What kind of health indicators can I expect to get from the free blood tests?

The free blood tests include basic health indicators such as blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and liver function tests.

How do I schedule an appointment with a doctor?

You can schedule an appointment with a doctor through the SberZdravie app or website. Simply select a time and date that works for you, and you'll be notified when the appointment is confirmed.

What if I have a question or concern about my health?

You can contact the customer support team through the SberZdravie app or website, or by calling their hotline. They'll be happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.

Can I cancel my subscription if I'm not satisfied?

Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time. Simply log in to your account and follow the instructions to cancel your subscription.

How much does the subscription fee cost?

The subscription fee is 2,700 rubles per year.

What kind of services can I expect from the online consultations?

The online consultations with doctors include advice on health and wellness, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, and referrals to specialists if needed.

How do I access my health records?

You can access your health records through the SberZdravie app or website. Simply log in to your account and select the 'Health Records' option.

Can I share my health records with my doctor?

Yes, you can share your health records with your doctor through the SberZdravie app or website.

How do I contact the customer support team?

You can contact the customer support team through the SberZdravie app or website, or by calling their hotline.

SberZdravie Review: Is it Worth the Cost?

I've got a love-hate relationship with SberZdravie, to say the least. There's even a video about how it's got Bonnie and Clyde in a daze, and they end up owing this bank money after 'robbing' it.

I've been with Sber for over 20 years now. In that time, they've managed to sell me their products four times. Two of them I never even got (I lost money on one of them, too).

The third product was a parallel one. I didn't owe anyone anything, it was just some paperwork...

But the fourth product they sold me a year ago. I went in to discuss a savings account, and I left with a SberZdravie subscription.

I'm not one of those people who does annual check-ups or asks a million questions online to doctors (I've only done it three times in my life)...

And I didn't need this subscription... However, I called my mom while they were trying to sell it to me and we decided to go for it. The free blood test with basic health indicators really caught our attention.

That's what sealed the deal. I figured the cost of the blood tests would cover the 2,700-ruble subscription fee (they call it the 'Corobka').

SberZdravie Corobka)

So, here's what I got:

Free check-up 10 free consultations with a therapist 24/7 2 free consultations with a specialist of your choice

Package contents

On top of that, the package lets you get lab tests with a 25% discount, and book appointments with doctors.

Lab test discount I didn't use these features, though, since in-person appointments take place in specific clinics (mostly super pricey ones) and the cost is the same as usual if you book directly with the clinic, not through SberZdorovye.

I might consider the lab test discount, though - maybe next year.

Getting started

I hadn't even thought about my subscription for half a year, but as the deadline approached, my inner voice started nagging me.

I mean, I paid for this, right?

First, I tried reaching out to the therapist. And I needed to come up with a reason for it, too - just casually dropping by wasn't an option.

This summer, I got a couple of reasons to do so, including a chemical burn. I was pretty sure I knew what caused it, but I decided to see how the consultation would go and what the doctor would say.

You can choose from three consultation formats: chat, audio, or video call.

I went with the chat. I briefly described my issue and sent some photos.

I started by telling the doctor my symptoms. Then, I shared where I'd been and what I'd been doing. It turned out I'd been walking near some bittercress.

I was satisfied with the diagnosis and recommendations. Everything was pretty professional and easy to understand. Although, I didn't end up taking the prescribed medication.

At the end of the conclusion, in a gray font, it said that I still needed to consult with my actual doctor. It kind of made me feel like the online service was just for a rough diagnosis and temporary prescriptions... Like, we're not responsible or something... So, why even use it?

Conclusion and recommendations. Notice the text in gray! I wanted to consult about my daughter, but it turned out that my package only included a consultation for me personally. Family members weren't covered... I needed to consult a pediatrician - pay 2500 and sleep tight.

I ended up consulting about myself.

FREE CHECKUP

After some time, I finally decided to get a blood test. In my personal account, I couldn't find the list of parameters that would be included in the analysis. I mean, I found it, but only after I'd already submitted the test.

The list is actually located on the 'My Products' page and then 'More about the product'.

The details are all laid out under this button

The incoming checkup analyses I signed up for a blood test at the nearest Invitro lab (in Moscow, you can also choose from GemoTest, KDL, Helix, or Citilab).

After confirming my appointment, I could visit the lab any day within 14 days. The website said I needed to bring my passport, but no one asked for it.

The entire list of analyses, including the blood draw, was completely free!

I could also add extra tests if I wanted to - for example, they offered vitamin D, but I declined and added a ferritin test instead (for an extra fee). The good news is that the blood draw itself remained free, even with the extra tests.

The analyses from the checkup are saved in your personal account. Anything I paid extra for isn't recorded here, though. The results arrived the next day, and I was in for a couple of surprises.

First of all, I was pleasantly surprised by the huge list of parameters (I was expecting some bare minimum in terms of biochemistry, and that's it). But here I got bilirubin, and all cholesterol, and a complete white blood cell count with sedimentation rate.

When I looked at the cost of running all these tests without a subscription, it turned out they'd be almost 10,000 rubles! And that was a major relief... The subscription had paid for itself threefold!

Cost of all incoming tests

Total without the package ❌Secondly, I was unpleasantly surprised to find out that my test results weren't exactly perfect... I turned out to have elevated bad cholesterol...

CONSULTATIONS

And that's when I needed the free consultations with a therapist, of which I had 8 left in my package.

I consulted with a therapist about my test results and got recommendations on how to deal with elevated cholesterol (I'll be sharing more about that in another review).

What I can say about consultations with a therapist.

✔️You don't need to schedule anything. If you need a consultation, you just click a button and get connected to a chat. The therapist joins within one minute, 24/7.

On-Call Doctor One thing that bugged me was the inability to choose a specialist. Any available doctor gets connected for the consultation.

But, I did get two free online consultations with specialists in my package. The list of specialists is pretty long - from allergists-immunologists to endocrinologists and gynecologists.

The list includes both free and paid specialists. Here, I had the option to choose a specialist, read reviews about them, and check their education, work experience, and areas of expertise.

Specialist's card

Remember, specialists in the same field may have different areas of focus. One thing to note is that the waiting times for different specialists vary greatly - from a few hours to over a week.

I've had to book appointments with specialists, and most of the time, they're available within a few days.

However, there are some doctors who can book appointments a week in advance or even longer.

If you're short on time, you can also pay 500 rubles for a consultation, but you'll have to wait 24 hours for a response - I think booking an appointment is faster and more reliable. I've also used the specialist service, since it's available. On the day of the consultation, you can log in to the chat and describe the issue or problem beforehand. You can also reschedule or cancel the appointment if needed.

Less than two minutes before the consultation starts, you can already write your question.

You can also reschedule or cancel the appointment before it starts. There's also a countdown timer in the chat (until the consultation starts). After it begins, the doctor will join within 1-3 minutes.

I was waiting... and minutes ticked away during the consultation... The doctor connects within 1-3 minutes after starting the consultation

Consultation nuances

I chose chat for all consultations, as I always get anxious about contacting a doctor, and I might start zoning out and miss something important. When the doctor writes in the chat, it's easier for me to understand what they're saying.

✔️Another advantage of chat (compared to audio and video calls) is that if the connection is bad, I don't have to strain my ears and ask for repeats. Plus, personal questions can be discussed in the chat at any time (not just at home).

❌But there are some downsides to the chat format - both the doctor and I have to type a lot, which takes time, and that means we can discuss fewer questions in the same 30 minutes.

✔️However, since I type quickly, it's not a problem for me. Doctors also type pretty fast.

❗You only get 30 minutes for the consultation. If time runs out, the doctor apologizes and disconnects from the chat.

With one specialist, I consulted in audio format (the doctor suggested it, and I couldn't say no).

✅ I've gotta say, the audio format works great for home use too. After my chat consultation, I found short clips of our conversation that the doctor left for me.

✅I also get a doctor's conclusion, recommendations, and appointments sent to my inbox after each consultation for a few days.

My appointment history keeps all my appointments on record.

My consultation history Every consultation starts with gathering my medical history. The doctor checks my profile to see if my info is up to date, and then we dive into specific questions about my health issues. Like, if I have any family history of certain conditions. When the doctor asks a ton of questions about cancer, heart attacks, or blood in my stool, I have to admit, it can be a bit nerve-wracking... but that's just for sensitive souls like me

✔️In every consultation, the doctors ask follow-up questions (tons of them) to get an accurate diagnosis or prescribe the right treatment.

TRUST, BUT VERIFY

As you know, different doctors might have completely different approaches to treatment and recommendations.

I usually go with the 'trust, but verify' approach.

✖️For example, I consulted with a Sberzdorov therapist about my ferritin levels. The doctor said they were super low and prescribed me to take strong meds to boost my iron levels.

✔️I'm not a fan of taking strong meds without a solid reason, so I reached out to a friend who's a doctor about my ferritin levels. They told me I'm good to go

🤔The same story went with my blood pressure. The cardiologist at SberHealth prescribed me some meds right away, while our family doctor said my readings are totally fine as long as I feel okay.

I'll write a separate review about my high cholesterol. In this case, the doctors' opinions were all over the place... And two different SberHealth doctors gave me completely different prescriptions

So, I'd say if you've got a doctor you trust, stick with them and follow their advice rather than taking the first telemedicine doc you come across.

THE VERDICT

Overall, the bundled package caught my attention. I was thinking of canceling or not renewing, but I just found out that the price is the same as before, but the package contents have changed.

✔️The number of consultations with the therapist has increased (I think it's 20 or unlimited now, to be honest), and instead of two specialist consultations, I get four now.

✖️However, they got rid of the free check-up. Now I've got to pay an extra 1700+ rubles on top of the 2700 rubles for the 'free' check-up. Okay, 1700 is not 10K, but still...

In my opinion, the package is less worth it, so I've decided to stick with my current package and cancel the auto-renewal ✔️

Just like in my package, you can also add other specific options to the new package - from pediatric consultations to unlimited consultations with a vet. You can choose check-ups for various tests, consultations with different doctors, and so on.

Paid Services Catalog And even more paid services to suit every taste and budget If I'm being honest, there's barely anything free here. Is it worth it? Maybe. It depends on how many people you're planning to see and what you need. And honestly, do you really trust it or should you check it out?

Deciding whether to recommend SberZdorov'e or not is a tough question. Everyone should make their own decision based on their needs. In general, blood tests can be done for free with a referral from your therapist at a regular clinic. And consultations - sometimes you need them, sometimes you don't. I used only 5 out of 10 possible services, and even then, it was with a lot of hesitation. Most of the time, I consulted not because I needed a consultation, but because it was an option.

But the constant referral to your primary doctor, in my opinion, puts all the dots in place. That's who you should go to (of course, if you trust them). And collecting opinions from different doctors... Well, that's just a hobby.

For those who care about their health, I recommend checking out my profile 👉 HERE

Water Therapy Check it out here