Sam’s Club Accelerating Implementation of Healthcare Strategy

Sam’s Club, with nearly 600 store and more than 500 pharmacies, is rapidly developing a number of healthcare and pharmacy initiatives as it integrates with Walmart’s Health and Wellness strategy.

Sam’s Club most recent initiative has been to join forces with DoorDash to offer same-day pharmaceutical delivery across the country. The service covers more than 500 Sam’s Club locations in 41 states, and is powered exclusively through Drive, DoorDash’s white-label fulfillment platform that powers direct delivery for business partners. The venture marks DoorDash’s first pharmaceutical partnership of this kind at scale.

This follows Sam’s Club’s plans to offer virtual primary care services to consumers. Sam’s Club is offering the new service via a company called 98point6. The retailer said it will provide members exclusive offerings on 98point6’s telehealth virtual clinic via a text-based app.

The new service builds on the launch of the Care Accelerator last year which was only the beginning of Sam’s Club’s increased involvement in health care.

Sam’s Club joined with Humana, 98point6, and Quest Diagnostics in three test markets — Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — to offer a choice from four bundles ranging in price from $50 to $240 per year, which, depending on the selection, offer free or reduced-cost access to such products and services as generic drugs, telehealth, vision care, dentistry and even alternative medicine. While the bundles are not insurance they can provide savings on everyday health care needs.

The recently-introduced subscription to the 98point6 app provides access to physicians to diagnose and treat more than 400 common conditions like rash, cough and cold, flu-like symptoms and seasonal allergies, as well as provide care, guidance, and monitoring of chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, depression, and anxiety. Sam’s Club members using the 98point6 app can also get necessary prescriptions or labs ordered.

The new subscription offering through 98point6 is a strategic addition to many other high-quality services at a value from Sam’s Club. Sam’s Club recently introduced its curbside pickup offering nationwide, and is working with Rakuten Advertising and mobile technology company Button to seamlessly route customers from mobile sites to the Sam’s Club app.

 Takeaway: Sam’s Club will continue to test a mix of services and price points to streamline its healthcare offerings for members