A health app may offer to gather your records, track symptoms, or explain a test result. Before you connect it to a patient portal or Medicare account, find out who runs the app and what it will do with your information.
A recent report raised questions about how some health apps reach users and get access to records. That makes a short check useful before you share anything. You can take your time and ask your clinician or a trusted family member to review the choice with you.
Input
Name the app you are considering
Use the exact name shown in the app store or on the company's website.
Find out who operates the app
Look for the company name on the app's store page and its own website. If you cannot tell who is responsible for the service, pause before entering health details or connecting an account.
A listing in an app store, or a mention on a government website, does not answer every question about how a service handles your records. Medicare's connected-app directory describes which apps it lists and what access those apps request. Check the directory itself rather than relying on an ad or a search result.
Check what the connection allows
If you link an app to a patient portal or Medicare account, review the permission screen before you approve it. Check which kinds of information the app can read, such as claims, medications, test results, or visit records. The details vary by app.
Ask whether access continues until you turn it off, and where to remove the connection. Medicare says you can stop sharing access to connected apps. For other apps, use the account or privacy settings and contact the company if the instructions are unclear.
Walk into your visit ready to cover what changed.
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Collect recent changes and your main goal before an annual or follow-up visit.
Checklist
Check these before you sign up
Save the questions that you want answered about this app.
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Timeline
Decide in three steps
Work through the decision before sharing your records.
Write down which records the app can access and what the company says it will do with them.
Contact the app company or ask your health care provider how the connection works.
Keep the account settings or support contact where you can find them later.
Checklist
Questions to answer in the policy
If you cannot find an answer, ask the company before sharing records.
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Keep the questions and checks you completed before sharing health information.
Read the privacy policy in plain terms
Look for the sections that explain what information the app collects, why it needs that information, and whether it shares information with other companies. Also check how long information stays in the service and what happens when you close your account.
The word HIPAA can be reassuring, but it does not cover every health app. Federal health privacy rules generally cover health plans, most health care providers, and companies working for them. In many cases, information you put into a personal app is outside those rules unless the app is acting for a covered organization. Read the app's own terms and ask who protects the data after it leaves your provider.
Treat app answers as a starting point
An app can help organize records and prepare questions. It cannot replace a clinician who knows your health history. Medicare warns that AI apps can make mistakes or leave out important information, so confirm new symptoms, treatment decisions, and urgent concerns with a health care provider.
If you decide to try the app, start with the least access it needs. Keep a copy of important information in your patient portal or personal records, and review the connection again if the app changes its terms or stops being useful.
Common questions
Does HIPAA protect the information I enter into a health app?
Sometimes, but not always. HIPAA generally applies to health plans, most health care providers, and companies that work for them. In many cases, an app you choose for personal use is not covered by HIPAA unless it is acting for a covered organization. Read the app's privacy policy and ask who is responsible for information after it leaves your provider.
Can I disconnect a health app from Medicare?
Medicare says you can stop sharing access to your Medicare information with a connected app. Check the app's account settings and Medicare's connected-app information for the current steps. For an app that is not connected through Medicare, contact the app company and ask how to end access and close your account.
Can I rely on an AI health app to make a medical decision?
Use it to organize information or prepare questions. Medicare warns that AI tools can make mistakes or give incomplete information. Confirm medical decisions, new symptoms, and urgent concerns with a health care provider who knows your situation.
