Patient
Frequently Asked Questions
The Sniffle App
Sniffle is an app that brings together AI-driven technology with the most advanced services available in virtual care. For patients, it provides access to instant assessment of symptoms, ancillary benefits, discounts, and local resources. For providers, it features instant onboarding, complete admin support, growth strategies, and a research tool. The result is a more holistic view of health for both patients and providers.
Sniffle improves your experience in a variety of ways:
- You can use Sniffle to generate an Ai-powered assessment of your symptoms, called an Aignosis, which is 95% accurate, medically-vetted, and safer than self-diagnosing through internet searches
- Virtual visits tend to be more frequent than traditional ones, which strengthen your provider relationship
- Patients in geographic areas with limited healthcare options may be able to find a Sniffle provider to meet with virtually
- Sniffle includes access to a prescription discount card, which can save patients up to 85%
- Adding Sniffle Benefits gives you access to a suite of ancillary health benefits with preferred pricing, as well as a powerful search engine for finding valuable local health resources
- You have access to a network of virtual care providers 24/7*
*Availability for virtual visits and communications may vary
No, Sniffle does not replace these visits. While a Sniffle virtual visit can address many conditions, some situations are still a better fit for an in-person visit. Using Sniffle for an instant assessment of symptoms, called an Aignosis, will let patients know whether an in-person visit is necessary, based on their current symptoms. This assessment is proven to be 95% accurate. Patients may also consult with their providers to determine which conditions call for in-person consultation.
No other virtual care option brings together the most advanced virtual care services and technology like Sniffle does. For patients, this includes access to:
- An Ai-powered assessment of your symptoms, called an Aignosis, which is 95% accurate, medically-vetted, and safer than self-diagnosing through internet searches
- The Sniffle Prescription Discount Card, which can save patients up to 85%
- A suite of ancillary health benefits with preferred pricing, available with Sniffle Benefits
- A powerful search engine for finding valuable local health resources, available with Sniffle Benefits
- A network of virtual care providers, which can be accessed 24/7 *
*Availability for virtual visits and communications may vary
The founders of Sniffle noticed that other virtual care companies offered a variety of features but no one was taking a holistic view of the situation. They looked beyond these features to find the most advanced technology and services available. Then, they created one virtual care ecosystem which would enhance the healthcare journey for both patients and providers.
Yes, Sniffle is secure. We protect patient privacy by only giving you and your providers access to your information. For added security, we employ a group of tech experts who are constantly testing the system for weaknesses. We also use certified providers to generate an ongoing analysis of the system.
We protect patient privacy by only giving you and your providers access to your information. For added security, we employ a group of tech experts who are constantly testing the system for weaknesses. We also use certified providers to generate an ongoing analysis of the system.
Yes, Sniffle is HIPAA-compliant.
Sniffle is free for patients and includes access to:
- An Ai-powered assessment of your symptoms, called an Aignosis, which is 95% accurate, medically-vetted, and safer than self-diagnosing through internet searches
- The Sniffle Prescription Discount Card, which can save patients up to 85%
- 24/7 access to a network of virtual care providers*
Adding Sniffle Benefits costs patients $15/month and includes:
- A suite of ancillary benefits with preferred pricing. This includes dental, vision, behavioral health, hearing aids, diabetic supplies, prescription discounts, lab testing, MRI & CT imaging.
A search engine for finding valuable local health resources
The $15 fee covers all family members, regardless of their ages, which ancillary benefits they access, or how many times they access these benefits within a given month
*Availability for virtual visits and communications may vary
Sniffle & AI
When Sniffle users are experiencing symptoms that cause concern, they can use the app to answer a series of questions using an interview format. The Sniffle AI engine generates an instant, medically-vetted, and 95% accurate assessment of the patient’s symptoms, called an Aignosis. It indicates whether a virtual or in-person visit is necessary, or if other treatments are appropriate. If a virtual visit is needed, the provider uses this Aignosis as a starting point for a discussion. This process keeps potential patients from self-diagnosing themselves through internet research, which can be inaccurate and lead to a form of anxiety called Cyberchondria*. It also makes the virtual visit more efficient, which gives the provider more time to focus on patient care. Additionally, Sniffle users can take advantage of this technology to become more informed about their health over time, and not only when they are experiencing symptoms.
*According to a 2020 study published in Comprehensive Psychiatry
Sniffle has taken many important steps to assure that every Aignosis is accurate, such as:
- The AI engine was built by an expert, global team of physicians, scientists, and engineers, representing various specialties
- Its development was based on over 13 million clinical encounters used to accurately and efficiently diagnose symptoms
- It draws from over 12,000 sources, including reputable journals, guidelines and publications from international health organizations such as the WHO and the CDC
- Its knowledge database is based on adult, pediatric and adolescent medicine and it can differentiate symptoms according to age
- Physicians worldwide keep the database updated with the latest research
While Sniffle can’t speak to how AI is impacting our society as a whole, we can assure patients that we have created an environment that uses this technology safely. Because AI is only used to create an initial assessment of a patient’s symptoms, called an Aignosis, it does not replace the critical human interaction between a patient and a provider. Therefore, your trusted provider is still ultimately in control of your care.
Sniffle Benefits
Adding Sniffle Benefits gives you access to a suite of ancillary benefits with preferred pricing. This suite includes dental, vision, behavioral health, hearing aids, diabetic supplies, prescription discounts, lab testing, MRI & CT imaging. Patients can also access a search engine for finding valuable local health resources.
Sniffle Benefits costs each user $15/month and covers that person’s entire family. There is no limit to the number of family members covered, the ancillary benefits they access, or how many times they access those benefits during a month.
In addition to providing a suite of ancillary benefits with preferred pricing for only $15/month, Sniffle Benefits helps patients take more control of their health. It is known that the areas of personal health addressed by these ancillary benefits are interrelated. For example, dental care can influence heart health as the same bacteria found in the mouth is related to blockages of heart arteries. By selecting Sniffle Benefits, users can more easily access these ancillary benefits. As a result, they can work with their providers to develop a more holistic view of their health and take action to improve it.
No, Sniffle Benefits does not replace your health insurance. It only provides an optional approach to accessing ancillary benefits typically associated with health insurance, such as dental and vision coverage. These benefits include negotiated and curated pricing for Sniffle users.
While benefits packages available through traditional health insurance may include a few cost options for ancillary benefits, a family that uses Sniffle will always pay less during a typical year. This is due to the negotiated and curated pricing Sniffle is able to provide for these benefits, which is not available anywhere else. For more information, see a cost comparison between Sniffle and traditional insurance for vision, dental, and prescription drugs.
Sniffle Virtual Care Visits
After growing in popularity during the pandemic, virtual care appears to be here to stay. In fact, according to a recent study*, 92% of patients shopping for providers now expect them to offer a virtual care option, alongside traditional care.
* According to an October 2022 study by softwareadvice.com
A patient joining a Sniffle virtual visit needs to be physically located in a state where their provider is licensed to practice but this patient does not need to be a resident of that state. On the other hand, the provider can join this call from anywhere, as long as the provider is licensed to practice in the state where the patient is located.
If you have downloaded Sniffle and want to schedule a virtual visit through the app, just search the provider directory to select someone.
Sniffle does not require patients who schedule virtual visits with Sniffle providers to also see them in person. However, a patient’s provider may recommend this.
The Sniffle platform is free for patients to use. For virtual visits and other provider services, patients pay the fees from the provider and Sniffle does not have any control over these fees.
Generally speaking, scheduling a virtual visit is easier than seeing a provider in person. While scheduling an in-person visit typically depends on calling a provider’s office during working hours, a patient can access a Sniffle provider’s schedule 24/7, find an available time, and book their visit. If that provider is not available within a desired time, Sniffle includes a network of other providers to choose from. In this situation, a patient can typically find someone who is available within 24 hours. For patients who need to see their preferred providers, their availability for virtual visits will vary and Sniffle does not have any control over this.
Using Sniffle for an instant assessment of symptoms, called an Aignosis, will let patients know whether a virtual visit or an in-person consultation is required, based on their current symptoms. This assessment is proven to be safe and 95% accurate. Patients may also consult with their providers for this information.