Amazon Care
What if large retailers started providing health care services? In 2019, the second largest retailer in the world, Amazon, launched a telehealth service called “Amazon Care.” Amazon Care was initially launched as a pilot program, providing telehealth services for employees near or in Amazon’s Seattle headquarters. The service provides free telehealth consultations, virtual care visits and fee-based in-home visits from nurses for vaccinations and testing. You might be able to use these services soon because Tuesday, Amazon announced they are officially rolling out Amazon Care nationwide.
In addition to announcing nationwide plans for Amazon Care, the company said it will expand in-person care to more places around the country. Amazon will launch Amazon Care in 20 locations later this year, including New York City, San Francisco, Miami, and Chicago. In-person services have already been launched in eight locations. If you live in a location with Amazon care services, have you received health care from them yet?
The coronavirus pandemic has sparked a boom in demand for in-home care, both online and in person. People need health care, but some may not get treated in-person during a pandemic. Amazon is hoping that its mix of virtual care and its unique approach to in-person care will lure businesses away from competing alternatives.
Amazon is already signing up businesses for their service. On Tuesday, the company said that it has started offering services to Whole Foods, the supermarket it bought in 2017. Additionally, they’re offering services to chip maker Silicon Labs and recruiting firm TrueBlue.
Will you be using Amazon Care once it launches nationwide?
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.