Manage Your Health and Navigate COVID-19 With These 8 Apps

The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot about day-to-day life, including how we access medical care. As the outbreak has grown, so have the number of medical resources at our fingertips. Using apps is one such method for managing your care if you think you have COVID-19, or any other health issues, for that matter. Here are eight that we recommend.

Apple COVID-19

The Apple COVID-19 app provides users with information about COVID-19 plus stay-healthy recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other trusted sources. The screening tool can help you determine if you're at a higher risk of contracting the virus, and it also provides information on how to get tested and what steps to take if you think you have COVID-19. (Free; available on iOS)

Healthlynked

The Healthlynked app allows you to build a patient profile where you can access your medical records and find nearby providers. After uploading your medical data into the app, you can send your records to a doctor. This app is especially handy if you need to visit a doctor while traveling and don't have time to dig up all of your medical paperwork. You can also search for doctors by specialization and location, but you need to contact the physician's office to determine if your insurance plan is accepted. All featured doctors are connected to the Healthlynked app. (Free; available on iOS and Android)

Health Tap

If you think you may have COVID-19, the last thing you want to do is infect other people. The Health Tap app gives you 24/7 access to doctors via text, phone, or video calls, so you don't have to make a trip to the doctor's office. Health Tap virtual doctors can fill prescriptions, order lab tests, and refer you to specialists, all from your phone. While the app does not accept insurance, users can buy unlimited virtual doctor visits for $119 per year. (Free to download with in-app purchases; available on iOS and Android)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The best place to get accurate information about COVID-19 or other illnesses is the CDC. Stay informed with the app's constantly updated news feed and resources such as podcasts and videos. The app also features infographics and maps to help you understand the science behind COVID-19, its associated symptoms, and how it's spread. (Free to download with in-app purchases; available on iOS and Android)

COVID-19!

The COVID-19! app provides colorful maps and graphics about COVID-19 outbreak information, including up-to-date maps that pinpoint the areas where the infection has spread—allowing you to easily see how the virus is affecting your area. A regularly updated newsfeed pulls in the latest news articles on the coronavirus and a "help" section walks you through the steps to take if you think you are infected. (Free; available on iOS and Android)

MyChart

MyChart keeps your medical information all in one place. The app lets you view test results, request medications, review immunization history, and access other personal health information. You can use it to schedule appointments and pay medical bills, too. (Free; available on iOS and Android)

Corona Checker by Open Med

The Corona Checker app is an extension of the Open Med app. It takes you through an AI-directed chat to determine if you qualify for a COVID-19 test. If your symptoms fit the CDC's criteria for getting tested, a lab in the Open Med network will prepare and send a test request form to your doctor. (Note: you must have a preexisting Open Med account.) Once your doctor has signed off on the test request, the lab will send a test kit directly to you. After you take the kit to your doctor to administer, mail the sample to the Open Med lab via overnight shipping. The lab will send the test results to your doctor and your Open Med profile. (Free; available on iOS)

The US government will mail as many as 16 free at-home tests directly to your mailbox if you request them online. The Corona Checker is useful if you've already used your allotted number of household tests.

Teledoc

The Teledoc app lets you manage your own and your family's health information all in one place while connecting you to board-certified physicians through text, phone, and video calls. Available practitioners can diagnose and prescribe medication over the phone for common conditions including allergies and respiratory infections, such as COVID-19 and flu. The app accepts some insurance and recommends contacting your provider to see if you are covered. (Free; available on iOS and Android)

The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.