<\/p>\n
Their platform is similar in many respects to other technology startups like NuggMD, so in this HelloMD review we’ll discuss what\u00a0makes the company\u00a0unique, and where they fall short compared to the competition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a brief background, the company has been around since 2014 and is certainly one of the first of its kind (you can find numerous questions about HelloMD on <\/span>Reddit<\/span><\/a> dating back before any other similar service), although recent reports suggest the company may already be facing some uphill battles.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This new service provides existing and soon-to-be patients with a community forum to find questions and answers related to medical marijuana. There, medical professionals as well as cannabis brands and patients alike can provide answers to questions posed by users. Not a bad idea, and it\u2019ll be interesting to see how well their forum-style approach serves cannabis patients. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n But for the sake of our HelloMD review, let\u2019s concentrate on the main service they provide, which is to help people become legal medical marijuana patients.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Besides the fact that HelloMD has its own app<\/span>\u00a0for iOS, their online evaluation process to get a doctor\u2019s recommendation is fairly standard and similar to all other online MMJ doctors. But, there are some differences.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Throughout this review article and as we walk you through how HelloMD works, we\u2019ll be comparing the service side-by-side with NuggMD, our own online platform which lets you get your medical cannabis recommendation and card in about 10 minutes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The HelloMD<\/span>\u00a0process begins simply by providing some basic personal information, most notably the address to which you\u2019d like your doctor\u2019s recommendation sent to. It\u2019s nice to note that the company offers a live-chat feature in the bottom-right of the screen, which you can click to initiate a conversation with one of their staff.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n NuggMD does the same, and while we\u2019ve yet to perform any extended tests to see which company produces faster response times during various hours of the day, it\u2019s safe to say that through both services you\u2019ll be able to get quick answers to your questions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n During the second step, you\u2019re asked to fill out a brief medical questionnaire, which will help inform the doctor why you\u2019re seeking an evaluation for cannabis. While the questionnaire lists only a limited number of conditions (those expressly defined by California\u2019s <\/span>Proposition 215<\/span><\/a>), there is an additional \u201cOther Condition\u201d option.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note here that selecting \u201cOther Condition\u201d is perfectly alright, and shouldn\u2019t decrease your chances of being approved for medical marijuana on <\/span>HelloMD<\/span><\/a> or NuggMD, as even the co-authors of Prop 215 have been quoted saying that the language used in the law was made to be \u201cdeliberately liberal,\u201d such that anyone in California would be able to gain access to medical cannabis for \u201cany condition or symptom for which marijuana might provide relief.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After providing some information about your condition (a detailed explanation is required, and you won\u2019t be able to continue without providing one), HelloMD extends the process to include questions about your family\u2019s medical history and substance abuse (if any). <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In comparison, NuggMD gives you the <\/span>option<\/span><\/i> to provide detailed information about your condition, but doesn\u2019t require it, as we believe this information is something that should be kept completely private between you and the doctor if you so wish.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After completing the medical questionnaire, you\u2019re asked to either upload or take a photo of your face, which will be used for your medical marijuana ID card. The card itself is simply a smaller, wallet-sized representation of your doctor\u2019s recommendation and, while it\u2019s convenient for repeat dispensary visits, it\u2019s actually NOT accepted for the first time you visit most dispensaries. Instead, you\u2019ll have to present the official paper copy of your recommendation which comes with an embossed seal.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After uploading a photo of your face, you\u2019re asked to upload a photo ID (to verify that you meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old). For both HelloMD and NuggMD, this can be a driver’s license or Passport, and both services offer the option of uploading the photo for you if you\u2019re having trouble uploading it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Also the same for both services is the fact that HelloMD will allow you to get your recommendation even if you\u2019re from out of state. Since we were only able to test the service from California, we\u2019re unsure whether they mail recommendations out of state, or require that it be delivered to an in-state address, given that the recommendation is only valid for use within California. With NuggMD, you can rest easy knowing that we can send your recommendation to any U.S. address. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After uploading photos of yourself and your identification, HelloMD takes you to the final payment screen, where you\u2019re asked to enter your credit card information.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By contrast, NuggMD will take you to an additional \u201cChoose Your Package\u201d screen, where you\u2019ll be asked to select from three package options, either selecting just a recommendation letter, a recommendation + ID card, or a grower\u2019s recommendation, which grants you the ability to grow up to 99 plants (not offered by HelloMD).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Both services use a secure payment processor that accept Visa, Discover, and Mastercard for payment, so you should never worry about your credit information being tampered with.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n One major apparent difference between the two services is that while HelloMD charges you outright $49 for the consultation regardless of being approved or not, NuggMD doesn\u2019t actually charge your card unless approved by the doctor for medical cannabis, and if you are denied, the consultation is 100% free.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So for those with any inkling of doubt that they might be denied for medical cannabis, NuggMD may be the preferable option.\u00a0<\/span>Another significant difference is the price itself. While HelloMD charges $49 for a doctor\u2019s recommendation and ID card, NuggMD charges just $49 for a doctor\u2019s recommendation.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve submitted your payment information, you\u2019re entered into an online queue, after which you\u2019ll receive a video call from the doctor. While each service uses different video platforms to deliver their consultations, the process is quite the same. Once face-to-face with a doctor, you\u2019re asked about your medical condition and the information you provided in your medical questionnaire.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The doctor may take the time to ask you additional questions about your condition, but mostly he\u2019ll seek to explain how cannabis should be appropriately used as a treatment for your condition or symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of course, if you have specific questions yourself, we\u2019ve found all HelloMD doctors to be very helpful and knowledgeable on the medicinal uses of cannabis for a variety of conditions, just as you\u2019d expect when speaking with a doctor from NuggMD. After consulting with the doctor, you\u2019ll be approved and can expect your recommendation and ID card to arrive in the mail after just a few days. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Additionally, you can expect to receive an electronic copy of your recommendation pretty much immediately after you\u2019re approved, which in some instances will allow you to purchase cannabis the same-day!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n With the temporary electronic copy, you\u2019re able to order delivery online from sites like Getnugg.com, OR you can try printing the e-recommendation out and using it to walk into a dispensary storefront. If you opt for the latter method, we highly recommend you call ahead to the dispensary to confirm they\u2019ll accept your temporary recommendation!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When turning to online reviews to determine the quality of service provided by HelloMD, one will find nothing but positive remarks. The company even advertises on its site that they\u2019re the \u201c#1 ranked company in Health & Wellness\u201d on <\/span>TrustPilot<\/span><\/a>, where indeed they have upwards of 3,000 reviews that are overwhelmingly positive.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n While HelloMD\u2019s ratings across the board are very high (and thus suggest it is a service you can trust), the only site we could find reviews on was TrustPilot, and scattered remarks on the various Reddit threads mentioning the company. It seems that HelloMD does not have a Yelp page. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yes, and no. While online customer reviews do reveal that promo codes exist for HelloMD, they\u2019re only attainable by finding a dispensary with which HelloMD has partnered with. Unfortunately the company doesn\u2019t provide a list of dispensaries with which they\u2019ve partnered, and so we weren\u2019t able to find a discount code to recommend you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, after getting your recommendation through HelloMD, you can expect deals and coupons for different dispensaries and products to be sent to you via email. While some patients have complained that the number and frequency of emails received from the company is excessive, it\u2019s hard to argue with discounts and bargains.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Having discount coupons at all is a leg-up over our own service, although since NuggMD\u2019s starting price point is $10 below that of HelloMD, our service still remains the cheapest online option for most people.\u00a0<\/span>However, each patient who completes their evaluation through NuggMD receives a $20 free credit to order delivery online through <\/span>Getnugg.com<\/span><\/a>, which if you count the credit as savings, the total price of a NuggMD recommendation is brought down to just $19!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Frankly, HelloMD has been proven time and time again to have incredible service, knowledgeable doctors, and even touts an online community forum where patients can get both simple and highly technical, condition-related questions answered by doctors, brands, and a group of cannabis-consuming peers. There\u2019s almost no doubt that you can\u2019t go wrong getting your medical marijuana card through HelloMD.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BUT if you want the cheapest online price, the same high-quality service and consultations with friendly and knowledgeable doctors, plus an instant plug (with a free $20 credit) to order cannabis delivery online after getting your recommendation, NuggMD is the option for you. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat you'll learn in this post:<\/h2>\n
\n
About HelloMD\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Getting a HelloMD Doctor’s Recommendation Online<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Step 1: Signup<\/h3>\n
Step 2: Fill out a Medical Questionnaire<\/h3>\n
Step 3: Upload a Photo<\/h3>\n
Step 4: Upload an Identification<\/h3>\n
Step 5: Provide Payment Information<\/h3>\n
Step 6: Have a Telehealth Consultation with a Doctor<\/h3>\n
![\"HelloMD](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/HelloMD-Discount-Codes.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHelloMD Customer Reviews<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"HelloMD](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/HelloMD-Reddit-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nAny HelloMD Promo Codes, Discounts, or Referral Bonuses?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Is There a Better Option?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"HelloMD](\"https:\/\/getnugg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/HelloMD-Renewal-1024x683.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"