Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I’m having a medical emergency?
If you think you might be experiencing a medical emergency, you should call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room immediately. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing, 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
What is your refund policy?
How does Dr. B work?
Dr. B is a convenient and affordable way to get medical care, including prescription medications, from the comfort of home. We help expand access to care by offering consultations with licensed medical providers for less than the cost of the average doctor co-pay. We also allow you to choose the pharmacy where you’d like to fulfill any medications that may be prescribed.
Our process is hassle-free: after taking an online health assessment and providing relevant medical information, a licensed provider will review your information and, if medically appropriate, write a prescription and send it to your pharmacy of choice, which can be online or your usual location.
During working hours, medical providers typically review consultation requests in three hours or less. If a medication is prescribed as part of your treatment, you can expect to be able 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, you can request a call from a medical provider from your patient dashboard. We’re always here to help support your health.
What role did Dr. B play during the vaccine roll-out?
Dr. B launched as a free vaccine standby list in the U.S. before nation-wide resources were available. We worked to save lives by matching patients who needed a vaccine with vaccine providers who had excess doses. Our standby list prioritized patients according to local guidelines, ensuring that those at highest risk were bumped to the front of the list. In just a handful of months, we launched in 37 states, onboarded 700+ vaccine providers, and ultimately sent out 1 million+ dose alerts.
Where does the name Dr. B come from?
Dr. B is named in honor of Cyrus Massoumi’s grandfather, whom the family affectionately referred to as Dr. Bubba. The original Dr. B became a doctor during the 1918 Spanish flu, and dedicated his life to removing obstacles between patients and care.
Can I fulfill my prescription outside my state?
We only send prescriptions to pharmacies in the state where you are currently located.
Where can I find more information about Dr. B?
How do I contact customer service?
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, please contact us immediately via Live Chat. Including your consultation reference number in your message will help us serve you faster.
Please note that while pharmacies typically fill a prescription in 15-30 minutes, in some cases it may take as much as two hours to complete. While we work hard to serve you quickly, Dr. B does not have control over pharmacy fulfillment times.
What is Dr. B’s policy on controlled substances?
While we strive to provide access to a wide range of prescriptions, Dr. B does not prescribe controlled substances. If you are seeking treatment with a medication that falls under this category, we recommend consulting with your primary care provider.
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 co-pays.
While we’re not currently able to accept insurance for your consultation, you can use insurance or coupons with your pharmacy, which allows you to get the lowest price possible.
I'm experiencing side effects. What should I do?
Does Dr. B replace my primary care doctor?
Not at all. While each medical consultation is reviewed by a licensed medical provider, 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.
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 co-pays and you can typically use insurance for the prescription at your pharmacy.
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.
If, after review of your health intake information, a provider decides that a prescription is medically appropriate, it will be sent to the pharmacy you selected. Once a prescription is sent to the pharmacy, you can expect an average wait-time of about 15-30 minutes before it’s fulfilled. In some cases fulfillment can take up to two hours. If you selected an online pharmacy, shipping times are dependent on their fulfillment carriers.
Please note that while we work hard to provide you with care as quickly as we can, Dr. B does not have control over pharmacy fulfillment times.
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.
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 as well as 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.
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 in order to ensure we’re in compliance.
Who can use Dr. B?
Anyone 18 years or older who is currently located in one of the 41 states where Dr. B is active can request a medical consultation through our platform.
I'm a medical professional interested in working with Dr. B. Where do I start?
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, please login to your patient dashboard and select “Ask a follow up question” in the Support section.
If it’s an emergency, you should immediately 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.
Does Dr. B share information with my primary care physician?
What are Dr. B’s hours?
Are my payments to Dr. B safe?
Yes. We use Stripe to process payments, a third-party vendor that is 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.
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.
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.
Where is Dr. B available?
Dr. B can treat patients located in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, with more states coming soon.
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.
Why isn't Dr. B available in every state?
Do generics work just as well as name brand medications?
Yes. Generic medications are less expensive, but clinically equivalent to more expensive brand name medications in terms of ingredients, dosage, safety and side effects. Generics 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, but if you request a brand name, you should know that you’ll likely have to pay more at the pharmacy and your insurance may not cover it.
Can I send personal information to you by email?
Is Dr. B HIPAA Compliant?
Although we are not technically regulated under HIPAA, we take the privacy and security of our patients’ information very seriously and have modeled our privacy and security compliance after the standards set forth in HIPAA.
Does Dr. B accept Medicare or Medicaid?
At this time, Dr. B does not accept Medicare or Medicaid.
