Subscribers to health app One Medical announced on Friday that they would be canceling their membership after it was announced that the startup dubbed the “Netflix of primary care” is being bought by Amazon for $3.9 billion.
Angry subscribers to One Medical said they were dropping the service over concerns the Seattle-based e-commerce giant could get their hands on their private data.
“I need an explanation and an explicit contract as to what data Amazon will/will not have access to from One Medical,” Teri Hoffman tweeted.
“That feels like a big whoop from a privacy perspective. Love One Medical but I’m probably out…”
A Twitter user with the handle @dantelives13 tweeted, “Time to cancel my only medical membership.”
Zach Cole tweeted: “Noooo!!!! Now I have to cancel One Medical. Recs for other non-Amazon alternatives?”
One Medical is a San Francisco-based startup that offers 24/7 telemedicine services and same-day and next-day doctor appointments. Getty Images
Another Twitter user wrote, “Amazon is acquiring One Medical and now I have to cancel my s–t.”
A Twitter user posted a screenshot of him canceling his One Medical membership.
The multibillion-dollar takeover also didn’t go down well with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a frequent critic of multinational corporations and a proponent of universal health coverage.
The function of a rational healthcare system is to provide quality care to all in a cost-effective manner, not to make billionaires like Jeff Bezos richer. At a time of increasing ownership concentration, the Justice Department must reject Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical. https://t.co/ekpJdTbf2N
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 21, 2022
The former presidential candidate called on the Biden administration to step in and block the deal.
“The function of a rational healthcare system is to provide quality care to all in a cost-effective manner, not to make billionaires like Jeff Bezos richer,” Sanders tweeted.
“At a time of increasing ownership concentration, the Department of Justice must oppose Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical.”
According to Portal, Amazon collects data about consumers through its Alexa voice assistant, e-commerce marketplace, Kindle e-readers, Audible audiobooks, video and music platforms, home security cameras and fitness trackers.
News of the acquisition prompted subscribers to One Medical to cancel their membership.Twitter
Amazon’s collection of private user data fueled skepticism about the takeover. Twitter
Amazon has denied it plans to use One Medical subscriber data. Twitter
Twitter user Zach Cole asked others about “non-Amazon alternatives.” Twitter
Alexa-enabled devices capture footage of people’s homes, and Ring security cameras capture every visitor.
However, an Amazon spokesperson told the Post that the announced merger poses no risk to One Medical subscribers’ user data.
“As required by law, Amazon will never share the personal health information of One Medical customers outside of One Medical for the purposes of advertising or marketing other Amazon products and services without the customer’s express consent,” the spokesman said.
Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical deepens its presence in the healthcare market. Getty Images
“Should the deal close, One Medical’s customers’ HIPAA-protected health information will be treated separately from all other Amazon businesses, as required by law.”
However, experts say Amazon will have a hard time convincing skeptics.
“People don’t want their private medical records ripped off by big tech, and they’re suddenly finding Alexa selling them in ways to heal pervasive personal ailments, or worse, third parties have their anonymized records and are tracking them through that.” Internet,” Eric Schiffer, the CEO of private equity firm The Patriarch Organization told The Post.
“Privacy in healthcare is critical to consumers, and big tech’s entry into healthcare scares people that it could boom.”
Schiffer added, “The reality is that Amazon would be totally compliant with HIPA requirements, but that doesn’t mean consumers will believe it.”
One Medical is a San Francisco-based startup that offers a subscription app that gives patients 24/7 access to on-demand telehealth services, as well as same-day and next-day doctor appointments.
The company looks after 188 medical practices in 25 cities. It has a subscription base of 767,000 customers.
The Post has reached out to One Medical for comment.