Breaking into Healthcare: Amazon’s Latest Move
Amazon is taking a significant step into the healthcare industry with its latest announcement. The e-commerce giant is now offering fixed pricing for treating various health conditions, including erectile dysfunction and men’s hair loss, exclusively for its Prime members.
Competing with Direct-to-Consumer Marketplaces
This move is seen as a direct challenge to other direct-to-consumer marketplaces like Hims & Hers Health and Ro. In fact, shares of Hims & Hers fell by as much as 17% on Thursday, marking its worst day.
Transparency in Pricing
One of the key features of Amazon’s new service is transparency in pricing. Prime members can see the cost of a telehealth visit and their desired treatment before deciding to proceed with care. This feature sets Amazon apart from its competitors and provides customers with more control over their healthcare expenses.
Affordable Treatment Options
The new service offers affordable treatment options for five common health issues. For instance, patients can access treatment for anti-aging skin care starting at $10 a month, motion sickness for $2 per use, erectile dysfunction at $19 a month, eyelash growth at $43 a month, and men’s hair loss for $16 a month.
Building on Existing Services
This announcement builds on Amazon’s existing pay-per-visit telehealth offering, which was launched after the company acquired primary care provider One Medical for roughly $3.9 billion in July 2022. Video visits through the service cost $49, and messaging visits cost $29 where available.
Wide Range of Treatable Conditions
The service allows users to get treatment for more than 30 common conditions, including sinus infection and pink eye. Medications filled through Amazon Pharmacy are eligible for discounted pricing and will be delivered to patients’ doors in standard Amazon packaging.
No Additional Fees
Prime members will pay for the consultation and medication, but there are no additional fees. This makes the service more attractive to customers who are looking for affordable and convenient healthcare options.
Amazon’s Healthcare Ambitions
Amazon has been trying to break into the lucrative healthcare sector for years. The company launched its own online pharmacy in 2020 following its acquisition of PillPack in 2018. While the company has faced some setbacks, including the shuttering of its telehealth service Amazon Care, it remains committed to expanding its presence in the healthcare industry.
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