Sam’s Club, a subscription-based discounted retail club owned by Walmart Inc., now offers its members an option for virtual primary health care service. Through a partnership with the virtual telehealth platform 98point6, Sam’s Club members who purchase a telehealth subscription have access to text-based, non-emergency care services for only $1 per visit.
By flexing Walmart’s broad reach and resources, Sam’s Club’s new service provides an impressively affordable option for virtual health care. For standard users, 98point6 offers only a yearly subscription; Sam’s Club Plus- and Club-level members can purchase a quarterly subscription for an introductory fee of $20. After the first quarter, members pay $33.50 every three months for unlimited, round-the-clock access to U.S. board-certified primary care physicians. Pediatric care for children age one and up is available with an additional subscription.
In the works before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam’s Club expedited the roll-out to provide members with quality mobile telehealth services during the crisis. Through the app, members have fast access to care for more than 400 acute and chronic conditions, such as respiratory illnesses, rashes, seasonal allergies, asthma, depression, anxiety, heart disease, and diabetes. If a doctor believes an in-person visit is necessary, they offer guidance to help the user find the right provider.
Doctors can also order lab tests and prescriptions for users. Sam’s Club members have access to additional low-cost health resources, including immunizations and optical and hearing aid services. As the demand for telehealth services continues to grow, more membership-based retail clubs may take a page from Sam’s playbook and begin offering their own virtual health care subscriptions.
