From grocery delivery to streaming TV to lightning-fast delivery, Amazon does it all. (And that’s not even including the Prime benefits at Whole Foods for Amazon customers, along with the Stock up and Save discounts for Amazon Prime members.) If you never expected the company to get into healthcare benefits, though, you’re not alone. But as of November, Amazon has a partnership with One Medical that includes a money-saving deal for Prime customers. Here’s everything you need to know about the new service.
Essentially, Amazon is offering Prime members a discount on a membership to One Medical. The annual membership normally costs $199, but Prime members can score it for $99 a year, or $9 a month. (If you’re already a One Medical member, you can still apply the discount to your existing membership.)
The company treats patients of all ages, from children and adults under 65 to seniors, providing primary care services both in person and through telehealth. But what does One Medical provide that other primary care providers (that don’t charge annual fees for their services) don’t? And is it worth signing up for it (and paying the monthly fee for it) via your Prime account? Let’s break it down.
What Is One Medical?
One Medical is a service that offers primary care with what are ostensibly more benefits than you’d get from a regular doctor’s office. The company promises longer appointments than you might find at a standard primary care practice, as well as same- and next-day appointments, which can be hard to come by with overworked providers.
Longer appointment times can also mean that you’ll have more time to ask your doctor questions about managing chronic conditions, along with any other health concerns you may have. One Medical promises you won’t feel like the clinic is trying to get you in and out the door — and your doctor’s appointment will start on time, too.
One Medical also offers on-demand healthcare services via video chat. Those telehealth visits are included in the annual cost of a One Medical membership and aren’t billed through your health insurance provider. While most primary care providers don’t charge membership fees, One Medical’s cost goes, in part, to providing those unlimited video chats for members at no additional cost.
Where Are One Medical’s Offices Located?
One Medical has primary care offices in a number of major cities across the United States. Its services include locations in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orange County, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, San Diego, Seattle-Tacoma and the San Francisco Bay area, per Amazon’s website.
Is One Medical Worth It If You Aren’t Near Their Offices?
The answer depends on your specific healthcare needs, and whether or not you plan to take advantage of the company’s telehealth services. But even if you aren’t close enough to receive in-person care, you can still use the One Medical app to receive virtual care through video chat. Those virtual services won’t be billed through your insurance, which could save you money in the long run.
Another benefit of using One Medical’s services is that you’ll have access to all of the company’s primary care offices across the United States. If you’re a frequent traveler, knowing that you could book appointments in other cities might give you peace of mind. The company will already have all of your medical records and will be able to treat you right away if you end up getting sick away from home. That means no more waiting all day in a crowded urgent care office.
Is This The Same As Health Insurance?
Put simply, no — a One Medical membership won’t replace your health insurance coverage, which typically covers emergency care, surgeries and specialist carre. One Medical is a primary care provider; it’s just one that comes with an annual fee.
Still, you can use your existing insurance plan in conjunction with a One Medical membership. You can search One Medical’s website to see if the company accepts your insurance; it says that it takes “most major insurance plans.” Aside from the membership fee (which unlocks the additional perks of membership), your experience at One Medical will be similar to one at another primary care provider — you’ll provide your insurance information to the billing department, and you’ll pay a copay for the services you receive.
If you don’t have a separate health insurance plan, One Medical offers a self-pay option, though the specific cost varies.
Does One Medical Work with Medicare?
If you’re over 65 and use Medicare, One Medical Seniors could be an option for you. The healthcare company accepts Original Medicare and has a specialized Medicare team with services in “Atlanta, Cape Cod, Charlotte, The Triad, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Tucson, Seattle-Tacoma,” per the One Medical website.
Having 24/7 access to virtual care services is helpful at any age. But if you’re managing chronic conditions at home and want to be able to talk to a doctor from time to time, the One Medical app and website could come in handy.
How to Sign up for Amazon’s Health Care Benefit
Amazon Prime members can sign up for the One Medical discount at health.Amazon.com. When you sign up through Amazon, you can also choose whether you’re buying an individual One Medical membership or multiple memberships for your family. Prime subscribers can add up to five additional memberships for $6 a month each.
Once you’ve entered your family’s information on Amazon, you’ll be taken to One Medical’s website, where you can create an account and find a One Medical primary care provider near you to set up your first visit.
Another benefit of connecting Prime with One Medical is that you can get prescriptions through Amazon Pharmacy. The service offers Prime discounts on certain medications, and Amazon will automatically find and apply any relevant manufacturer’s coupons. Learn more about this benefit.
Of course, Prime members don’t have to buy a One Medical membership to use Amazon Pharmacy; combining services just keeps everything in one place. Whether or not you choose to buy a One Medical membership with the Amazon Prime discount, it’s clear that the company’s forays into new fields aren’t going away anytime soon.
The post Amazon Prime’s New Health Care Benefit: How it Works appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.