Amazon One Medical Launches Pay-Per-Visit Virtual Care for Children
Amazon One Medical is now offering a pay-per-visit virtual healthcare service for children ages 2 to 11, providing an additional option for families seeking convenient medical attention.
The service, announced today, allows parents to access care for common childhood ailments like pink eye, lice, and various skin conditions – including eczema and bug bites – without requiring health insurance or a One Medical membership. Message-based visits start at $29, while video consultations cost $49, and the service also facilitates EpiPen and asthma medication renewals. This expansion into pediatric care follows the launch of a similar pay-per-visit service for adults earlier this year.
According to Natasha Bhuyan, MD, family physician and national medical director for Amazon One Medical, “This service isn’t meant to replace a family’s relationship with their child’s pediatrician, but rather to serve as a convenient option for those ‘in-between’ moments for parents with time-sensitive concerns who don’t already have on-demand access through a One Medical membership.” The move comes amid a trend of established retail pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart scaling back their healthcare services, potentially creating opportunities for new players like Amazon.
Amazon’s continued investment in healthcare includes the 2018 acquisition of online pharmacy PillPack for $750 million and the subsequent launch of Amazon Pharmacy in 2020, culminating in the $3.9 billion purchase of One Medical in 2022. Yesterday, Amazon also debuted prescription vending machines at One Medical clinics in Los Angeles, a move that could further disrupt the traditional pharmacy landscape as brick-and-mortar stores face closures.
Amazon officials stated they will continue to evaluate and expand healthcare services based on customer needs and market opportunities.
