Amazon's potpourri of healthcare offerings is being unified under the Amazon One Medical brand

Amazon has steadily expanded its footprint in healthcare through a series of strategic moves aimed at simplifying access to medical services. Starting with Amazon Care in 2019, which combined telehealth with in-person visits for employees, the company shifted gears after acquiring One Medical for $3.9 billion in 2022. This acquisition allowed Amazon to extend Amazon Care beyond its employees to the broader public. Shortly thereafter, Amazon Care was shut down in favor of One Medical (QH). Amazon Clinic, launched as a telemedicine marketplace in late 2022, offered affordable, flat-fee services for common ailments without requiring insurance.

Amazon Clinic and Amazon One Medical represent two distinct approaches within Amazon's healthcare ecosystem, both aimed at increasing accessibility and affordability for consumers but with differing scopes and services.

As a telemedicine marketplace, Amazon Clinic was designed for customers seeking quick, convenient, and affordable consultations for common, minor health issues like acne, migraines, or sinus infections. The service operates on a pay-per-visit model, offering flat fees of $29 for messaging-based consultations and $49 for video visits, without requiring health insurance. Customers can select from various telehealth providers and get care for a variety of one-off conditions. 

Amazon One Medical, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive primary care service that offers both telehealth and in-person visits across its network of over 150 locations in the U.S. It provides two main options for customers: a pay-per-visit service for common ailments, much like Amazon Clinic, and a membership option that includes ongoing care, chronic disease management, preventive screenings, and access to both virtual and in-person services. Pricing for the membership is $99 per year for Amazon Prime members and $199 for non-members, while the pay-per-visit option retained the same competitive pricing as Amazon Clinic.

Both services offered virtual care, but Amazon Clinic was more transactional, addressing immediate and isolated health concerns, while One Medical emphasized long-term patient relationships and comprehensive primary care. 

Amazon recently announced that Amazon Clinic would be consolidated into Amazon One Medical (TechCrunch, Forbes). This move is part of Amazon’s strategy to streamline its healthcare offerings, providing more cohesive and accessible care for customers. The rebranded Amazon Clinic will now be known as Amazon One Medical pay-per-visit telehealth service which is a mouthful to say but will retain the same services and pricing (i.e. messaging consultations priced at $29 and video visits at $49, see Figure 1). This consolidation reflects Amazon's commitment to simplifying healthcare access, allowing customers to choose between one-off telehealth consultations for common ailments or a subscription-based membership for comprehensive, ongoing care all under the same organizational umbrella. Its transparent pricing, ease of use, and broad service range make it an attractive choice for individuals looking for flexible healthcare options.

Amazon’s healthcare future is poised for growth, focusing on expanding its ecosystem of primary care, telehealth, and pharmacy services (QH) under the One Medical brand. Looking ahead, Amazon is likely to leverage its vast infrastructure to further reduce costs and increase convenience, potentially integrating advanced delivery methods like drone services for prescription refills. Amazon’s strategy aims to revolutionize healthcare delivery by making it simpler, faster, and more personalized, positioning the company as a key player in the evolving healthcare landscape, particularly as other competitors like Walmart pull back from similar ventures.

Figure 1. The home page for Amazon One Medical Pay-per-Visit telehealth service (formerly Amazon Clinic). As stated, "Self-pay visits – insurance not accepted or needed."