FAQs

General

If I’m from a different state but go to school in a state where Caraway is available, can I sign up for Caraway?

Yes. If you’re currently located in a state where Caraway is available (CA, CO, CT, DC, IL, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TX, VA, WA), you can sign up and access care through Caraway.

Do I have to be in school to get care through Caraway?

You don’t need to be in school to be a Caraway member. Our focus is people ages 18+, both in and out of school.

Can I access Caraway on a laptop?

Not yet! Caraway is a mobile app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

What can I do via telehealth?

Telehealth is proven to be safe and effective and can even lead to better health outcomes by increasing timely access to care and helping patients avoid long wait times in crowded clinical spaces. Telehealth can be used by qualified healthcare providers to assess and manage many common complaints, including a majority of health concerns for those 18+.

Our medical team is experienced with in-person and virtual care and follows evidence-based clinical guidelines. When in-person care is necessary or more appropriate, we will not hesitate to make referrals. If a referral is made, our health advisors will work with you to identify the most convenient and appropriate options for in-person care and help you make an appointment. The Care Team will follow up afterward to ensure you’ve gotten the support you need.

How do I set up a Caraway account?

Registering for Caraway is quick and easy. You can register on our website, or after you download the Caraway app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Sign-up takes 3 minutes or less!

Who does Caraway serve?

Caraway is currently available for people ages 18+ in California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

We embrace and provide care for people of all gender identities and expressions. We also specialize in the health of women and people assigned female at birth because they have been underserved by traditional healthcare. Focusing on an overlooked population helps us provide better care for everyone by avoiding the pitfalls, blind spots, and assumptions of traditional care models.

We are creating a new, accessible, innovative form of healthcare and do not tolerate racism, sexism, queer and transphobia, hateful language, or intolerance of any kind.

What makes Caraway different?

We believe the mind and body are one, which is why we use an integrated care model delivering mental and physical health simultaneously for better patient outcomes. We specifically use the evidence-based Collaborative Care model for our patients accessing mental health care. We also provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare services in an evidence-based manner.

The Care Team includes doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, therapists, coaches, health advisors, psychiatrists, and other clinicians who work closely together as one team. Whether you’re receiving therapy, getting support for new or ongoing conditions, coordinating in-person care, something else, or all of the above—you won’t have to explain yourself over and over again. And you’ll never waste your time trying to figure out what kind of appointment to book or what kind of doctor you need; all your care happens in one place through one connected team.

Can I access Caraway if I am under the age of 18?

No, we’re only available to those 18 and older.

Where is Caraway available?

Caraway is currently available in California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington with more states coming soon!

Services

Will Caraway work with my existing primary care doctor, and does it provide primary care?

We can do both! The Care Team can assess and treat many primary care concerns via virtual care. For those services we’re not able to provide virtually, we’ll offer referrals and care coordination. If you’ve got an established primary care doctor, we’re happy to coordinate with them to ensure your care history remains up-to-date and accurate.

When you sign up for Caraway, you can agree to Health Information Exchange Consent (HIE), which gives our Care Team permission to receive and share your medical records with your external providers. You can update this setting at any time in the Privacy Policy section of the app.

Who is the Caraway Care Team?

Our Care Team is made up of doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, therapists, and health advisors. When you chat with Caraway, you’re always chatting with a real person, never a bot!

The Care Team has expertise in gynecology, primary care, adolescent health, psychiatry, psychology, therapy, and social work. Our therapists are trained in evidence-based therapy modalities. The Care Team works as one integrated team to treat all of your needs in one place, and uses a Collaborative Care model to provide medication management for mental health conditions.

What sexual and reproductive health services does Caraway provide?

Our Care Team of gynecologists, doctors, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses provide care and support for the following sexual and reproductive health concerns:

  • Birth control counseling & prescriptions
  • Concerns about pain or pleasure during sex
  • Emergency contraception
  • Early pregnancy options counseling
  • Early pregnancy care guidance and navigation (up to 11 weeks)
  • Medication abortion
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing and treatment
  • Yeast infections and vaginal irritation
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Menstrual concerns
  • Postnatal care navigation and guidance

We are here to educate our patients and share evidence-based information on everything from STI testing to emergency contraception to abortion.  We will help you navigate the new barriers to care, state by state.

What physical health services does Caraway provide?

Caraway’s team of doctors, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses evaluate, treat, and provide care and support for many conditions, including (but not limited to):

  • Headaches and migraines
  • Acne, rashes, and other skin conditions
  • Stomach issues (constipation, chronic abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome)
  • Muscle aches/pains
  • Allergies
  • Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)s
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)s
  • Common Illnesses
    • Colds
    • Flus
    • Sinus and Ear Infections
    • Sore throat
    • Viruses
    • Pink eye
What mental health services does Caraway provide?

Caraway’s team of psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists provide care and support for health concerns, including but not limited to:

  • Feeling overwhelmed or stressed
  • Sadness / Grief / Loneliness
  • Trouble with relationships
  • Executive functioning skills (organization, time management, focus/attention, etc.)
  • Sleep Problems
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Health Anxiety
  • Medication management
  • Referrals for complex mental health concerns, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Caraway offers both therapy and coaching. Our coaching offering includes programs focused on mental wellness, as well as improving executive functioning skills. Our therapy model is goal-focused to help you develop tools you can use outside of therapy. We pull from various evidence-based practices that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and we emphasize building skills that will help you both in the short and long term. Our in-app MyPath tools allow you to practice the skills developed in therapy and/or coaching not only in times of stress, but also when things are not quite as stressful.

We are not prescribing controlled substances at this time, including benzodiazepines, opiates and stimulants.

What can I chat with the Care Team about?

Have you ever wondered if a headache was brought on by stress or your period (or both)? Felt lonely and unsure how to connect back to yourself or with others? Wished you could get quick answers from doctors instead of relying on Google? The Care Team is available and ready to answer any question, big or small. Don’t know where to start? Here are some questions other members have asked:

  • Is it normal to have irregular periods?
  • How can I access inexpensive birth control?
  • I feel lonely. Is that normal?
  • My acne is flaring up. What can I do about it?
  • Can we talk about PCOS?
  • Is a cold sore contagious?
  • I had unprotected sex. What do I do now?
  • What’s this rash?
  • I can’t sleep - help!
  • I've been feeling really anxious lately. What can I do?
  • How can I help a friend who doesn't seem OK?

You can ask us about headaches, stomach pain, sadness, medication, rashes—anything! If the Care Team can’t help via chat, we’ll initiate a phone/video visit immediately, set up a telehealth visit, and/or refer you to in-person care.

What about services I can’t get from Caraway?

For services we don't yet offer or that aren't possible to manage virtually, Caraway will help you find the right clinician, coordinate follow-up care and help understand insurance requirements, including:

  • Physical exams, sports physicals, and health clearance forms
  • Testosterone hormone therapy
  • New ADHD diagnoses
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Active eating disorders
  • Substance use disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • IUD and Implant placement and removal
  • In-clinic abortion services
  • Pregnancy and prenatal care after 11 weeks
  • Pap smears
If I can use student health services, why should I use Caraway?

Caraway is often available when and in ways that student health is not, whether because they’re closed or don’t have available appointments. Unlike student health, Caraway offers digital services, coordinates with other clinicians, and isn’t just for when you’re sick. Our team provides immediate access for answering health-related questions, managing symptoms, diagnosing and treating many conditions, and educational resources as you navigate your own care at college.

Unlike student health, we are also available after you leave college. If you start therapy, long-term care, or simply find a clinician you like, we will stay with you as you transition out of college and beyond.

How does Caraway provide care?

Caraway is a full-service virtual healthcare practice providing mental, physical, and reproductive health services via chat, as well as on-demand or scheduled phone and video appointments. We can answer any health-related question, prescribe medicine, order labs and blood work for you, coordinate with other clinicians, teach mental and reproductive health wellness skills, get STI test kits delivered to your address, and more. You can send us a chat through the Caraway app 24/7.

How are you addressing the unique needs of the LGBTQIA+ community?

At Caraway, we affirm all gender identities and expressions. We have primary care and mental health providers experienced in working with trans and gender non-conforming individuals, and we are able to offer a variety of healthcare services.

Currently, for individuals looking for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), we can prescribe estrogen and anti-androgens and offer menstrual suppression, but we are unable to prescribe testosterone due to federal restrictions. We can help coordinate referrals to experienced providers in your area for this and other services that require an in-person evaluation.

Does Caraway prescribe medicine and order labs?

Yes, our Care Team prescribes medicine and orders labs. You can have medications delivered to you or choose a preferred pharmacy for pick-up. For lab orders, the Care Team will send you to Quest Diagnostics, a different local lab, or send a test kit to your address where applicable.

Can I choose my clinician, or is my clinician assigned to me?

For ongoing care and for therapy, members can choose a specific clinician to work with based on scheduling and availability.

When you tap Chat Now in the app, you’ll be connected to an available Care Team member, who will work with you to determine the best path to address your health concern.

Privacy & health records

Do you share or sell my information?

No, we do not sell any of your information. We’ll only share your medical records with external providers if you decide to do so and have consented to the Health Exchange Information Consent.

How is Caraway protecting and ensuring my privacy?

We deeply value our role as a trusted care provider and follow all federal and state regulations, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Please see Caraway’s Privacy Policy for more.

Central to that promise is safeguarding the privacy of your personal information, and accordingly, there are two consents in the Caraway app. Included are Caraway’s Notice of Privacy Practices and Caraway’s Patient Service Agreement.

You’re also the only one who can decide if your information is shared with other clinicians. For this, there’s a third consent form in the Caraway app called the HIE (Health Information Exchange) consent.

If you want to delete your account, you may, but by law, we’ll need to save your medical record in our system. If you have questions about our privacy policies, you can chat with us directly in the app.

Membership & insurance

Do I need health insurance to use Caraway?

No, you don’t need health insurance to use Caraway. If you need prescriptions, labs, or in-person care, we’ll work with you to understand what your insurance covers. If you don’t have insurance, a health advisor will help you understand any costs you may incur.

Are there any additional costs outside of the membership fee?

All care you receive from Caraway is covered by your membership, including therapy sessions. There are no additional fees or copays.

Labs, in-person care, prescriptions, and other services you access outside of the app may require a copay based on your insurance. A Caraway health advisor will work with you to understand any charges you may incur before you are charged.

What does a membership include?

Caraway membership includes: unlimited chat with our Care Team; therapy and coaching; on-demand and scheduled visits; referrals for in-person care and follow-up coordination; insurance navigation; new prescriptions and refills; self-service digital care tools that teach mental health wellness skills; access to evidence-based health content; support in healthcare decision-making; STI screening kits delivered directly to you; and more.

How much is a membership?

We can tell you about how great Caraway is, how easy it is to use, and how we’ve created a healthcare experience that’s as dynamic as you are. But it doesn’t really matter what we say—the only way to know for sure is to dive in and experience Caraway for yourself.

Download the app, sign up, and you get free and immediate access to chat with our Care Team, explore our services, and learn how we can support the whole you—mind and body.

After that, you can select either a monthly or annual membership. The monthly membership is $45/month, and the annual membership is $270/year (a 50% discount!). You can cancel or update your membership at any time.

How does Caraway charge for its services?

Caraway charges a membership fee for its services. Membership includes full and unlimited access to all our services, including access to the Care Team and self-service tools to help you take control of your health.