Frequently asked questions

General

What should I do if I’m having a medical emergency?

If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Chest pain or pressure

• Severe stomach or abdominal pain

• Fainting or sudden dizziness

• Changes in vision

• Confusion or changes in mental status

• Sudden and severe headache

• Yellowing of skin or eyes

• Uncontrolled bleeding

• Persistent lightheadedness or dizziness

• Thoughts of harming yourself or others

How do I contact customer service?
You can get in touch with us via Live Chat by clicking the “Need help?” button at the bottom of each page or at our contact page.

Online visits

How does Dr. B work?

Dr. B’s online treatment service is a convenient and affordable way to access medical care from the comfort of home. We offer online consultations with licensed medical providers for less than the average doctor copay. We also let you choose the pharmacy to fill any resulting prescriptions.

Our online care process is hassle-free. Take an online health assessment and provide relevant medical information like your medical history and reason for the visit). A licensed provider will review your information. If medically appropriate, they’ll send a prescription to your pharmacy of choice.

During working hours, medical providers typically review consultation requests within three hours. If a medication is prescribed as part of your treatment, you can expect to pick it up from the pharmacy in 15-30 minutes—though in some cases, it can take up to 2 hours.

If you have any questions or concerns about your prescription, request a call from a medical provider via your patient dashboard. We’re always here to support your health.

How long does it take to get a prescription?

Licensed providers are online every day from 8AM-8PM ET. During working hours, they typically review medical consultations in three hours or less (and often much faster). If you request a consultation after hours, a medical provider will review it right away the following morning. A provider may request additional information after you've submitted your initial consultation request. If that happens, there may be a brief delay in finalizing your consultation.

If a provider reviews your consultations and decides that a prescription is medically appropriate, they will send it to the online or local pharmacy of your choice. Once a prescription is sent to the pharmacy, it takes about 15-30 minutes to fill the prescription. In some cases, fulfillment can take up to two hours. If you selected an online pharmacy, shipping times depend on their fulfillment carrier.

Please note that while we work hard to provide you with care as quickly as we can, Dr. B does not control pharmacy fulfillment times.

Will a provider call me on the phone?

A medical provider will call you if they need more information from you, or if you are in Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Rhode Island, or West Virginia.

Does Dr. B replace my primary care doctor?

Not at all. Each medical consultation is reviewed by a licensed medical provider. But you’ll always want to maintain a face-to-face relationship with your primary care physician.

Want us to send your information to your doctor? Let us know at privacy@hidrb.com.

What do I do if my pharmacy didn’t receive my prescription?

Any prescriptions issued are immediately sent to the pharmacy you indicated. If, for some reason, your pharmacy doesn’t receive the prescription, contact us immediately via Live Chat. Include your consultation reference number in your message to help us serve you faster.

Please note that while pharmacies typically fill a prescription in 15-30 minutes, some cases take as much as two hours. We work hard to serve you quickly. But Dr. B does not have control over pharmacy fulfillment times.

I'm experiencing side effects. What should I do?
We’re sorry to hear you’re experiencing side effects. For some medications, it’s common to experience mild side effects as your body adjusts during the first few months of use. You can read about typical side effects of your medication in the clinical summary in your patient dashboard. If you’d like to talk to a medical provider about your concerns, please log in to your patient dashboard and select “Ask a follow-up question” in the Support section.
What is Dr. B’s policy on controlled substances?

We strive to provide access to a wide range of prescriptions. But Dr. B does not prescribe controlled substances. If you seek treatment with a medication that falls under this category, consult your primary care provider.

Is Dr. B safe?

The Dr. B medical consultation process was designed by a team of top medical professionals. The provision of care follows all standard rules and regulations and adherence to both state and federal medical standards.

Licensed medical providers only prescribe medications if they deem it is safe and medically appropriate based on the clinical intake information provided by patients.

What if I need more information from a medical provider?

If you have questions about your treatment and want to talk to a medical provider, log in to your patient dashboard and select “Ask a follow-up question” in the Support section.

If it’s an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Who are your medical providers?

All medical providers are doctors and registered nurses licensed in states where Dr. B is active.

How can I find my medical provider’s credentials?

You can see your medical provider’s credentials by logging into your patient dashboard and viewing the detailed report linked to your consultation. You can also check their license on your state’s licensing website.

Each medical provider is licensed in the states where we provide treatment and has undergone a rigorous background check and credential verification.

Do generics work just as well as name brand medications?

Yes. Generic medications are less expensive but clinically on par with more expensive brand-name medications in terms of ingredients, dosage, safety and side effects. Generic medications are just as safe and effective as their name-brand counterparts and are only approved by the FDA after extensive testing to prove equivalency.

To give you the most options, Dr. B offers medical consultations for both generic and brand-name medications. If you request a brand name, you’ll likely pay more at the pharmacy—and your insurance may not cover it.

Payment & Insurance

How much does a medical consultation cost?

We’re committed to full-price transparency with zero hidden fees or surprises. We charge $15 per medical consultation—which is cheaper than most doctor copays.

While we’re not currently able to accept insurance for your consultation, you can use your insurance health plan or coupons at your pharmacy, which allows you to get the lowest price possible.

What is your refund policy?
We’re not able to refund your consultation once you’ve completed an online medical consultation. If you believe there was an error in your consultation—or if you have questions or concerns about any prescribed medication—contact us via live chat. We’ll be happy to help.
Does Dr. B accept health insurance?

At this time, we don’t submit claims to insurance companies. But our consultation fee is cheaper than most copays, and you can typically use insurance for the prescription at your pharmacy.

I don’t have health insurance. How can I get a prescription discount?
Try drug discount cards! Drug cards and coupons can help you save up to 80% of your out-of-pocket prescription costs. They’re free to use and you can sign up for them no matter your income or insurance status. You can even use the discount coupons instead of insurance (if they’ll save you more dough). Which is the best drug discount card for you? Learn more about how drug discount cards work.
What is the Dr. B drug discount card?

Dr. B has partnered with drug discount companies to help lower your prescription medication costs. If a medical provider has reviewed your online health assessment and prescribed a medication, we’ll email a drug discount card. Print it, text it to yourself or download it on your phone. When you pick up your prescription, show the card to your pharmacist before paying. They’ll deduct the discount from your total prescription cost, saving you up to 80% off the retail price.

Does Dr. B accept Medicare or Medicaid?

At this time, Dr. B does not accept Medicare or Medicaid.

How will payments appear on my bank account or credit card statement?

The payment amount will show next to “Dr B - hidrb.com.” No other details will be included.

Are my payments to Dr. B safe?

Yes. We use Stripe to process payments—a third-party vendor certified for the most stringent level of security in the industry. Stripe utilizes best-in-class protocols for storing, decrypting and transmitting card numbers. All personal information is protected and kept highly secure.

Availability & Eligibility

Where is Dr. B available?

Dr. B can treat patients located anywhere in the United States, including Washington, DC.

Who can use Dr. B?

Anyone 18 or older located in one of the 50 United States or Washington, DC can request a medical consultation through our platform.

How old do I have to be to get a medical consultation from Dr. B?

You must be 18 years or older to get a medical consultation.

Can I use Dr. B while traveling?

Yes. As long as you’re physically located within one of our active states, you are eligible for treatment—even if you’re visiting from somewhere else.

Can I fulfill my prescription outside my state?

We only send prescriptions to pharmacies in the state where you are currently located.

What are Dr. B’s hours?
Medical providers are online seven days a week from 8AM-8PM ET. Our support team is available to support you seven days a week from 7AM-8PM ET and you can contact us via Live Chat.

Information Privacy

Does Dr. B share information with my primary care physician?
We will not share information with your primary care physician without your consent. However, we encourage you to keep your primary care physician updated on your health, including any medications you are taking. If you’d like us to share the information we have about you with your primary care physician, log in to your patient dashboard and select “Ask a follow-up question” in the Support section.
Why does Dr. B need my location?

Patients must be treated by a medical provider licensed in the state they are located in, according to U.S. medical regulations. We ask for your location to ensure we’re in compliance.

I signed up in the past. Will my information be shared?
We take data privacy and security very seriously. Your personal information is only shared with third parties as detailed in our privacy policy.
Can I send personal information to you by email?
No. We take patient privacy very seriously. For that reason, we do not recommend sending any sensitive information by email. This includes medical information, prescription refill requests or payment info. To securely discuss your health with one of our medical providers, please go to your patient dashboard and select “Ask a follow-up question” in the Support section.
How can I unsubscribe from the Dr. B newsletter?
The easiest way to unsubscribe from the Dr. B newsletter is to click the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of the email. You can also email us at privacy@hidrb.com from the account you would like unsubscribed, and we will remove you from our mailing list.

About Dr. B

What role did Dr. B play during the vaccine roll-out?

​​Dr. B launched a free vaccine standby list in the U.S. before nationwide resources became available. At that time, we matched patients who needed a vaccine with providers who had extra vaccine doses. Our standby list prioritized patients according to local guidelines, guaranteeing that those at the highest risk were bumped to the front of the list. In just a few months, we launched in 37 states, onboarded 700+ vaccine providers and sent out 1 million+ dose alerts.

Where does the name Dr. B come from?

Dr. B is named in honor of our founder Cyrus Massoumi’s grandfather, whom the family affectionately referred to as Dr. Bubba. This original Dr. B became a doctor during the 1918 Spanish flu and dedicated his life to removing obstacles between patients and care.

Where can I find more information about Dr. B?
We’re glad you asked! You can read more about our mission, team and advisors on our About page.
I'm a medical professional interested in working with Dr. B. Where do I start?
We’d love to hear from you! Check out our open roles or contact us via Live Chat to get the conversation going.

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