |
| Standard visit cost | $68 new patient / $65 follow-up | $34–$89 depending on visit type |
| Chronic condition management | ✓ Core focus, recurring care plan | ✗ Not the model |
| Care coordinator (labs, referrals) | ✓ Named, included | ✗ On you |
| Follow-up included | ✓ Provider initiates | ✗ Patient books another visit |
| HSA/FSA accepted | ✓ Yes, with itemized superbill | ✓ Yes |
| Controlled substances | ✗ Not prescribed via telehealth | Varies by provider listing |
| States served | MD, WA, DE | Most US states |
When Sesame is the better choice
Don't overthink this. If you have a clear, single-encounter problem and you are not in Maryland, Washington, or Delaware, Sesame is probably the right tool. The same applies if cost is your only constraint and you're willing to trade continuity for a lower price. The Sesame model exists because for some visits, that trade is genuinely worth it.
When Innocre is the better choice
If you have a chronic condition, a medication that needs ongoing adjustment, or a problem that might evolve over the next several weeks, the marketplace model is not the right fit. The same is true if you've ever had to repeat your medical history to a new provider mid-treatment and felt like care restarted from zero. Innocre is built for that. Same provider every time, longer visits, a care coordinator who handles the labs and referrals, and a flat self-pay structure with no insurance friction.
See an Innocre Provider Today
Same-day visits available for patients in Maryland, Washington, and Delaware. Flat self-pay pricing. No insurance required.
Book a Visit →Visits start at $68 · Community care $23 · HSA/FSA accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sesame cheaper than Innocre?
For a single advertised UTI visit, yes. Sesame lists UTI visits starting at $34. Innocre's standard new-patient visit is $68 and follow-ups are $65. However, Innocre also offers community-care pricing at $23 for qualifying patients, which is the lowest single-visit price either platform offers. For ongoing care, Sesame's per-visit pricing adds up because every interaction is a fresh booking. Innocre's model includes follow-up and care coordination in the structure of the practice, not as separate billable events.
Do I see the same provider on Sesame?
No. Sesame is a marketplace. Each time you book, you choose from whichever providers have slots available. The next time you book, the same provider may not be available, may have left the platform, or may not see the type of visit you need. Innocre is structured the opposite way — you see the same provider at every visit, and that provider keeps continuous notes across your care.
Can Sesame manage chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes?
Sesame is not designed for chronic care. Some providers on Sesame may offer follow-up visits, but the platform's structure rewards one-off encounters rather than ongoing relationships. Chronic conditions require consistent monitoring, medication titration, lab review, and someone who remembers your history. Innocre is built around that. Sesame's strength is acute, single-problem visits.
Does Sesame order labs or coordinate referrals?
Some Sesame providers will order labs at an outside lab, but you are responsible for arranging the lab visit, retrieving results, and bringing them back into the system. Coordination is generally not included. Innocre includes a named care coordinator who handles lab ordering, result follow-up, and specialist referrals at no extra cost.
Does Innocre serve all the states Sesame does?
No. Innocre is currently licensed in Maryland, Washington, and Delaware only. Sesame operates in most US states because it aggregates licensed providers across the country. If you live outside MD, WA, or DE, Sesame is the available option.
Which one is better for an STD test?
It depends on what you mean by better. Sesame can connect you to a provider quickly and order a lab test at a lab near you. Innocre does the same and additionally follows up with you on results and arranges treatment if anything comes back positive. For a one-time screening with no follow-up needed, Sesame works. For follow-through and treatment in MD, WA, or DE, Innocre is the more complete answer.
Does either accept HSA or FSA cards?
Yes. Both Sesame and Innocre accept HSA and FSA cards. Innocre also provides an itemized superbill for possible out-of-network insurance reimbursement; Sesame typically does not bill insurance because its model is direct-cash-pay.
If my first Sesame visit didn't fix my problem, what do I do?
On Sesame, you book another visit, likely with a different provider, and explain everything again. On Innocre, you message your existing provider — the same person who saw you the first time — and they adjust the plan. This is the practical difference between a marketplace and a practice.
Atul S. Vellappally, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC
Founder, InnoCre Telehealth. Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with doctoral-level training in evidence-based and precision medicine. Licensed in Maryland, Washington, and Delaware.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Pricing and feature data for Sesame reflect publicly advertised information at the time of publication and may change. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
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