Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting online consultations are disclosed. In order to submit an online consultation request, a user registers to receive online consultation services. During the preliminary registration process, an online messaging privileges request is transmitted to a healthcare provider requesting that online messaging privileges be granted to the user. During the registration process, the healthcare provider may choose to decline the online messaging privileges request (e.g., if the user is not a patient of the healthcare provider) or accept the online messaging privileges request, thereby enabling the user to send online messages to and receive online messages from the healthcare provider via the Internet. Upon successful completion of the registration process, the user submits an online consultation request message via the Internet indicating that medical information and/or medical advice are requested from a healthcare provider.