Amazon is streamlining its healthcare offerings by integrating its Amazon Clinic telehealth service into the One Medical platform. This move, announced in an Amazon blog post on Thursday, brings all of Amazon’s healthcare services under the One Medical umbrella, offering consumers a wider range of care options.
Previously launched in November 2022, Amazon Clinic provided virtual care for common health concerns. Last year, it expanded nationwide, offering telehealth services and video visits with providers through the Amazon website and app. However, it operated separately from One Medical, which Amazon acquired for $3.9 billion in 2022.
The rebranded service, now called Amazon One Medical Pay-per-visit telehealth, caters to over 30 common conditions like allergies, flu, or UTIs. According to Amazon executives, this integration allows them to simplify their healthcare offerings and provide a more unified patient experience.
“It’s simply too hard to get the medical care you need, when you need it, and affordably—long waits, high costs, and impersonal care make it unnecessarily difficult for many patients today,” said Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services, in a statement. “We’re focused on improving both the occasional and ongoing medical care experience.”
Consumers now have two options: pay-per-visit telehealth or a monthly/annual One Medical membership. Pay-per-visit messaging consultations cost $29, while video visits are $49. This service does not accept insurance but allows FSA/HSA payments.
One Medical memberships, on the other hand, provide access to ongoing care, including annual well visits, preventive screenings, and in-person or virtual management of chronic conditions. Additionally, members have 24/7 access to virtual care via video chat and in-app “Treat Me Now” services for immediate needs at no extra cost.
Amazon offers a discounted One Medical membership for Prime members at $9 per month or $99 per year. Standard memberships cost $199 annually.
This move by Amazon comes at a time when the healthcare landscape, particularly the virtual care space, is still evolving. While Amazon’s telehealth offerings may impact similar startups like Carbon Health, Galileo or Summer Health, the company is also working to strengthen its position in the primary care market.
One Medical currently boasts over 150 primary care offices across the US and is actively building partnerships with health systems and employers. This focus on expanding its reach suggests Amazon is taking a multi-pronged approach to disrupting the healthcare industry.
“In healthcare, we think of our mission as exactly that: It’s to connect the dots between the humans, the customers, the patients and the products, services and professionals they need to get and stay healthy,” said Lindsay at the HLTH 2023 conference.
Amazon’s foray into healthcare hasn’t been without its stumbles. Notably, the company shuttered its Amazon Care service in late 2022, which offered similar services to Amazon Clinic. In April, Walmart announced it was shuttering all 51 health centers along with its virtual care services. Similarly, UnitedHealth, which owns Optum, have also scaled back their virtual care initiatives.
Despite these setbacks, Amazon’s continued investment in telehealth under the One Medical umbrella suggests a long-term commitment to transforming how consumers access healthcare services. Whether they can successfully navigate this competitive landscape remains to be seen, but this latest move signals Amazon’s determination to be a major player in the healthcare industry.
(Hero image credit: Amazon)
