GNC announces expansion of its primary care health service

GNC Health will expand to include primary care in its nationwide virtual health care service.

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company is offering three tiers of membership for individuals and families. GNC announced patients will get free telehealth appointments with board-certified doctors, free shipping for prescriptions, more than 400 medications available with no copay, and up to 80% discounts on prices of other drugs at retail pharmacies.

"We envision GNC Health as a way to broaden our consumer reach and bring people meaningful health and wellness solutions because everyone deserves the opportunity to live well," GNC Health Senior Director of Strategic Programs Allison Bentley said in a news release. “Live Well” also is the company’s slogan. "With GNC Health, we're supporting our consumers' health and wellness journeys while keeping our core brand relevant and top-of-mind."

In the plans

GNC will offer three plans:

• Basic, with free virtual urgent care and lifestyle care, with more than 100 zero copay prescription medications for $34.99 a year.
• Plus, with the services of the Basic plan, unlimited access to free virtual primary care and more than 400 zero copay medications. Cost is $9.99 a month for individual plans and $29.99 a month for families, up to six immediate family members.
• Premier, with services of the Basic and Plus plans, with free virtual mental health care and virtual physical therapy. Cost is $39.99 a month for individuals and $59.99 a month for families.

Making care affordable

GNC said its service would help as people face “more and more obstacles to accessing affordable health care.”

A survey this year found 74% of Millennials and 56% of Gen Z patients canceled a health care appointment when they received a cost estimate that was more than they could afford. GNC cited that survey and the report, “The Healthcare Conundrum: The Impact of Unexpected Patient Costs on Care,” by financial media company PYMNTS, collaborating with Experian Health.

In the past year, 30% of patients living paycheck to paycheck experienced financial distress because they spent more on health care than they could afford, according to that report.

“GNC Health is challenging modern healthcare to do better by providing convenient supplemental care, regardless of insurance, at a reasonable cost,” the GNC announcement said.

Primary care seems everywhere

In July, GNC announced the launch of GNC Health, then available to GNC PRO Access members, as part of its brand loyalty program. That membership cost $39.99 a month for telehealth appointments for urgent care and personal health, with no copay for more than 110 generic medications for urgent care, dermatology, mental health, sports performance, anti-aging and sexual health. Members will receive the new Basic plan services with options to enroll in the other tiers, according to the company.

GNC becomes the latest retailer to add primary care in-person or online. Since Labor Day, Best Buy, Costco and Walmart have announced some form of adding or expanding primary care services. This year, Amazon bought One Medical with the the goal of “a revolution in primary care.” Last month, Walgreens and Pearl Health announced they would join “to accelerate the expansion of value-based care in collaboration with community-based primary care physicians.” Walgreens also made national news this month when it announced it would close about 60 VillageMD clinics as part of a $1 billion savings plan.