Vaginal Yeast Infection Treatment: Best Options for Fast, Effective Relief If you’ve ever dealt with a vaginal yeast infection, then you know that your number one priority is getting rid of it - fast. Thankfully, there are treatment options available that can help alleviate your symptoms quickly. In this blog, we’ll explore some frequently asked questions about vaginal yeast infection causes, symptoms, and both over-the-counter and prescription medication options to help you make an informed decision about which approach is best suited for your needs. Read more
U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Ruling That Overturned Free Preventive Health Care On Thursday, a federal judge in Texas struck down a provision of the Affordable Care Act that required 100% insurance coverage (with no copayments or deductibles) for a range of preventive medical services, including many screenings for cancer and diabetes, STD testing, some medications, HIV-prevention measures and more. The provision, which required that insurers cover these preventative care services at no cost to patients, was deemed unlawful by US District Judge Reed O’Connor. If O’Connor’s ruling is not appealed to the Supreme Court and overturned, it means that insurance companies will no longer be required to cover these preventative services at no cost to the consumer. Read more
Insider Healthcare Hacks Private health insurance in the United States has made the health care system dizzyingly tricky to navigate. From constantly rising costs to alarming insecurity, we get that getting coverage for your basic health needs can make the process more hassle than it seems to be worth. To help you work your way through the maze of networks, co-pays and coverage, we’ve put together 3 simple healthcare hacks. These insider tips can save you money while boosting the efficacy of your healthcare plan. Read more
Best Nausea Medicine: OTC, Prescription Options & Home Remedies If you’ve ever accidentally eaten expired food, felt car sick during a trip, or felt your stomach churn after smelling something off-putting, then you’ve probably experienced nausea. Nausea is the queasy sensation you feel before you throw up, and unfortunately, it’s often accompanied by vomiting. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that you can take to provide relief from nausea and get back on track. In this blog post, we'll discuss why nausea happens and cost-effective options for nausea treatment and relief so that you’re better equipped to manage your symptoms when they arise. Read more
Over-the-Counter Asthma Inhalers: Treatment Options for Asthma Inhalers play a vital role in managing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD). As we’ve detailed, inhalers are also expensive. The rising cost of prescription inhalers has left many patients looking for lower-cost over-the-counter (OTC) options to help relieve their symptoms. But, do these non-prescription drugs work? Read more
Can a Kidney Infection Kill You? Infection Risks & Symptoms A kidney infection (also known as pyelonephritis) occurs when a harmful bacteria or virus travels from the urethra up through the ureters and into the kidneys. Early symptoms are similar to that of a urinary tract infection (UTI), but if left untreated a kidney infection can lead to serious kidney damage, disease, and even death. Kidney infections require urgent medical attention. In this article, we take a look at this dangerous condition. We detail the causes, the symptoms, and the treatment options available for kidney infections. We will also outline preventative measures to help avoid infection in the first place. Read more
Can I Get Over the Counter UTI Medicine? Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are unfortunately both very painful and very common. Doctors treat about 8 million cases of UTIs each year. Are there over-the-counter (OTC) options for this bacterial infection? Is there a way to treat a UTI without a doctor visit? In this article, we will break down what a UTI is, what treatment is needed and what your over-the-counter options are. Read more
Medicaid Disenrollment: A State-By-State Look at Redeterminations If you're losing Medicaid coverage when the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ends, there are resources available to help you access affordable health care without insurance. You may be eligible for subsidies to make health insurance more affordable through healthcare.gov or state-based health insurance exchanges, and you can also refer to the U.S. Health Care Price Index (USHPI), which tracks what Americans are paying for cash-pay medical care in all 50 states. Read more
Can a Belly Button Infection Kill You? Whether you have an “innie” or an “outie,” everyone has a belly button (the small skin fold on your stomach that marks the spot where your umbilical cord was attached when you were in your mother’s stomach). This means that everyone is also susceptible to a belly button infection. Belly buttons have lots of folds, so it’s easy for sweat, dead skin cells and microorganisms to build up inside of them. A belly button infection is a skin infection caused by fungus or bacteria that are proliferating inside your belly button (known medically as your umbilicus). So how serious are belly button infections, and can they be fatal? Read more
National Nutrition Month Recipes March is National Nutrition Month, which is a great time to focus on eating healthier and making better food choices. As an homage to St. Patrick’s Day, the start of spring and all other things green, we’ve cooked up some amazing recipes featuring green superfoods like kale, spinach and avocado. These nutrient-packed ingredients are not only incredibly healthy but also surprisingly versatile - they can be used in a variety of dishes from salads and smoothies to creamy pasta entrees. Read more
How Do I Get A Doctor’s Note for Work? Getting a doctor’s note may not be top of mind as you get medical care for your health condition, but those little slips of paper can help ensure that you receive proper benefits and adequate time off for your treatment. Read more
Prescription Weight Loss Pills: Understanding Your Choices The risks and complications associated with being overweight or having obesity are well known, but many Americans have a hard time losing enough weight and keeping it off. For those who have persistent difficulty maintaining a healthy weight, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several prescription drugs that help with weight loss. In this article, we take a look at these options to help you understand the treatment plans available to you. Read more
Best Treatments for BV: Over-the-Counter & Antibiotic Meds Bacterial vaginosis is a highly common but very dangerous bacterial infection. Nearly 30% of women will experience BV at some point in their lives. What causes BV? And how do you treat it? We dive into these questions and more. Read more
Seasonal Allergies: Symptoms and Treatment Options Ahhh, spring. Budding flowers, trees in bloom and sneezing. So much sneezing. We've put together some tips and preventative measures to help you control your allergy symptoms during pollen season. Don't let allergies keep you indoors. Enjoy the warmer spring weather by using these helpful allergy alleviation practices. Read more
Best OTC Anti-Inflammatories Medicine: Options and Safety Tips If you’ve ever sprained your ankle, dealt with a headache, or spiked a fever, the odds are that you’ve turned to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, as a solution. NSAIDs are a common, affordable, and effective way to relieve pain from headaches, body aches and sprains, menstruation pain, swelling, stiffness, arthritis, and fever. However, over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs can have side effects, especially if used for longer periods of time or at higher-than-recommended doses, so it’s important to know which OTC anti-inflammatories are right for you and your pain needs. We’ve compiled some important information on NSAID choices below along with useful tips on how to use them safely and effectively. Read more
Muscle Relaxers: Best Over-The-Counter and Rx Options Learn about the best over-the-counter muscle relaxers and prescription muscle relaxers. Find out what the differences are and what might work best for you. Read more
Over-the-Counter & Prescription Antibiotic Medication You have a few options when it comes to antibiotics over-the-counter. We compare the best options, including antibiotic prescriptions, so you can make the best decision. Read more
Asthma Inhaler Costs: Brand Name Vs. Generic Asthma is a chronic condition that affects nearly 25 million Americans. Inhalers play a key role in ensuring the health and wellness of patients managing these conditions. With the ever-increasing prices for asthma medication, it can be difficult to figure out the best treatment plan for your health (and wallet). To help clarify this choice for you, we’ve compared the cost of asthma inhalers and detailed the pros and cons of each. Read more
Preventing Chronic Disease with Preventive Care If you skipped a visit to the doctor’s office last year, you’re not alone. Nearly 40% of Americans delayed care in 2023 due to cost, while others struggled to find primary care appointment openings due to long waits. But why is this such a big deal? Because when patients aren’t receiving preventive care and screenings, they risk allowing non-serious conditions to worsen. We’ve teamed up with Dr. Allison Edwards, MD, Sesame’s medical director, to highlight some key preventative care lifestyle changes and self-management tips you can start today from the comfort of home! Read more
7 Erectile Dysfunction Tips for You And Your Partner Erectile dysfunction can be hard (no pun intended) to talk about. However, this is an extremely common condition that affects nearly 30 million American men every year. To help you manage this tricky condition, we’ve put together some basic information about erectile dysfunction, as well as some tips for how to manage it. Read more
List of Medications From A to J Explore prescription medications available for pickup on Sesame. Read more
How to Get Free At-Home COVID Test Kits To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the winter months, White House officials in the Biden administration announced a new program that allows households to order free COVID-19 test kits. These tests can be picked up over-the-counter at most pharmacies or ordered through the USPS for at-home delivery. Read on for more information about how to take advantage of the free at-home test program. Read more
Sesame named to 2023 NY Digital Health 100 List Sesame proudly announced its addition to the 2023 NY Digital Health 100 List this morning. The annual list, which is compiled by Digital Health New York (DHNY), celebrates the most exciting and innovative startups in the New York region. This is a significant achievement for our company that highlights the work of the entire Sesame team and further entrenches our healthcare marketplace as an industry leader in digital health solutions. This milestone also serves as a welcome addition to a series of recent accolades, including a placement on Fierce Healthcare’s Fierce 15 list and a #1 ranking by Healthline for overall care in 2021 and 2022. Read more
How Can Healthcare Technology Help Homeless Populations? Homelessness is a growing and worrisome public health phenomenon, and it has long been documented that people experiencing homelessness face an earlier and greater risk of developing health problems. That alarming pattern, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that nearly 40% of Americans delayed care last year due to cost, highlights a serious need for health solutions for the homeless population in the U.S. Read more
Fierce Healthcare Names Sesame a 2023 “Fierce 15” Company Kicking off 2023 with the exciting news that Sesame has been named a Fierce 15 company by Fierce Healthcare this year, designating it as one of the most promising healthcare companies in the industry! We are honored to be recognized for our incredible services and innovative approach to problem-solving in such a competitive field. Read more
How to Break Bad Habits in 2024: 7 Strategies for Success The New Year gives us the perfect opportunity to start shedding some bad habits that you’ve had a hard time breaking. Go into the New Year with these helpful tips to help you break bad habits that have been affecting your wellness, and start your journey toward becoming a healthier you. Read more
Children's Medicine Shortage: What You Need to Know As the U.S. experiences what experts are calling a “triple-demic,” the overwhelming demand for children’s pain relief medication has caused pharmacies CVS and Walgreens to restrict over-the-counter children’s medicines such as Children’s Tylenol and Motrin. We worked with our Medical Director, Allison Edwards, MD, to put together some basic facts that you need to know about the shortage. Read more
Do I Still Have Health Insurance After Being Laid-Off? If you’ve just experienced a layoff, it’s important to keep in mind that you have options for healthcare. However, not everyone knows where to go to get help, or what type of health insurance coverage is the right choice. To help people through this stressful time, we’ve put together a list of a few insurance resources that you can use. Read more
Only in America: There's a hidden tax in your healthcare My colleague and co-founder David Goldhill today has a new Washington Post article that explains the fundamental challenge in American health care. Read more
5 Questions Your Doctor Wants You to Ask Get proactive about your health by asking questions of your health care provider. Unsure of what you should ask? Don’t sweat, we put together a quick list of the top questions your provider wants you to ask during your appointment to help you maximize your health care. Read more
Healthcare's Second NATO David Goldhill, founder and CEO of Sesame, on America's evolving place in health care. Read more
5 Ways to De-Stress Your Holidays The holiday season is a time for family, food and festivities. Countless songs on the radio tell us that we’re supposed to be feeling joy and good cheer at least until the New Year. For many people, however, the holiday season is filled with holiday stresses both big and small. To help you de-stress and protect your mental health, ee’ve put together a quick list of practical tips you can use to maintain your wellness and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with loved ones. Read more
Holiday 2022 Stress Outlook As we approach a (hopefully) more normal holiday season, we took our annual pulse on the state of stress in America to determine most common stressors, impact on mental health and wellbeing -- and how (and if) consumers are seeking out help. Read on to learn more about what we found. Read more
Medical Costs to Expect in Retirement To help patients plan ahead and prepare for rising health care costs in retirement, we sat down with our own Mike Botta, a former White House advisor who has spent over 15 years in health care leadership. He detailed several unforeseen health care costs that people experience as they age, and offered some suggestions to defray and minimize the expense to your personal bank account. Read more
Amazon's Third Try at Health Care After a series of missteps, Amazon makes another attempt at health care. Mike Botta, PhD and co-founder of Sesame details the retail giant's struggles in the health care marketplace and the newest iteration of its health care offering -- plus, what Sesame is doing to stay ahead of the curve. Read more
How to Prepare for Your First Telehealth Appointment Telehealth is an online form of health care that allows you to speak to fully licensed board-certified health care providers via video or chat platforms.To help you get ready for your first telehealth appointment, we’ve put together a quick list of tips so you can get the most out of your visit. Read more
Rising Health Insurance Costs Employer health insurance costs have been steadily rising over the last few years. Mike Botta, PhD, and co-founder of Sesame details the reasons behind these increases and how Sesame is a high-quality, low-cost, solution for the consumer. Read more
Colorectal Screenings: What You Need to Know Colorectal cancer, in particular, tends to develop from abnormal growths (known as polyps) in the colon. These polyps are non-cancerous but may turn cancerous if they are left untreated. Read more
The Dirty Secret of STDs on College Campuses An August 2022 survey of 500 college students commissioned by Sesame and conducted by market research company Pollfish found some alarming statistics about STD testing (or the lack thereof) on college campuses. These statistics depict a potentially dangerous culture of unsafe sex practices among students – and highlight the need for affordable STD tests on campus to help students prevent spreading harmful infections and diseases. Read more
Railroads and…Health Care? Drawing from his personal and professional experiences, Mike Botta, PhD and co-founder of Sesame, reflects on the recent standoff between the rail worker's union and freight rail companies over health care benefits. He details the origins of the conflict and describes how inequalities in our current health care system betray every day Americans -- and what Sesame is doing to fix it. Read more
Low Self-Esteem Causes & How to Build It Up Merriam-Webster defines self-esteem as “confidence and satisfaction in oneself.” That’s something we can all aspire to, right? It feels good to feel good about yourself! Unfortunately, nearly 85% of Americans struggle with low self-esteem. We asked Dr. Alice Shepard -- a therapist with over 10 years of counseling experience – about this widespread problem affecting Americans of all ages. She offered some thoughts about the causes of self-esteem, as well as some invaluable tips to build up your self-esteem and start to nurture your confidence. Read more
The End of Amazon Care From retail to voice technology, streaming content, and more, it seems like Amazon has figured out how to “fix” it all. Except for healthcare. Mike Botta, PhD and co-founder of Sesame, reacts to the recent closure of Amazon Care and details how Sesame is changing the game in direct-to-patient care. Read more
Q&A: The Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water We asked Dr. Justin Houman – a urologist in Los Angeles – to help us sort out the hype and pin down the real benefits of drinking lemon water. Read on to learn more. Read more
Mental Health Conversation Starters Talking about mental health can be really tricky. We spoke to Dr. Kristen English - a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania with over 18 years of counseling experience - about some conversation openers you can use to open a safe and productive dialogue around mental health with loved ones or friends in your life. Read more
How to Find LGBTQ-Friendly Health Care: Tips and Resources Finding the right health care provider can be difficult for anyone, but members of the LGBTQ+ community have historically experienced even more significant challenges getting quality care. Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer experience marginalization, discrimination, and inadequate care due to their sexual and gender identities. Read more
How Much Does a Dermatologist Cost? Cost factors behind dermatology care Read more
How Much Does an Echocardiogram Cost? Cost factors for echocardiogram imaging Read more
Cortisone Injections: Cost Factors, Uses, and Side Effects Cortisone injections are used to treat several health conditions. Learn more about the factors that affect the cost of an injection, side effects, and more. Read more
How Much Does a Knee Replacement Cost? Cost factors behind a knee replacement procedure Read more
How Much Does a Colonoscopy Cost? How much does a colonoscopy cost? Cost factors of a colonoscopy procedure Read more
How Much Does a Chiropractor Cost? Cost factors for chiropractic care Read more
How Much Does Urgent Care Cost? How much does urgent care cost? Cost factors behind an urgent care visit Read more
How Much Does a CT Scan Cost? A CT (computed tomography) procedure can cost anywhere from $300 to over $6000. The specific cost of a CT scan usually depends on where you live, and what part of the body is being scanned Read more
How Much Does an MRI Cost? An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) procedure can cost anywhere from $375 to over $5000. Booking an MRI on Sesame guarantees you the best price imaging appointment near you. The specific cost of an MRI usually depends on where you live and what part of the body is being scanned. Additionally, paying for MRI procedures without insurance can be more expensive than paying for one if you’re insured. Read more
How Much Does a Vasectomy Cost? Vasectomies - also known as male sterilization procedures - usually cost between $300 and $3,000. This one-time out-of-pocket cost may vary depending on your health insurance plan, where you live, the doctor’s office performing the procedure, and whether or not the surgery is an inpatient or outpatient procedure. Read more
5 Tips to Find the Right Therapist For You I want to go to therapy…but how do I know where to start?" If you’ve ever seen a therapist (or thought about finding one) this uncertainty may feel too familiar. We hear from patients all the time about how hard it can be to find the right therapist. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. We at Sesame are doing everything we can to empower you to take control of your mental health and find the right therapist. We talked to Dr. Alice Shepard, PhD owner of Mirielle Therapy to get advice on how you can make the search for a therapist easier and faster, and get paired with the right person for you. Read more
The Best Foods to Keep Your Bones Healthy as You Age We’ve all heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” But what if we told you that your bones are also what you eat? Doctors agree that what you eat can directly impact your bone health - especially as you age. As we get older, our bones and tissues begin to thin and weaken, which is why it’s so important to eat a diet that promotes overall health and well being. We talked to Cevie Penda Touré, a functional nutritionist, about what foods to eat to protect your bones - and your body - as you age. Read more
Can You Get STI Lab Tests Online? Learn how to get a same-day STI/STD lab test online, without a doctor referral from a Quest Diagnostics near you. Read more
Can You Get Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Lab Tests Online? Learn how to get a comprehensive metabolic panel online, without a doctor referral from a Quest Diagnostics near you. Read more
Can You Get Comprehensive Male Panel Lab Tests Online? Learn how to get a comprehensive male lab panel online at a convenient Quest Diagnostics location near you - without a doctor referral. Read more
Can You Get Comprehensive Female Panel Lab Tests Online? Learn how to get a comprehensive female lab panel online at a convenient Quest Diagnostics location near you - without a doctor referral. Read more
Can You Get TSH Lab Tests Online? Learn how to get a TSH lab test online, without a doctor referral from a Quest Diagnostics near you. Read more
Can You Get a Complete Blood Count Lab Test Online? Learn how to get a complete blood count(CBC) lab test online, without a doctor referral from a Quest Diagnostics near you. Read more
Can You Get HbA1c Lab Tests Online? Learn how to get an HbA1c lab test online, without a doctor referral from a Quest Diagnostics near you. Read more
Your neighbor may be paying less for the same health care. Here's why. Michael Botta, Sesame co-founder, on why prices of medical services can vary - and what you can do about it. Read more
Holiday 2021 Stress Report: Increase in Anxiety, Depression & COVID-related Stress As attention turns to a second COVID holiday season, we took a pulse on the state of stress in America to determine most common stressors, impact on mental health and wellbeing -- and how (and if) consumers are seeking out help. Here’s a look at what we found. Read more
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