DEAR DR. ROACH: My sister was trying to make a telehealth appointment with her primary care physician. The receptionist called her back to inform her that she needed to pay a co-pay of $30 for the appointment first. I didn’t know that this was the new norm for these. Is this true?

If this ever happened to me, and I am able, I would get into my car and head to urgent care before I would do this. It is really sad. I don’t know which other way to describe this and remain polite. — M.S.

ANSWER: It is often the case that people need to pay a co-pay to see their primary care doctors, either for an in-person or telehealth visit. There are some exceptions depending on insurance, and sometimes an “annual checkup” doesn’t include a co-pay.

I looked at several insurance companies, and some of th

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