Firefly Health Review

Firefly Health

Why We Like Them

Firefly Health is a Boston-area based concierge medicine service that provides both online and in-person care with a focus on patient experience. While the platform is only available in Massachusetts, it’s planning on expanding to new markets soon.

Accepts

Does Not Accept Insurance
Does Not Accept HSA/FSA

Firefly Health Prices

Conditions Treated

Table of content

    Firefly Health Company Overview 

    This digital health/traditional healthcare hybrid strives to offer better care for patients through longer visits and a team of compassionate doctors. Patients access the app on their smartphone and opt for video visits or in-person consults. 

    Firefly’s mission is to redefine high-quality healthcare and make healthy lifestyles accessible to all.

    Historically, the healthcare industry has gotten a bad rep. Between chronic diseases and the opioid and mental health crises, patient care has shifted from caring about patients to doctors. Both doctors and patients are ready for a change.

    Firefly Health strives to reimagine ‘good’ healthcare. Using sophisticated technology manned by a world-class team, this telehealth company offers personalized care.

    Patients get their own healthcare team that includes a primary care provider, nurse practitioner, and a health guide. The platform also provides specialists, such as behavioral health experts. Firefly can also provide prescription medication refills and nutrition advice — all in one visit. 

    After traditional working hours, patients can submit an urgent message and receive a call within 30 minutes.


    Is Firefly Health Right For You? 

    Firefly Health offers both in-person and online healthcare accessed from the same mobile app. This platform has one of the most extensive menus of services of any telehealth/in-person primary care hybrid. It’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to commute to a doctor’s office, wants to avoid germy waiting rooms, and needs quick answers to health questions. 

    Firefly Health is for  anyone who:

    • Wants holistic care 
    • Needs to schedule wellness appointments
    • Has chronic conditions
    • Has behavioral health concerns
    • Wants to schedule same-day appointments
    • Needs to chat 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for prescriptions, care questions, and referrals
    • Wants informed referrals to specialists
    • Needs help meeting health goals
    • Doesn’t want to commute to a doctor’s office
    • Craves more one-on-one time with healthcare providers
    • Would like 30-minute responses to questions
    • Lives in Massachusetts
    • Can drive to Wellesley office within the first six months of signing up
    • Wants message or video virtual visits
    • Needs in-person physical exams

    Firefly Health is also offering return-to-work support for businesses transitioning back into the office after Coronavirus shutdowns. The program helps organizations strategize workspaces, best practices, and social distancing. 

    The program was designed by in-house primary care physicians and utilizes the existing technology framework’s daily in-app screening. Firefly already uses proactive management and treatment protocols; this unique service simply builds on the existing framework and adds another layer of protection against the virus.

    The return-to-work service includes:

    • COVID-19 medical assessments
    • Virus risk assessments
    • Accommodation recommendations
    • Behavioral health assessments
    • Personalized advice for workers
    • Stress-reduction and self-care advice
    • Daily mobile coronavirus screening
    • COVID-19 testing kits
    • Support for coronavirus patients
    • COVID-19 employee health data


    Is Firefly Health Credible?

    Firefly was founded by experienced physician innovators and technology entrepreneurs. The platform hires physicians and assistants that show a high level of compassion and empathy toward patients. Its CEO Jonathan Bush was once at the helm of healthcare conglomerate Athenahealth — and knows a thing or two about data-driven healthcare.

    Doctors are all licensed and trained in family or internal medicine. The app reports that 25% of patients are active on the app weekly, 90% of patients use the virtual care plans, and patients rate Firefly doctors 4.95 out of 5 in post-visit surveys.

    Firefly also hires nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide a higher level of care. These professionals have a master’s degree and perform many of the same tasks that medical doctors do. Some of their tasks include:

    • Routine physical exams
    • Diagnosing and treating acute conditions
    • Managing chronic diseases
    • Preventative health care best practices 

    Firefly uses a team-based model to ensure patients get the quality care they deserve.

    Firefly does not sell, share, or exchange patient data. They follow HIPAA guidelines and ask for consent to share information with specialists or doctors outside of the app. 


    Healthcare Conditions Treated by Firefly Health  

    Since Firefly essentially replaces your primary care provider, it offers all the services that a traditional internal medicine physician would. Just some of the many symptoms and health conditions that Firefly Health and its team of doctors, nurses, and specialists treat include:

    • Acute and urgent care
    • ADD
    • Allergies
    • Anxiety
    • Arthritis
    • Asthma
    • Back pain
    • Birth control
    • Blood pressure
    • Breast cancer screening
    • Cancer prevention
    • Cholesterol
    • Chronic care
    • Chronic pain
    • Cold and flu symptoms
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Female health exams
    • Gastrointestinal disorders
    • Grief
    • Heart attack prevention 
    • High blood pressure
    • Infections
    • Insomnia
    • Joint pain
    • Skin problems
    • Menopausal symptoms
    • Mental healthcare providers
    • Men’s health
    • Migraines
    • Nausea
    • Pap smears
    • Rashes
    • Serious disease prevention
    • Sexual health screenings
    • Sinus infections
    • Smoking cessation
    • Sprains
    • STI
    • Stomach flu
    • Stomach problems
    • Strains
    • Stress management
    • Vomiting
    • Weight loss
    • Weight management
    • Wellness, health coaching, and preventive care
    • Wellness exams and routines
    • Women's health

    How Firefly Health Works

    Signing up for Firefly is super easy. All you need to do is download the app, connect with your care team, and get your care program. Just follow these three steps.

    1. Download the Firefly App

    Download the app and enter your personal information to create your account. You’ll need to fill out a health insurance provider form or take a screenshot of your insurance card to sign up. Choose your healthcare goals to get started. You can always message support if you have any questions. 

    1. Chat With Your Care Team

    After you sign up, you’ll get an email from your new healthcare team. You can begin using the app to diagnose symptoms or schedule virtual or in-person appointments. 

    1. Get Personalized Healthcare

    Your healthcare team will advise you on how to treat your symptoms or handle your health concerns. After your appointment, you’ll get a follow-up message and treatment plan. 

    Unlike most online healthcare providers, Firefly has specialists on hand to assist with whatever medical needs arise. Don’t see a symptom or condition listed above that you know you’ll need addressing? Chat with one of the onboarding specialists to determine if the platform is right for you. 


    Firefly Health Does NOT treat Some Conditions 

    Firefly doctors and nurse practitioners can treat most conditions that any primary care provider would. Yet, this telehealth platform can’t cure anything. Firefly Health doesn’t:

    • Answer non-urgent questions outside of the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
    • Handle life-threatening emergencies
    • Provide cancer treatments or health plans
    • Offer services to anyone without health insurance

    If you don’t have health insurance, we recommend checking out one of the other online doctors on our platform that cater specifically to patients without traditional insurance.


    Pricing: How Much Does Firefly Health Cost? 

    It doesn’t cost anything to join Firefly. There are no membership fees or surcharges.

    Billing is similar to that of a traditional primary health care provider. Online doctor appointment prices vary but are similar to prices charged by other telemedicine doctors; in-person appointment fees are similar to other primary care providers in the area. 

    Firefly currently accepts most health insurance plans, including:

    • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
    • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
    • AllWays Health Partners
    • Tufts Health Plan
    • UniCare
    • UnitedHealthcare 
    • Many more coming soon!

    The platform does not currently accept Medicare or Medicaid — but developers are working on it! It also doesn’t accept certain Massachusetts-only health providers. Contact an onboarding specialist to find out if your health insurance provider covers Firefly Health.

    There are no membership fees or extra costs to use this platform. The standard copays for your insurance company may apply, but there are no additional fees for becoming a Firefly patient member. For some insurance providers, your copays are even waived.


    What Do We Think About Firefly Health?

    We think that Firefly offers a pretty solid set of services. We love that it’s one of the few telehealthcare providers still catering to patients with health insurance. 

    We also appreciate its proactive approach to the coronavirus; offering employers a seamless plan to get workers back into the office while keeping patients safe is an invaluable service. 

    Firefly Health definitely isn’t for everybody. Straight off the bat, any patient who doesn’t live in Massachusetts, doesn’t have health insurance, or doesn’t work for a company that provides Firefly, can’t sign up for its service.

    Yet, what Firefly lacks in availability, it makes up for in offerings. For those who live in Massachusetts, this primary care physician’s office has a large range of specialist services, which is rare for an online provider. 

    If you live in Massachusetts (especially if you live near Wellesley) and have health insurance or work for one of Firefly’s partners, check out its primary care provider services. This is a healthcare experience you’ll actually look forward to.

    Visit Firefly Health

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