Best Buy Health recently launched Everyday Support for Caregivers. This subscription service bundles several platforms that Best Buy Health deems beneficial for caregivers and the loved ones under their care.
If you are like me, you are surprised to hear that the big box store that sells computers, televisions, appliances, and most anything in the home entertainment segment has a health care company. Started in 2018, Best Buy Health began with the $800 million acquisition of Great Call - a provider of simplified cell phones, connected health devices, and emergency response services for older adults. The following year, Best Buy Health purchased senior remote monitoring company Critical Signal Technologies for an undisclosed amount. In 2021, the company expanded further by acquiring the United Kingdom-based at-home care platform Current Health for $400 million.
Back in 2019, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry stated that the company would continue “looking into additional adjacent categories of healthcare that will leverage the retailer’s ability to commercialize new technology, building on its plan to rapidly scale its healthcare segment.” Simply put, Best Buy’s healthcare investments have consistently focused on the intersection between technology and care for aging adults.
What is Included in the Everyday Support for Caregivers Subscription?
Care Coordination & Support (via Wellthy)
Dedicated Care Coordinator: Provides 1:1 support
Navigation Assistance: Helps guide medical, legal, financial, housing, and long-term planning decisions related to aging.
Task Coordination: Assists with scheduling appointments, paperwork, insurance, transportation, in-home safety modifications, and meal delivery
Peer Community: Access to an online community to connect with other caregivers who understand what you’re going through
Secure Platform: Offers the option to invite family members, so everyone stays organized and informed
Resources, Tools & Savings (via AARP)
Everyday Discounts: Savings on prescriptions, insurance, glasses, gas, and more.
Standard Benefits: Includes AARP The Magazine, travel discounts and guides, health resources, and local restaurant and entertainment coupons.
Delivery Services (via Instacart)
Fresh Funds Credit: $50 credit for groceries and essentials.
Premium Membership: New members receive one full year of Instacart+ (which includes $0 delivery fees on orders over $35).
Local Delivery: Groceries and household goods delivered directly from nearby stores.
New York Times Cooking Access: Complimentary access to The New York Times Cooking platform for daily recipes and meal inspiration.
Online Protection (via Norton)
Device Security: Antivirus, malware, and ransomware protection for up to three devices.
Scam Defense: Active protection across phone calls, text messages, emails, and websites.
AI Assistant: A digital assistant designed to identify scams and answer cyber safety questions.
Dark Web Monitoring: Automated alerts if your personal information is exposed online.
Credential Manager: A secure password manager with an encrypted digital vault.
Is Everyday Support for Caregivers A Good Deal?
Comparing the cost of the individual services included in Everyday Support for Caregivers is straightforward, with the lone exception of the care coordination services provided by Wellthy. If you were to pay out of pocket for Wellthy, the retail cost sits at $475 per month ($400 per month with a three month contract). Because of this massive discrepancy, I suspect Wellthy has created a scaled-back services package for Everyday Support for Caregivers. (I contacted Wellthy for clarification, and I have not received a response.)
Outside of Wellthy, the baseline retail costs for the other platforms break down as follows:
A digital membership to AARP is $20 per year ($15 for the first year).
An Instacart+ membership is $99 per year.
Norton Plus costs $94.99 per year ($39.99 for the first year)
Simply looking at the math, the $99 annual cost for Everyday Support for Caregivers offers substantial savings compared to buying the services separately. However, I have two concerns:
Do you really need all the included services?
How quickly will Best Buy Health increase the annual fee?
Everyday Support for Caregivers advertises the $99 per year subscription as a “limited time offer”. The membership auto-renews and the fine print of the agreement states, “We reserve the right to change these Terms or the price of the subscription at any time upon 30 days’ notice to you.”
For many years, either personally or through our former construction company, Linda and I have been Instacart+ subscribers. Their delivery service is efficient and affordable for anyone physically unable to go to a store to purchase groceries, pet supplies, and even home repair products. For seniors and active caregivers, I believe there is tremendous value with an Instatcart+ subscription. Hopefully, the cost and service stability will remain intact if Instacart is eventually acquired by a larger delivery company like DoorDash or Uber.
Ultimately, I remain skeptical of the actual caregiving value provided by AARP, Wellthy, and Norton segments included in this bundle. While the Everyday Support for Caregivers package may not fit every family, other standalone tech solutions offered by Best Buy Health continue to be highly beneficial to seniors and the families caring for them.
I have not been compensated by Best Buy Health or any of the individual services providers discussed in this article.
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