Story at a glance
- Amazon has partnered with Teledoc Health to launch a hands-free health care service.
- Through Amazon’s line of Echo devices, users would be able to ask Alexa to talk to a doctor.
- The service will be free with eligible insurance plans or $75 without insurance.
Soon Americans will be able to connect with a doctor by simply asking their Amazon smart device, as part of the first hands-free access to at-home medical care.
Online retail giant Amazon announced a partnership with Teladoc Health on Monday that would enable a first-of-its-kind telehealth experience that would leverage Amazon’s line of smart devices and Teladoc Health care providers 24/7 for general medical needs.
The service will be compatible with Amazon Echo devices like Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Show by activating the devices’ virtual assistant, known as Alexa.
Customers in the U.S. will be able to ask their Echo device, “Alexa, I want to talk to a doctor,” which would connect users to a Teladoc call center. From there, customers would get a call back on their Alexa device from a Teladoc doctor for virtual visits related to non-emergency health needs, like for cold or flu symptoms or allergies.
Eventually, Teladoc and Alexa will launch video visits too.
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“Whether they’re taking care of their sick child in the middle of the night or wanting to ask a doctor about allergy symptoms in between meetings during the day, we hope this experience will help customers find the convenient help they want from the comfort of their own home,” said Debra Chrapaty, vice president and chief operating officer of Amazon Alexa, in a statement.
Through this new partnership with Teledoc Health, users can expect the cost per visit to be as low as $0 per visit with insurance or $75 without insurance.
“Teladoc Health’s collaboration with Amazon is yet another step in breaking down barriers to healthcare access. By introducing and integrating our virtual first care experience with Echo devices, we are providing an innovative and convenient way for users to connect with a doctor,” said Donna Boyer, chief product officer at Teladoc Health, in a statement.
Amazon made its foray into the health care industry in 2019 when it launched Amazon Care, a virtual health service that allows users to access a clinician through a mobile app via chat or video. The service works with third-party medical groups around the country and eligible insurance plans.
Telehealth has skyrocketed in recent years, as the American Hospital Association (AHA) found in response to COVID-19 there was a 4,347 percent growth in telehealth claims to private insurers year over year in 2019 through 2020. One project also predicted sevenfold growth in the telehealth industry by 2025.
In an AHA report, Telehealth: A Path to Virtual Integrated Care, 97 percent of patients said they were satisfied with their first telehealth experience and would recommend the program again.
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