Seasonal allergies

Question 1

What are my telehealth options for this condition?

Answer

Amazon One Medical offers multiple ways to get care from the comfort of your own home.

If you're a One Medical member and you live in a state where One Medical has offices, you can schedule Remote Visits with One Medical providers, which are billable to you or your health insurance. As a member, you can also get 24/7 on-demand virtual care with Treat Me Now or Urgent Video Chat via the One Medical app at no extra cost, no matter where you live in the United States.

If you're not a One Medical member, you can start a one-time virtual visit with Pay-per-visit. Pay-per-visit offers two types of telehealth for Amazon customers: video visits and message-only visits. Video visits are available for $49 in all 50 states and D.C. Message-only visits are currently available for $29 in 34 states.

To see your Pay-per-visit options, first choose your state.

Question 2

Can I use my health insurance for Pay-per-visit?

Answer

Amazon One Medical doesn't accept health insurance for Pay-per-visit care. You can submit a claim to your insurance provider for reimbursement, but we can’t guarantee they’ll reimburse you for your one-time virtual visit.

If you normally use insurance to pay for your medications, you can do that with medications prescribed through all Amazon One Medical services. Amazon Pharmacy accepts most insurance plans. For other pharmacies, please talk with your pharmacy directly about insurance coverage. The cost of medication isn’t included in the cost of your visit.

Question 3

What happens if my provider can't diagnose or treat my health issue through Amazon One Medical Pay-per-visit?

Answer

If your provider can’t diagnose or treat your health issue through Pay-per-visit, they may recommend that you see a primary care provider or a specialist for in-person care. If that happens, you won't be charged.

Question 4

Can I communicate with a provider after I get my Pay-per-visit treatment plan?

Answer

Yes. When you use Pay-per-visit, you can message with One Medical providers within your personal dashboard for an additional 2 weeks (14 days) at no extra cost. This complimentary communication window allows you time to:

• Ask follow-up questions about any prescriptions or over-the-counter medications in your treatment plan

• Connect with a provider if you think your treatment needs to be adjusted

• Tell a provider if you're experiencing side effects from your medication

• Tell a provider if there's an issue getting your prescription from the pharmacy

• Let the One Medical care team know that you're feeling better

Your secure, HIPAA-compliant message will be received by the first available provider, who will be able to review your visit’s treatment plan and any follow-up correspondence. If you still need treatment adjustments or have questions after the 14-day communication window, you'll need to start a new visit.

Question 5

What if I want to refill my medication?

Answer

If your provider didn't include refills with a prescription when they sent your treatment plan through Pay-per-visit, you'll need to start a new one-time virtual visit to request another prescription.

There are many reasons why a provider may decide that prescription refills aren't medically appropriate. For example, they may want to assess how well a medication is working and whether or not it needs to be adjusted before you continue with the same treatment.

Question 6

How does Amazon One Medical protect my health information?

Answer

Amazon One Medical protects customers’ protected health information (PHI) with stringent, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant privacy and security practices to keep information safe and secure.

We’re committed to building an infrastructure that fosters and promotes a culture of customer privacy and a strong commitment to safeguarding health information. We maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect customer information. This includes conducting rigorous security reviews and testing during product development, using encryption to protect data, and providing features like two-step verification to help customers protect their accounts.

Amazon does not sell customers’ personal information, including PHI.

Question 7

How do I know what type of allergies I have?

Answer

Allergic rhinitis (AR) can be classified in a couple different ways:

By frequency

• Intermittent or seasonal allergies/hay fever

You have allergy symptoms fewer than 4 days/week or for less than 4 weeks at a time. You can predict when your allergies will flare up from year to year. Symptoms are typically triggered by outdoor allergens like pollen.

• Persistent or perennial allergies

You have allergy symptoms more than 4 days/week or for more than 4 weeks at a time. These allergies are often triggered by a constant in your environment, like dust mites, mold spores, or pet dander in the home.

Note that you can also experience persistent allergy symptoms that get worse at certain times of year.

By severity

• Moderate-severe allergies

You experience at least one of the following:

1) Sleep disturbance
2) Interference in school or work
3) Interference in leisure or sports activities
4) "Troublesome" symptoms

• Mild allergies

You don't experience any of the 4 moderate-severe criteria

Question 8

When are seasonal allergies most common?

Answer

Peak pollen periods for trees, grasses, and weeds can vary depending on where you live. But in general, hay fever symptoms are usually triggered in the spring and fall.

If you have seasonal allergies, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) recommends consulting the National Allergy Bureau's online database to track your local pollen count.

Question 9

Can I still go outside if I have seasonal allergies?

Answer

Yes, but you may want to take certain precautions to increase your comfort level. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) recommends taking the following steps to manage seasonal allergy symptoms:

• Track your local pollen count. You can do this through the National Allergy Bureau's online database.

• Keep your home and car windows closed during allergy seasons, when tree, grass, or ragweed pollen counts are highest

• Anticipate the times when pollen is more likely to trigger allergy symptoms, like spring and summer evenings, or mornings in late summer and early fall

• Take appropriate medication before you do outdoor activities

• Shower and change your clothes after outdoor activities

You can also work with a primary care provider or an allergist to help you find the precise source of your symptoms.

Question 10

What are some other strategies for controlling seasonal allergies?

Answer

Besides medication, the following strategies may help with allergy management:

• Use nasal irrigation like a neti pot
• Stay inside when pollen counts are high
• Upgrade your home's central air filters
• Wash your clothes and bedding more frequently
• Wear a mask

Question 11

Are people with allergies more likely to experience other atopic diseases?

Answer

Allergic rhinitis, asthma, and eczema (atopic dermatitis) are all atopic diseases, meaning they're caused by an exaggerated and inappropriate immune response to a perceived threat. Essentially, your body's immune system recognizes a harmless substance (an antigen) as an enemy and launches a counterattack, leading to inflammation.

Allergic rhinitis (AR)

Nasal inflammation caused by sensitization to aeroallergens

Asthma

Bronchoconstriction caused by hyperresponsive airways

Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

Skin inflammation caused by dysregulation of the skin's barrier function

These 3 conditions are often linked across the lifespan, with childhood eczema sometimes leading to allergic rhinitis and asthma in a process called the atopic march.

Did you know?

• Up to 80% of children with asthma are later diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis

• Up to 40% of people with allergic rhinitis also have asthma

• Up to 50% of people with asthma also have allergic rhinitis

There's no clear consensus on what causes these atopic diseases, though experts know that our environment is at least partially responsible. Factors like diet, hygiene, infections, and air pollution have all been implicated in the atopic triad.

Question 12

Clinical sources

Answer

1. ACAAI Public Website. (2014). ACAAI Public Website. https://acaai.org/

2. Hill, D. A., & Spergel, J. M. (2018). The atopic march: Critical evidence and clinical relevance. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 120(2), 131–137. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5806141/

3. Linton, S., Hossenbaccus, L., & Ellis, A. K. (2023). Evidence-based use of antihistamines for treatment of allergic conditions. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 131(4), 412–420. Retrieved from https://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(23)00524-0/fulltext

Seasonal allergies

Quickly treat allergy symptoms with 24/7 virtual care

Membership

Pay-per-visit

Get help for allergies and other health concerns

$9

$99

Quickly treat allergy symptoms with 24/7 virtual care

Membership

Pay-per-visit

Quickly treat allergy symptoms with 24/7 virtual care

Get help for allergies and other health concerns

$9

$99

How do I know if I have seasonal allergies?

What are the common symptoms of allergic rhinitis?

Is Pay-per-visit right for me?

Common types of allergy medication

Conditions that can have similar symptoms

Cough, cold, flu, and strep throat

COVID-19

Sinus infection (sinusitis)

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Frequently asked questions

About Amazon One Medical

About allergies