What Roman is and how it differs from other telehealth platforms

Roman is an online prescription service that connects you with doctors and nurse practitioners through video visits to discuss and receive prescriptions for conditions like erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and premature ejaculation. Unlike a traditional clinic visit, you start by answering a medical questionnaire on Roman's website or app, then have a video appointment with a clinician who reviews your answers and medical history.

Roman is one of several telehealth services offering similar services — others include GoodRx Telehealth, Ro, Hims, and Amazon Pharmacy's virtual care. The main differences lie in how they structure visits, what medications they stock, pricing, and whether they require a video appointment or work from questionnaire alone.

Roman requires a video visit with a real clinician before issuing any prescription. Some competitors like GoodRx Telehealth also require video visits, while others like Ro offer both video and questionnaire-only pathways depending on the medication. This means Roman's process takes longer than a questionnaire-only service but may feel more thorough to some patients.

Key Takeaways

  • Roman requires a video appointment with a clinician before any prescription is issued, which takes longer than questionnaire-only services but includes a real-time conversation about your health.
  • Pricing varies by medication and whether you use Roman's in-house pharmacy or transfer your prescription to a local or mail-order pharmacy; Roman publishes prices upfront on its website.
  • Roman's clinicians can prescribe medications like sildenafil (generic Viagra), tadalafil (generic Cialis), finasteride for hair loss, and sertraline for premature ejaculation, but availability and pricing depend on your state and insurance status.
  • Roman does not accept most insurance plans directly, though you can use your prescription at any pharmacy that accepts your insurance if you choose to fill elsewhere.
  • Other telehealth services differ mainly in whether they require video visits, which medications they offer, and how they handle insurance — comparing your options depends on your state, preferred medication, and whether you want to use insurance.

How Roman's visit process compares to traditional clinics and other telehealth services

At a traditional men's health clinic, you schedule an appointment weeks in advance, travel to the office, wait in a room, and speak with a doctor in person. Roman compresses this into a questionnaire followed by a video call that typically happens within 24 hours. You answer questions about your symptoms, medical history, medications, and lifestyle on the Roman app or website, then a clinician reviews your answers before the video visit and asks follow-up questions during the call.

Other telehealth services handle this differently. Ro and GoodRx Telehealth also require video visits. Hims offers both video and questionnaire-only pathways depending on the medication — some conditions can be treated after a questionnaire alone, while others require a video visit. Amazon Pharmacy's virtual care requires a video visit for most prescriptions. The trade-off is speed versus depth: questionnaire-only services are faster, but video visits give the clinician a chance to ask real-time questions and assess your overall health.

Roman's clinicians are licensed doctors and nurse practitioners in your state, not AI or automated systems. They can refuse to prescribe if they believe the medication is not appropriate for you based on your health history, which is the same standard a traditional clinic would explore. This means Roman's approval rate is lower than some competitors, but it also means the prescriptions issued have gone through a human medical review.

Medications Roman offers and how they compare to other services

Roman prescribes medications in four main categories: erectile dysfunction (sildenafil and tadalafil), hair loss (finasteride and minoxidil), premature ejaculation (sertraline and dapoxetine), and general men's health (vitamins and supplements). The specific medications available to you depend on your state, your medical history, and whether Roman's clinician believes the medication is appropriate for you.

Ro offers a similar range but also includes treatments for other conditions like cold sores and urinary tract infections. Hims covers erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and premature ejaculation but also adds treatments for skin conditions and weight loss. GoodRx Telehealth focuses primarily on erectile dysfunction and hair loss. Amazon Pharmacy's virtual care covers a broader range including cold sores, urinary tract infections, and other acute conditions alongside men's health medications.

If you have a specific medication in mind, you should check Roman's website or contact their support team to confirm it is available in your state and whether your medical history would allow a prescription. The same applies to competitors — availability varies by state because telehealth clinicians must be licensed in your state to prescribe.

Pricing and insurance: how Roman charges and what other services cost

Roman publishes its prices upfront on its website for each medication. A typical visit fee is $99 to $199, depending on whether you are a new patient or returning customer. Medications are priced separately — for example, sildenafil might cost $30 to $60 per month depending on the dose and quantity, and finasteride for hair loss might cost $15 to $30 per month. These prices are for Roman's in-house pharmacy; if you transfer your prescription to a local or mail-order pharmacy, the price may differ.

Roman does not bill insurance directly for the visit fee, though some insurance plans may cover the prescription itself if you fill it at a pharmacy that accepts your insurance. You pay Roman out of pocket for the visit and medication, then submit the receipt to your insurance for reimbursement if your plan covers telehealth visits — this varies widely by plan.

Competitors price similarly but with variations. Ro charges $99 to $199 for a visit depending on the medication and whether it is your first visit. Hims charges $25 to $75 for a visit depending on the service, making it cheaper upfront but potentially more expensive per medication. GoodRx Telehealth charges $99 for a visit. Amazon Pharmacy's virtual care charges $29 to $99 depending on the condition. All of these services work primarily on a cash-pay basis, though some accept certain insurance plans or allow you to use your prescription at an in-network pharmacy.

How to use a Roman prescription at your local pharmacy instead of Roman's pharmacy

After your video visit, Roman's clinician can send your prescription to any pharmacy you choose — your local CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, or a mail-order pharmacy like those run by your insurance company. You straightforward tell Roman which pharmacy to send it to, and the prescription is transferred electronically. You then pay the pharmacy's price for the medication, which may be lower or higher than Roman's in-house price depending on your insurance and the pharmacy's pricing.

This is useful if you already have a relationship with a local pharmacy, if your insurance covers the medication at a specific pharmacy, or if you want to compare prices before filling. Some insurance plans cover generic sildenafil or finasteride at a lower cost than Roman's pharmacy charges, so using your insurance at a local pharmacy can save money. Other plans do not cover these medications at all, in which case Roman's price or a competitor's price may be your only option.

All of the telehealth services mentioned here — Ro, Hims, GoodRx Telehealth, and Amazon Pharmacy — allow you to transfer prescriptions to a local pharmacy as well. This is a standard feature because prescriptions are legal documents that any licensed pharmacy can fill.

State restrictions and whether Roman operates where you live

Roman operates in most U.S. states but not all. The company's website lists which states it serves; if your state is not listed, you cannot use Roman. Some states restrict telehealth prescribing for certain medications, require an in-person visit first, or have other regulations that prevent Roman from operating there. This is true for all telehealth services — each one has a different list of states where it is licensed.

If Roman does not operate in your state, Ro, Hims, GoodRx Telehealth, or Amazon Pharmacy may. You can check each service's website to see which states they serve. Alternatively, you can visit a traditional men's health clinic or your primary care doctor in person, which is always an option regardless of state.

When to choose Roman versus a traditional clinic or a different telehealth service

Roman makes sense if you want a video visit with a real clinician (not a questionnaire alone), prefer not to travel to a clinic, and live in a state where Roman operates. It also makes sense if you want transparent pricing upfront and do not want to use insurance for this visit. The main drawback is that the video visit takes time to schedule and complete, so if you need a prescription urgently, a questionnaire-only service or a walk-in clinic might be faster.

A traditional men's health clinic makes sense if you want an in-person exam, if you have complex medical history that requires a thorough evaluation, or if you want your insurance to cover the visit. The drawback is longer wait times and travel time. A questionnaire-only telehealth service makes sense if you want the fastest route and have used the medication before. A different telehealth service makes sense if Roman does not operate in your state, if you prefer a different medication that Roman does not offer, or if you want a lower upfront visit fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Roman accept insurance?

Roman does not bill your insurance directly for the visit fee. You pay Roman out of pocket, then may be able to submit the receipt to your insurance for reimbursement if your plan covers telehealth visits — this varies by plan. Your prescription can be filled at any pharmacy that accepts your insurance, and your insurance may cover the medication itself even if it does not cover the visit.

How long does it take to get a prescription from Roman?

The questionnaire takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Video appointments are typically scheduled within 24 hours and last 10 to 20 minutes. After the visit, the prescription is sent to your chosen pharmacy when ready, so you can pick it up or have it mailed the same day. Total time from starting the questionnaire to having medication in hand is usually 1 to 2 days.

What if Roman's clinician refuses to prescribe?

If a clinician believes the medication is not appropriate for you based on your health history, they will not issue a prescription. You can ask why, and the clinician should explain their reasoning. You can then try a different telehealth service, visit a traditional clinic, or speak with your primary care doctor about other options.

Can I use my Roman prescription at Walgreens or CVS?

Yes. After your video visit, you can ask Roman to send your prescription to any pharmacy, including Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, or a mail-order pharmacy. The pharmacy will fill it using your insurance if you have coverage for that medication, or you will pay the pharmacy's cash price if you do not.

How does Roman compare to Hims or Ro?

Roman requires a video visit before any prescription is issued. Hims and Ro offer both video and questionnaire-only options depending on the medication, making them faster for some conditions. Pricing is similar across all three services. The main difference is speed: questionnaire-only services are faster, while Roman's video-visit requirement takes longer but includes a real-time conversation with a clinician.