Is no-insurance, instantaneous medical care a reality?

K Health is an app that allows anyone to see a doctor. Signing up is simple and easy. Users download the app, pay the monthly fee, and consult with AI “intake specialists”. After a brief medical history is gathered, users can read about their medical conditions. The app is a resource for information about acute and long-term illnesses. For an inexpensive fee, users have virtual visits with doctors. Most of these are done over text. K Health advertises the service as a solution to long waiting times, high healthcare costs, and insurance bureaucracy. K Health is significantly cheaper and faster than most doctor’s visits. However, the app doesn’t have all the solutions. With no hands-on or in-person visits, diagnosis is tricky. Misdiagnosis is common, with many users being referred to local clinics and emergency rooms. K Health may work as a solution in between scheduled consultations. However, we don’t recommend it as your primary healthcare resource.

K Health company information

Official Website:https://khealth.com/
Headquarters Location:298 5th Avenue 7th Floor New York, NY 10001
Founded:2016
Industry:Health, Medical
Contact:support@khealth.com or (516) 218-1167
Trust Score:High
Social Media:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

What is K Health?

K Health is an online medical and health services company. It was founded in 2016 by Ran Shaul, Adam Singolda, Israel Roth, and Allon Bloch. K Health aims to provide low-cost healthcare. The company doesn’t accept insurance or HMOs. Instead, members enroll directly with the company. K Health charges USD 19/month for membership. Membership provides unlimited text-based consultations with medical professionals. Virtual visits cost an additional $29 each. K Health providers treat an assortment of medical conditions. Most are common ailments, such as allergies and high cholesterol. Physicians can also diagnose other chronic and acute problems. There are options for mental health and specialty care, too. K Health issues prescriptions and doctor’s notes like any other medical office. Users find online appointments convenient and simple. However, some patients worry their tests can’t be performed virtually. K Health has mixed reviews.

  • Is the site generally legal? In all countries? K Health is legal in 48 U.S. states. The company cannot treat patients in Hawaii, Alaska, or other U.S. territories. It won’t treat anyone residing outside the United States. K Health doesn’t accept any form of health insurance or prescription discount card. Using K Health could invalidate your existing health insurance or HMO. K Health also isn’t covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Some physicians won’t accept medical records from K Health. Not all pharmacies will take prescriptions from online providers.
  • How high is the chance of being scammed? There is a high risk of being scammed with K Health. Because all visits are virtual, K Health professionals cannot perform standard medical tests or readings. Normal procedures such as checking blood pressure are skipped. Blood, urine, and other medical tests are also avoided. Doctors cannot physically touch or interact with the patient. This leads to frequent misdiagnosis. Many patients reported dealing with chronic illnesses such as UTIs and yeast infections. However, because no tests could verify the diagnosis, they received no medication or advice. A small number of K Health users paid for visits but were denied access to doctors or staff. Some virtual visits are conducted entirely by AI. Communication issues are frequent.
  • Does the site contain viruses or malware? No, the K Health app is unlikely to contain any viruses or malware.
  • Does the site steal sensitive data? K Health may misuse your personal data. The company collects personal information and creates user profiles. They are known to track visitors to the site and app users. Some information is given to third-party consultants. K Health says they do this to help diagnose and treat patients. If your employer or someone else pays your bills, K Health will share your medical information with them. The privacy policy also says they use sensitive data for “social sharing”. They will try to have you post about your visit on social media. This provides them with advertising and marketing support.
  • Are there similar fake sites to be aware of? Since 2020, many new health sites and apps have sprung up. Some of these companies promise to treat or diagnose illnesses. We recommend getting established with a healthcare provider in your area. Most doctors will now honor requests for virtual visits. Here are some apps with very low rankings. Be cautious and avoid using these apps: Aura, Aurora Health, Aya Connect, GE Healthcare HUB, Instant Blood Pressure Pro, MyHealth ONE, Nurx, PulseOx Pro, Univera Healthcare.

Is K Health reliable and trustworthy?

  • How good are the company’s overall web ratings? The K Health app has great reviews on Google Play and the Apple app store. App users rank K Health between 4-4.5/5 stars. However, reviews on Trustpilot are very poor. Trustpilot users give the app a 2.2/5-star rating.
  • Does the site have a refund policy? K Health doesn’t offer refunds on memberships. According to the website Terms of Service, monthly or annual memberships cannot be canceled or pro-rated. Once customers purchase a membership, they will not be able to cancel it until it expires. The company requires 48-hour notice before ending your membership. If you leave it until the very end of the month, you will be automatically re-enrolled. Refunds on the doctor or AI health visits are unlikely. The company won’t cancel charges based on customer dissatisfaction. However, if you disconnected during a visit you may be able to get another visit free.
  • How many scam reports are there compared to positive reports? On Trustpilot, more than half of reviewers complained that they were scammed. Some patients were denied prescriptions or misdiagnosed. Many were told to see their regular GP or go to walk-in clinics. Others were billed for appointments but unable to speak to a doctor. According to the Better Business Bureau, the company has an A+ ranking. However, customer reviews on that site are less than 2 stars out of 5. The BBB only records a dozen formal complaints over the past 3 years. This indicates that although customers weren’t happy, they also had no legal basis to file claims. The BBB doesn’t deal with concerns about a misdiagnosis or lack of attentiveness.
  • How reliable is customer support? K Health’s customer service team has mixed reviews. Customer support won’t issue refunds or pro-rate charges. Some agents push customers to re-enroll or make cancellation difficult. Getting into contact with a live agent is difficult. Many basic services are handled by AI. Texting with virtual support can be time-consuming and confusing.

The pros and cons of K Health

  • Pro – K Health is easily accessible on the phone. The app works on both iPhone and Android devices.
  • Pro – K Health doesn’t require you to have health insurance.
  • Pro – Anyone can use the service. K Health sees patients of all ages.
  • Pro – K Health charges and fee structures are transparent. There is a monthly membership fee and a set fee for visits.
  • Pro – The app can be used to local basic information on a variety of injuries and ailments. Patients wanting to learn more about a health issue can read the articles.
  • Pro – K Health can provide prescriptions and doctor’s notes.
  • Con – K Health can’t diagnose or treat many ailments. The app refers many patients to local healthcare providers and walk-in or urgent care clinics.
  • Con – K Health doesn’t offer refunds. Being dissatisfied with your visit doesn’t mean you will be offered a partial or full refund.
  • Con – K Health can’t measure pulse, blood pressure, or temperature. Tests done on the app are often inaccurate. The service isn’t a replacement for routine and annual screenings.
  • Con – Some users were charged despite never seeing a doctor.
  • Con – The company isn’t transparent about which medical professionals treat patients. It’s hard to know whether you’re seeing a qualified doctor or not.
  • Con – Getting to a real person can be difficult. Users go through AI screenings which can take up to an hour.
  • Con – K Health can’t treat serious ailments or emergencies. The AI may not refer patients in danger to emergency rooms.

How does K Health make money?

K Health makes money by offering healthcare services. Members pay a monthly fee ($19) to have unlimited text support. Doctor visits are an additional $29. The app utilizes AI to gather medical information and triage patients. Text “visits” are also sometimes handled by AI instead of real people. K Health also sells prescriptions starting at $12/each. Treating thousands of clients remotely allows K Health to make a significant amount of money. The company averages USD 222 million annually.

Best K Health Alternatives

Visiting your local doctor, pediatrician, or specialist may seem like a hassle. However, it’s usually your best resource for quality health care. Established patients enjoy rapport with doctors who know their medical history. This lets physicians more easily recognize developing problems and diagnose them fast. Healthcare apps should only be used for supplemental care. Here are some resources to help you find the treatment you need safely.

K Health FAQ

Q. What illnesses can K Health treat?

A. The K Health app claims to treat many common ailments. These include rash, minor injuries, high cholesterol, and flu. However, K Health lacks the tools necessary to diagnose illness appropriately. Many users were told they had COVID-19. However, they were not tested for COVID. In many cases, users may have had conditions like flu, bronchitis, or environmental allergies. K Health cannot take blood cultures, urine or stool tests, or run tests like X-rays and MRI. Infections may be missed altogether or incorrectly diagnosed.

Q. Does K Health treat children?

A. Yes, K Health has a pediatric service. It gives advice about minor injuries, allergies, eczema, and infections like the flu.

Q. Can K Health prescribe medication?

A. K Health can prescribe some medicines. These are usually single-use prescriptions for acute ailments, such as antibiotics or allergy medications. In some cases, the company can write prescriptions for chronic issues, but only if patients prove they were taking the medicine previously. K Health cannot prescribe anything that requires regular monitoring, bloodwork, urinalysis, or other tests. This means they cannot prescribe products like insulin. The company also can’t prescribe sedatives, painkillers, stimulants for ADHD, or anti-anxiety medication. All long-term prescription use should be monitored by your doctor. Many require regular evaluations to make sure the dose is accurate.

Q. Will K Health assist with mental health issues?

A. K Health does provide mental health support. Mostly, this involves prescribing psychiatric medications, like antidepressants. The app also provides text support to members. Patients can chat with AI or doctors to evaluate their thoughts and feelings. However, K Health cannot replace the benefits of regular therapy. The app doesn’t offer resources such as counseling or group therapy. Mental health problems involving psychosis, thoughts of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of committing violence aren’t addressed on K Health.

Q. How does K Health evaluate my health virtually?

A. When you enroll, you will complete a health form. The app’s AI will determine your medical history and schedule you with the right provider. K Health relies on you telling your doctor how you feel. They cannot run diagnostic tests. The service is similar to a symptom checker.

Q. Does K Health offer therapy?

A. No, the app doesn’t provide therapy. However, checking in with a K Health specialist may relieve anxiety in-between therapist visits.