Thought provoking questions:
Has it been more than a year since you saw your doctor or nurse practitioner?
Do you rely on google or kale for you health and wellness?
As a college student, do you have access to healthcare needs such as birth control prescriptions, mental health support, and primary care?
Are you worried about your health insurance or the current healthcare system?
Do you have healthcare in general?
If you answered no or yes to at least one of the questions above, then please continue reading to learn about Maven Clinic.
Maven is a digital clinic for women. With Maven, it’s easy to take control of your health, your way. You can have an appointment with a general practitioner, nutritionist, physical therapist, mental health practitioner and more, via video right from your phone. You can also post health questions anonymously and have them answered by practitioners and other women from the Maven community. As a Maven ambassador, I help people sign up and give them a code for a free first appointment. Even if you’re not sick, you can have an appointment to discuss things like how to safely gain or lose weight, how to make your hair skin clear up, or why your period is being so weird. You can even get a prescription for birth control sent right to the pharmacy closest to your campus, all from your phone wherever and whenever works for you. It takes less than two minutes to sign up either online or download the app. I’ll give you my VIP referral code, you pick a practitioner who stands out to you, and book your appointment to fit your schedule. It’s as easy as that!
Maven Clinic's Website
Use my code: SAMEERAVIP to receive your first appointment for free!
FAQ
Why Maven, and not health services?
Maven care is convenient, confidential and compassionate. Maven is available when and where you need it. On campus health service can be crowded, open during inconvenient or class times, and you may not be able to secure an appointment for days or even weeks. With Maven, you can set an appointment for as early as a half hour out, and meet with the practitioner in your dorm while wearing pj’s.
With Maven, you can also see practitioner’s specialities and pick one who is right for you. For example, a weight management or injury recovery question would might be better answered by a nutritionist or physical therapist, as where a sexual health or hormonal question is best left to a nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health. On campus health centers often offer one or very few practitioners, and students have little say in who they visit with.
But I’m not sick! Why should I use Maven today?
Maven is a great tool in getting to your body and your needs. Meet with a nutritionist to discuss how to safely gain or lose weight, clear up your skin, or make your hair and nails grow faster. Check in with a physical therapist for modifications on your favorite exercises, and advice on the best ways to tone up specific areas. Meet with a nurse practitioner to figure out why your period is being so weird, learn how to do a self-breast exam, and understand why alcohol affects you differently on different days. Getting to know yourself is the first step in taking charge of your health and staying well!
Are these practitioners the real-deal?
All of our providers on Maven are licensed healthcare providers dedicated to quality and compassionate women’s healthcare. Each provider undergoes a rigorous application process including all of the following components: a quiz and case study to simulate a Maven appointment care request, an interview with a member of our trusted Practitioner Advisory Committee, and a license and quality assurance third party rating certification. The providers whose applications are exemplary to this point are then reviewed by our Care Coordination Team, and receive final approval by our Founder and CEO, Kate Ryder. You can read all of our providers qualifications and specialties in the app before booking with them!
Can I get a prescription for antibiotics? Birth control?
Yes! A large percentage of Maven appointments, particularly those for college women, are for birth control prescriptions. Write a pre-session note once you’ve booked an appointment to let your practitioner know you are interested in talking about your options, any concerns you may have, and any previous birth control methods you have/are currently using. For less common prescriptions, our practitioners use their clinical judgement to determine whether or not telemedicine is the appropriate setting to prescribe medication. One of the benefits of speaking with Maven Practitioners is that they can help you determine whether you should see a provider in person or if you don’t need to. Many times they will save a trip and other times they will help you understand when it’s important to visit in person.
How much does Maven cost?
Visits with nurse practitioners are 10 minutes long and $18.
Nutritionists and physical therapists hold 20 minute appointments for $25.
Mental health practitioners offer 40 minute appointments at $70.
A campus ambassador’s referral code is valued at $25, which can be used for a free appointment of lesser value or as a discount towards a mental health visit. It can also be used for a $25 discount towards a subscription purchase.
The Maven forum is always free! It is a space for you to ask questions anonymously and have them answered (quickly, at that!) by our providers. Other members of the Maven Community can also respond if they’ve had similar experiences, and you can follow along on questions and discussions that perk your interest.
What's up with this subscription?
With the Maven Campus subscription, you have unlimited access to all of our practitioners. You can have video appointments & private messaging with medical experts, get instant prescriptions from our nurse practitioners, meet with a mental health provider as frequently as you want, and get wellness support from our nutritionist and physical therapists. The subscription is $45 per month for our annual subscription ($540 annually, this will cover you during summers, internships, even study abroad programs!) or $60 a month on our flexible month-to-month plan.
Insurance?
Maven appointments are not covered by insurance. After someone’s first free appointment, they pay for each appointment by entering a credit or debit card number into the app. Those who purchase a Maven Campus Subscription have unlimited access to all of our practitioners, whenever they need a visit.
A Maven practitioner licensed to prescribe in your state can also send a prescription to the pharmacy that is most convenient to you. When you pick up your prescription, your insurance co-pay will be as it usually is. For example, if you have a $10 co-pay for prescription pills, Maven’s job is done when you reach the counter and your medication will be $10 as usual. No insurance, not-so-great insurance? Check out https://www.goodrx.com/ for coupons and discounts on prescriptions, or reach out to support@mavenclinic.com for more help!
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
Plans change, we get it. If you cancel or reschedule your appointment at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time, there is absolutely no charge. After 24 hours, we encourage you to keep your appointment and check-in with your practitioner (even if it’s brief)! If you cancel within 24 hours of the scheduled start or don’t launch your appointment, you’ll be charged a market-rate per-appointment cancellation fee so that your practitioner is paid for the time she has set aside in her day.
"Google the weather, not your symptoms." - Maven Clinic
Disclaimer: Maven Campus Ambassador Program has provided me tools to help spread the word about Maven's Clinic.
First photo courtesy of New York Daily News, Second photo courtesy of art director and designer, Krishna Fitzpatrick
