October 29, 2008

Just Answer

Wayne Glowac

Want to see healthcare consumerism in action? Check out www.justanswer.com.

After creating an account, individuals can post questions about any topic—from healthcare to car repair. Then, they simply name their price, usually anywhere from $9 to $30, to pay an expert to answer their question. Justanswer has a bank of experts (yes, you can apply to be one) that will respond within 24 hours, and it’s up to the person asking the question whether or not the response is acceptable.

I read multiple questions out of the 27 pages of healthcare posts. Most of them had replies too. It’s better than going on WebMD, because patients don’t have to do the research themselves. It’s more like calling a nurse hotline, but instead of being advised of which doctor to see, the “expert” actually tells the patient what might be wrong.

It’s truly an online healthcare marketplace because patients set their own price to find answers to their health questions. It’s also interesting because the site exists completely separate of any healthcare provider or insurance; it is entirely consumer-driven.

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