You’ve seen the news: SONA has come together with Amazon Music and Amazon One Medical to offer One Medical memberships at no cost to SONA members (and their families). But what exactly is Amazon One Medical? How do you use it?
Let’s talk about it. But first - who am I?
Hi, I’m Marni Wandner. I’m a board-certified health coach and executive coach working in the music industry for over 20 years. I partner with artists, songwriters, founders and executives to help them lead healthy, sustainable lives - on tour, in the studio, at the desk, you name it.
In addition to mindset work, nervous system regulation, nutrition optimization, stress management and burnout prevention, one of the things I help my clients with is how to navigate healthcare: how to find a doctor, how to prep for an appointment, what questions to ask, how to advocate for themselves, etc.
All of these things are tools that are part of the foundation for how to build a healthy career.
Which is why I’m so excited about SONA’s partnership with Amazon One Medical and why I’m here talking about it. (I’m kind of a dork about stuff that makes healthcare easier.)
And before you ask, nope, I don’t work for Amazon One Medical. But I have been a member for years so I can speak to how to get the most out of it firsthand. And I’m a big fan of anything that can make healthcare less stressful.
First up: what is Amazon One Medical?
It’s essentially a modernized primary care service, meaning members can easily book same- or next-day remote or in-person appointments, 24/7 nationwide on-demand virtual care (messaging or real-time video chat) and secure direct messaging with providers.
You can do all of it (including the actual appointment if it’s remote) through the app. You can also access your health records and care plans, especially useful if you need to see a new doctor unexpectedly, and even get visit summaries from providers, complete with next steps (labs, other appointments, follow-ups, etc.). On-demand virtual care (video chats and provider messaging) are included in the membership. Scheduled in-person and remote visits are not covered by the membership and are billed separately to you or your insurance.
Ok great - how do you use it? Let’s get practical. Here are a few real-life situations where you might find Amazon One Medical useful:
- You’re out of town and you need to refill or renew a prescription. Click the button in the app - done.
- You have questions before or after an appointment. The care team is available via the app to help.
- You’re feeling anxious but you don't have a therapist and you’re not sure where to start. Book a mental health consult, in person or remote.
- You’re on tour, your throat hurts, and you need to know if it’s strep or allergies (or something else). You can video chat with a provider from your phone to see what they recommend and if you’re in one of Amazon One Medical's 19 cities, they can help you get a same or next-day visit. And test results will go back to your One Medical provider so they can follow up with you and keep your health record complete.
- You chucked your foot into something heavy and you need to know if it’s broken but you’re leaving town tomorrow and you definitely don’t have time to figure out who to see and how to get an appointment that day. You can video chat with a primary provider from your phone, and they can make a recommendation and even get you an appointment with someone that can get you an x-ray that day. (Ok that’s really specific, but this one actually happened to me recently).
Now let’s talk insurance - yes, you still need it, but Amazon One Medical accepts most major plans. Check to make sure your insurance is in-network at www.onemedical.com/insurance. Upload your insurance info to the app before booking a visit to help avoid any surprise bills later. You can also chat with the care team in the app about any insurance questions you might have - what’s covered, bill explanations, etc.
The bottom line - no more feeling overwhelmed trying to get a doctor’s appointment, figuring out which doctor you need to see for what, getting a prescription refilled or figuring out if your symptoms are “worth” going to the doctor for.
Your health matters just as much as your work - you can’t have one without the other. Having a long-lasting career depends on you having the energy, focus and resilience that only come from putting your health first. And while healthcare can feel like yet another source of stress, it doesn’t have to be. Which is really excellent news.
To sign up for Amazon One-Medical, click here.
Marni Wandner, Future Present Coaching + Consulting
Marni Wandner is a board-certified health coach, executive coach and strategic consultant with a background of two decades of experience working in the music industry. She works with both individuals and organizations to help clients navigate burnout, stress, time and energy management, career transitions, creative blocks, and leadership and communication challenges. Her approach blends mindset work, behavioral neuroscience, integrative wellness, nervous system regulation, and a personality-based framework designed to quickly uncover and shift long-standing patterns.
SONA members receive 20% off all Future Present coaching and consulting services. Visit https://www.futurepresentco.