PlushCare Virtual Healthcare: online doctorReviews of plushcare.com

I like the convenience of Plush Care but I never received my Dr's note for 3/25-3/27...I need that asap!

My experience with the service is great, however I'm waiting to see if they can get my prior authorization for a much needed medication.

(I'm writing this for my husband, who was the patient and hates to type.) Feb 2023 was our first experience with virtual/online health care, and PlushCare was the first attempt. That first try was wrought with ups and downs, frustration and tears (on my part) and ended in failure to provide or receive medical services. My husband needed an antibiotic for a sore that had become infected. We live in a remote, rural area, it would be over a week before he could see a doctor by which time the infection would be have advanced considerably. So, I started to research and search for an online providers whose doctors could write new prescriptions and not just fill existing ones. I chose PlushCare because I was sure I read somewhere that all that was needed to use their services was a computer (wrong!). We included on the registration form the fact that we do not have a camera/microphone on our computer but do have email and a landline telephone (ancient technology). We also included information that would answer the questions we thought a doctor would most likely ask, in hope that it would make the virtual appointment as simple as our technology. First of all, this is what I DO like about PlushCare: **In the end, they refunded the "membership fee" portion of what we had paid without us asking for it. **The fact that you can actually set an appointment time, which is much better than just knowing a dr will contact you within 24 hrs and having no more specific time than that. **PlushCare also offers 24/7 services, and the first appointment that was open to us on that day was at 10:00 p.m, so that's what we booked. At 9:40 p.m., 20 mins before the appt was to begin, we sat down at the computer (where there was also a phone extension) to wait for contact from a doc. We had not heard from anyone since registration so assumed the appt was still on and good with the technology we had, otherwise, they surely would have contacted us. We waited, 10:00 came and went, then 10:05 (longest 5 mins I've had in quite some time), and I started to feel anxious. At 10:07, an email came in saying hubby's appt had been cancelled "in line with their no show policy". Reaction from our end was immediate, emailing back & asking how that could be since we'd been sitting right here, waiting. I, especially, was very upset knowing that hubby NEEDED AN ANTIBIOTIC ASAP. I believe a total of 3 emails went out from us to PlushCare that night, but there was no response. When I'd settled down and given up, I cried; I'd wasted the whole afternoon and evening to make this appt only to come up empty handed. I was very worried about the infection spreading. and I was devastated about the appt being cancelled out of hand. I did find another provider, got an appt, and hubby had a prescription for an antibiotic in less than 24 hrs from the time of registration, so maybe it was all for the best. I just wish I'd have found and tried that place first and saved us from all that stress. We're getting too old for drama, and too old for PlushCare, evidently. Thank God there are still people and businesses who realize that not every person on the planet wants or uses all the technology that floods our lives, homes and businesses, or they can't afford it or run it. That shouldn't make them less "worthy" of medical care. Because PlushCare does offer some nice features and did give the refund without us asking or arguing about it, I give them 3 stars. However, we would NOT go back to PlushCare, even if the online provider we found would drop out of cyberspace and PlushCare would be THE ONLY ONE LEFT (God forbid!). I guess we'd have to make the trek and take up over-stretched hospital resources to sit in urgent care with a host of others waiting in front of us. That mental picture is the main reason I've put aside my initial doubts about the value of online/virtual health care and now believe it will have an important role in the future of medical services, that it will even be a necessary addition with more benefits than detriments IF it's implemented wisely and with the same compassion for a patient on the other side of the country as for the patient who's in the same room as the health care professional.

In my own genuine experience, I like the online doctor, Dr, Taylor.. Unfortunately, she is only as good as the weakest link - In my experience, the PlushCare Service Team can use a series of improvements - 1) At present, they use a courier service to transfer blood samples from out of state patients (like me) back to their California state lab for testing, but this process takes too long, and the blood samples go bad (as I just learned the hard way). Unfortunately, I had to redraw blood under a local doctor her to get the job done right.. This problem can be fixed if they simply used a local service for this testing.. 2) Also, in my experience, the PlushCare Staff does not respond to their follow-up emails to an online visit, including the nurses, and Dr. Taylor. 3) In the last week, I noted there is a total disconnect of communication between the Sonora Quest Lab and PlushCare.

If you prefer telehealth you would like the experience with Plushcare, and there is a lot of flexibility when seeing doctors. Their is a sense of urgency, flexibility, and great care! However, you may end up having additional visits, with doctors (at an extra cost) if their operations team doesn't pick up the phone when you have general inquiries. In addition, for more pressing medical matters, ensure to get 2nd medical opinions and if your insurance covers telehealth, leverage that first.

I was under the impression that this was a great service, especially in the midst of COVID. I ended up getting really sick in Dec 2020 with COVID symptoms plus a really bad rash. Unable to really see anyone in office, I decided to use Plush Care. The MD was nice, provided meds and the appt went smoothly. I ended up finding a regular MD so I canceled Plush Care March 2021. Last week I received an EOB from my insurance advising that I had a recent visit and now owes a balance of $88.40. Natually I called the insurance and they confirmed what they saw and encouraged an appeal. After finally getting PlushCare on the phone, I learned that my insurance was billed because of a health assessment form that was completed on my 1st and only visit. So I was not seen again, made to get any blood drawn, or anything but billed for another visit due to a heath assessment form being submitted. The form is part of your sign up....I have worked in insurance for more than 15 years and I have never heard of such. I have investigated MD offices for this very same thing! I am very taken aback by this. I was just ok with the service now that I know how things are working, NO THANK YOU!

No follow up and still have the same issue Medicine did not fix the issues

The only complaint I have is while you are trying to sign up for this, you are only given so many minutes to fill out the application while they hold your place for an appointment. For those of us who are slow at typing it is not enough time. Well I love the availability of this and the doctor we have here is great that's the only issue I have