Included Health is a healthcare platform that combines virtual primary care, mental health support, and care navigation into a single service. Rather than leaving members to figure out the healthcare system alone, it pairs people with dedicated advocates who help them find the right doctors, understand their benefits, and manage ongoing care. For employers and health plans looking to improve member outcomes, this model has drawn significant attention. This guide breaks down how Included Health works, what it offers, and what to consider before relying on it for your care.
What Is Included Health?
Included Health is a virtual-first healthcare company that focuses on two core services: direct care and care navigation. Direct care covers primary care visits, mental health therapy, and specialist consultations delivered via video or messaging. Care navigation connects members with human advocates who help them access the right services, understand their insurance coverage, and follow through on referrals.
The company formed through the merger of Grand Rounds and Doctor On Demand, combining expert medical opinions with on-demand virtual visits and a strong navigation layer. This background shapes its current approach, which treats access, quality, and coordination as equally important.
Who Has Access to Included Health?
Access to Included Health is typically provided through an employer health benefit or a partnering health plan. Individual consumers generally cannot sign up independently. If your employer or insurer partners with Included Health, you may already have access at no additional direct cost beyond your existing plan.
Checking your benefits summary or asking your HR department is the fastest way to confirm whether you have access and what services are included under your specific arrangement.
Core Services Offered
Virtual Primary Care
Included Health offers on-demand and scheduled virtual primary care appointments. Members can see a licensed physician for common conditions, prescription refills, preventive care discussions, and follow-ups. Visits happen through a secure video platform, typically with short wait times for on-demand access.
For people without a consistent primary care doctor or those who struggle to get timely in-person appointments, this fills a genuine gap. It also works as a complement to an existing relationship with an in-person physician.
Mental Health Support
Mental health services are a significant part of the Included Health platform. Members can access licensed therapists and psychiatrists through video sessions. This is particularly relevant given the ongoing difficulty many people face in finding timely mental health care through traditional networks.
Understanding how mental and physical health connect is an important part of whole-person care. Resources like the Sunshine Health plan guide highlight how different coverage structures approach behavioral health, which can help you compare what your current plan already provides.
Expert Medical Opinions
One of the more distinctive features of Included Health is access to expert second opinions. If a member receives a serious diagnosis or is weighing a major treatment decision, the platform can connect them with specialists who review the case and provide an independent perspective. This service helps members avoid unnecessary procedures and feel more confident in their care decisions.
Care Navigation
Care navigation is the connective tissue of the platform. A dedicated advocate helps members find in-network providers, schedule appointments, understand bills, and follow through on care plans. This is especially useful for people managing complex or chronic conditions who interact with multiple providers at once.
How Included Health Fits Into Your Existing Benefits
Included Health is not a replacement for your primary health insurance. It sits alongside your existing coverage as an added layer of access and support. Your insurance still handles claims, cost-sharing, and network coverage. Included Health helps you use that coverage more effectively.
This distinction matters when you are comparing it to a standalone health plan. If you are evaluating different plan structures, looking at how platforms like Devoted Health structure their coverage can give you a useful reference point for what an integrated plan looks like versus a navigation-only service.
For workers in healthcare settings or gig-adjacent roles who rely on shift-based employment, understanding how supplemental benefits stack against base coverage is equally relevant. The Clipboard Health guide covers how benefits and pay interact in that context, which is useful for anyone piecing together their own coverage picture.
Benefits for Employers and Plan Sponsors
Employers partner with Included Health primarily to reduce healthcare spending and improve employee wellbeing outcomes. When employees can access virtual care quickly and navigate their benefits without friction, they are more likely to seek preventive care and less likely to delay treatment until a condition worsens.
From an employer’s perspective, the platform also reduces the administrative burden of fielding benefits questions. The navigation team handles much of what HR departments would otherwise field directly, freeing up internal resources.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, employer-sponsored health benefits continue to be one of the most significant factors in how Americans access healthcare. Platforms that improve the usability of those benefits without requiring employees to switch plans have appeal across industries and workforce sizes.
What to Consider Before Using Included Health
Confirm Your Access and Coverage Level
Not all employer arrangements with Included Health are identical. Some provide full access to virtual primary care and mental health services. Others may offer navigation support only. Reviewing your specific benefit documentation tells you exactly what is available before you need it.
Understand the Virtual-First Model
Virtual care works well for many situations but has real limits. Conditions that require physical examination, imaging, lab work drawn on-site, or in-person procedures cannot be handled through a video platform. Included Health navigators can help coordinate in-person care when needed, but the primary delivery model is virtual.
Privacy and Data Practices
As with any digital health platform, it is worth understanding how your health data is stored and used. Reviewing the platform’s privacy policy and understanding how your information is shared with your employer or health plan is a reasonable step before using the service. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides clear guidance on what HIPAA protections apply to your health information and what questions to ask any digital health provider.
Making the Most of Your Included Health Access
A few habits help members get more value from the platform.
- Register early. Setting up your account before you have an urgent need means you are not doing it during a stressful moment.
- Use the navigation team proactively. Advocates can help with referrals, appointment scheduling, and billing questions, not just emergencies.
- Treat virtual mental health access seriously. Scheduling a therapy session through the platform carries the same weight as an in-person appointment. Consistency matters for results.
- Ask about second opinions. If you receive a significant diagnosis, the expert opinion service is one of the most underused features available.
For context on how ambitious health goals and proactive care habits intersect, the 10x Health guide offers a perspective on approaching wellbeing with a longer-term mindset.
FAQs
What does Included Health actually provide?
Included Health provides virtual primary care, mental health services, expert medical opinions, and care navigation support. The specific services available to you depend on how your employer or health plan has configured its arrangement with the platform.
Is Included Health a health insurance plan?
No, Included Health is not a health insurance plan. It works alongside your existing insurance to improve access and help you navigate your coverage. Your insurer still processes claims and manages your network and cost-sharing.
How do I know if I have access to Included Health?
The fastest way to find out is to check your employee benefits portal or contact your HR department. If your employer or health plan partners with Included Health, your access details and login information will be provided through those channels.
Can I use Included Health for mental health care?
Yes, mental health services including therapy and psychiatry are available through the platform where included in your benefit arrangement. Members can schedule video sessions with licensed mental health providers through the app or website.
Is my health information kept private on the platform?
Included Health is subject to HIPAA regulations that govern how your health information can be used and shared. Reviewing the platform’s specific privacy policy gives you the clearest picture of what data practices apply to your account.
Does Included Health replace my primary care doctor?
No, it does not have to replace an existing primary care relationship. Many members use the virtual primary care service as a complement to their in-person doctor, especially for after-hours needs or when their regular physician is unavailable.
Conclusion
Included Health brings together virtual care, expert opinions, and hands-on navigation in a way that makes the healthcare system easier to use. If your employer or health plan provides access, understanding what is available to you is the first step toward using it well. Take a few minutes to register, review your benefit details, and connect with a care navigator before you have an urgent need. Proactive engagement with your health benefits almost always leads to better outcomes. Start today and take control of your care.