Amazon is making another attempt to establish itself as a dependable source for healthcare by introducing a new service focused on virtual care.

The online retail company has announced that its Prime members can now easily access a healthcare provider through a subscription service priced at $9 per month or $99 per year.

This week’s announcement comes less than a year after Amazon’s $3.9 billion purchase of One Medical, a primary care provider with medical offices in over 20 markets.

The company has been striving to integrate healthcare into its platform and has gained momentum after facing some initial obstacles.

In August, the company revealed plans to expand its virtual clinic, which was launched last year, to include video telemedicine appointments in all 50 states.

Unfortunately, Amazon had to discontinue a virtual healthcare platform that they had been working on for several years. This was a significant effort, but it ultimately failed in their attempt to tackle rising healthcare expenses through a collaboration with two other major corporations, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan.

The latest service allows patients to virtually communicate with healthcare providers at any time through the Prime One Medical membership program. This includes video calls and the option for in-person appointments, if there are nearby One Medical facilities.

On Wednesday, the company announced that its membership fee includes the expenses for virtual appointments. However, customers will be responsible for paying for appointments at One Medical primary care offices, which can be covered by insurance.

The use of virtual care increased in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an expansion of telemedicine services by healthcare providers. It continues to be a convenient option for patients seeking to consult with a doctor or address minor health concerns, such as pink eye.

Although virtual appointments can enhance accessibility to healthcare, certain physicians express concern that they may result in fragmented care and hinder the ability to monitor a patient’s overall well-being. This could occur if the patient’s primary doctor is unaware of a virtual visit with another provider.