(Frequently asked questions)
What is Queerly Health?
Queerly Health is a digital health platform that connects the LGBTQ+ community with safe, comprehensive, and LGBTQ+ competent health and wellness professionals, or “providers”.
Our platform consists of a marketplace of providers we’ve screened and interviewed to make sure they’re affirming and knowledgeable professionals capable of working with LGBTQ+ people. More on what a marketplace is here.
Queerly Health also utilizes telehealth tools to make delivering and receiving services more accessible and convenient for everyone. More on what telehealth is here.
Soon, we’ll also have Concierge Health Advocates on hand to support users in navigating their health and wellness journey.
What is a benefit corporation?
Queerly Health is a registered “Benefit Corporation”, meaning we’re a company with a focus on social impact and being a force for good. Balancing purpose and profit, we’re committed to making health and wellness for the LGBTQ+ community accessible.
Companies may also choose to become B Corporation Certified and our application is pending.More about B Corporation Certification here.
Where is Queerly Health available?
Queerly Health is currently enrolling providers in New York and New Jersey and will be available to the public in those states at the beginning of 2020.
Sign up for our newsletter to learn when Queerly Health will be available in your area.
How does Queerly Health work for Individuals and how do I join?
Individuals are people looking to book appointments with Providers on the Queerly Health platform.
How it Works
1. To join, create your individual profile here.
2. Search our Marketplace of Vetted and Trained Providers.
3. Book an Appointment.
4. Meet with your Provider.
5. Follow your Treatment Plan.
How does Queerly Health work for Providers and how do I join?
Providers are health and wellness professionals on the Queerly Health platform who deliver care to individuals. Providers on the Queerly Health platform are expected to -provide safe, comprehensive, and culturally competent care to the LGBTQ+ community-have their staff educated on best practices for supporting the LGBTQ+ community-enforce positive and inclusive behavior-and be accountable for feedback received.
How it Works
1. To join as a provider, request access to create your provider profile here.
2. Complete the vetting questionnaire and schedule a time to chat with the Queerly Health team. If training is recommended, complete the necessary training and provide proof of completion.
3. Choose your membership.
4. Schedule your availability.
5. Meet with an individual.
6. Schedule follow-up care.
What types of Providers can join Queerly Health?
Any and all professionals who provide health and wellness services may request to join Queerly Health as a provider. That includes (but is not limited to) doctors, nurses, therapists, psychiatrists, specialists, physical therapists, coaches, dentists, and acupuncturists, to name a few.
What are vetted and trained providers?
Before joining the Queerly Health platform, providers are screened (or “vetted”) for a number of competencies, including LGBTQ+ competency.
Some providers may need additional support and are forwarded to trainings and resources.
Providers may also receive on-going training throughout their time with us.
What is an online marketplace?
Online marketplaces are comprised of two groups of people being brought together on an online website and/or app. Queerly Heath’s two groups are providers offering LGBTQ+ inclusive health and wellness services and individuals seeking LGBTQ+ inclusive health and wellness services.
What are "digital health" and "telehealth"?
“Digital Health” refers to technology based tools used to prevent, diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and symptoms. Digital Health tools can be mobile health apps (mHealth), software, wearable devices, health information technology (IT) and telehealth.
Digital Health can both empower individuals to make better informed decisions about their health and allow for new options in the delivery of health and wellness care outside of traditional settings. Digital Health is also being used to reduce inefficiencies, improve access, reduce costs, increase quality, and make medicine more personalized for individuals.
“Telehealth” refers to the subset of Digital Health involving electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support remote delivery of individual and provider health education and remote delivery of healthcare. Ex. video visits.
What are Concierge Health Advocates? (Coming Soon)
Concierge Health Advocates are Queerly Health professionals that guide individuals in navigating health and wellness. Concierge Health Advocates can find providers for you, assisting in answering questions about your insurance or how to obtain insurance, assist in navigating the Queerly Health platform, and much more.
What types of appointments can I book on Queerly Health?
While we’re in beta testing, you may book appointments in-clinic with providers. After our beta period is over, you may book appointments to visit a provider in-clinic, through text, with a call, or via a video visit.
Who can I contact about a Provider?
If you would like to contact the Queerly Health team about a provider, you may email us at hello@queerlyhealth.com
Who can I contact about an Individual?
If you would like to contact the Queerly Health team about an individual, you may email us at hello@queerlyhealth.com
How can I support Queerly Health’s Movement?
If you’d like to support our movement to make LGBTQ+ health and wellness accessible to everyone who needs it, email us at hello@queerlyhealth.com.
What are LGBTQ+ Health Disparities?
The LGBTQ+ population experiences poorer health outcomes as compared to the general population. This difference between the health of LGBTQ+ people compared to the health of non-LGBTQ+ people is called a “health disparity”.
LGBTQ+ people experience health disparities, not because we are genetically more unhealthy than non-LGBTQ+ people, but because we experience barriers to health access and gaps in health access that are specific to the LGBTQ+ population. These barriers and gaps mean LGBTQ+ people have a difficult time obtaining the health and wellness services we need. This produces preventable LGBTQ+ health disparities.
What are Barriers to Access?
Barriers to health access prevent, or make difficult, obtaining healthcare access because they are obstructive. For the LGBTQ+ community, these barriers to access include:
•cost of healthcare as we are 3x as likely to be uninsured
•discrimination as over 56% of LGBTQ+ people report experiencing discrimination in healthcare settings
•anti-LGBTQ+ health legislation as dozens of rules, laws, and policies making it even more difficult for LGBTQ+ people to obtain healthcare have been proposed at state and federal levels.
At Queerly Health, our goal is to use digital health to go around these barriers to access and get people the healthcare we deserve. Learn more about Digital Health here
What are Gaps in Access?
Gaps in access prevent, or make difficult obtaining healthcare because the providers and services simply don’t exist. For the LGBTQ+ community these include:
•location as many areas of the United States, especially rural areas, don’t have providers that will or know how to treat LGBTQ+ individuals
•lack of provider knowledge as LGBTQ+ health and wellness is often not covered, or not covered comprehensively, at health and wellness institutions (example: medical schools).
At Queerly Health, our goal is to fill gaps in access using digital health. Learn more about Digital Health here.
What is Primary Care?
“Primary care” is general healthcare provided on a day-to-day basis. Usually, a Primary care provider is the first healthcare professional someone sees within a health system. Primary care providers may continue care with an individual and/or forward an individual to specialist care.
Primary care may be delivered by general practitioners, family physicians, a nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
What is Mental Health?
“Mental health” refers to the condition of an individual’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being. Mental health providers are professionals who diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
Mental health providers may be psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, psychiatric nurses, counselors, therapists, and social workers.
What are Specialists?
A “non-physician specialist” usually refers to a provider that is not a physician, but who has a focus and more training on a specific area of health. Ex. a dietary specialist.
“Physician specialists” are providers who are physicians and focus on a specific area of medicine or a group of patients to prevent, diagnose, manage, and/or treat certain types of conditions and symptoms. Ex. an endocrinologist.
How can Digital Health improve LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness?
Digital health has the ability to go around barriers to accessing LGBTQ+ health and wellness, while also filling in gaps in access. Queerly Health is using digital health to get LGBTQ+ affirming care to the people who need it.
How does Membership work at Queerly Health?
Individuals may join Queerly Health, create a profile, browse providers, and book appointments at no cost. Individuals only need to pay providers for their visits.
Providers may request access to join Queerly Health and after undergoing our vetting process, choose between three memberships all available for around the cost of a visit per month. We also provide discounts for yearly memberships.
Memberships
Tier 1: Have your practice featured on the Queerly Health Marketplace.
Tier 2: Be featured on the Queerly Health Marketplace and allow individuals to book visits directly from our platform.
Tier 3: Your practice is listed on the Queerly Health Marketplace, individuals may book visits directly from the platform, and you’re provided with telehealth tools (like, HIPAA compliant video visits).
How much does membership at Queerly Health cost?
Queerly Health memberships cost nothing for individuals.
Queerly Health provider memberships cost around the same per month as one clinical visit, depending on the membership chosen.
Does Queerly Health take Insurance?
Queerly Health links individuals seeking LGBTQ+ affirming care with providers delivering LGBTQ+ affirming care. Queerly Health doesn’t process payments for visits booked on the platform. Providers are responsible for processing payments for visits. Some providers on the Queerly Health platform may take insurance and other providers may not. Payment options, including insurance plans taken by a provider, are listed on the profile of each provider.
How does Billing work at Queerly Health?
Queerly Health links individuals seeking LGBTQ+ affirming care with providers delivering LGBTQ+ affirming care. Queerly Health doesn’t process payments for visits booked on the platform. Providers are responsible for processing payments for visits. Some providers on the Queerly Health platform may take insurance and other providers may not. Payment options, including insurances taken, are listed on the profile of each provider. Providers may take payments in different forms, like billing insurance, billing your credit card, electronic payments (like PayPal), cash, and/or checks and money orders.
Provider Refund Policy
Providers can cancel their memberships at any time and receive a partial refund if they have already been successfully charged at the start of the month. Upon cancellation, the profile of the user or provider will be deactivated and deleted. Cancellations and refunds can be requested by emailing help@queerlyhealth.com. Requests will be answered within 2 business days.
How does Queerly Health protect my Privacy and Security?
Queerly Health is a HIPAA and GDPR compliant platform.
HIPAA stands for “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” and is a set of federal guidelines that protects personal health information, or “PHI”. At Queerly Health, we make sure to follow those guidelines and additional guidelines so that we protect your privacy and the security of our platform.
GDPR stands for “General Data Protection Regulation” as is a set of guidelines, similar to HIPAA, that protects the data and the privacy of citizens of the European Union (EU).
Who should I contact if I have questions about Privacy and Security?
If you have questions about Privacy and Security, email us at hello@queerlyhealth.com.
What is Queerly Health’s Privacy Policy?
You can read Queerly Health’s Privacy Policy here.
What are Queerly Health’s Terms of Service?
You can read our Terms of Service here.
