Hey there, fellow allergy sufferers! If you‘re anything like me, you‘ve probably tried every over-the-counter medication and old wives‘ tale out there to keep your seasonal sniffles and itchy eyes at bay. But what if I told you there was a way to get targeted treatment prescribed by a real doctor and delivered right to your door? Enter Picnic Allergy.
Picnic is an online allergy clinic that offers customized treatment plans based on your specific symptoms and medical history. As someone who‘s dealt with allergic rhinitis for years, I decided to give Picnic a try. In this post, I‘ll share my honest experience with their service and compare it to the traditional route of in-person doctor visits and pharmacy pickups.
What is Picnic Allergy?
Picnic is a telehealth startup that launched in 2021 with the goal of making personalized allergy care more accessible and convenient. Their platform connects patients with licensed doctors who specialize in treating allergic rhinitis (aka hay fever).
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, Picnic tailors your treatment plan to your unique needs based on a detailed online assessment. If prescription meds are recommended, they‘ll ship them straight to your home with automatic refills.
Why I Decided to Try Picnic
Before I get into my experience, let‘s talk about why I even considered Picnic in the first place. According to the CDC, nearly 8% of adults in the US suffered from hay fever in 2020. That‘s more than 19 million people!
Allergic rhinitis is more than just a nuisance – it can have a serious impact on quality of life. One recent study found that patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms reported significant impairments in sleep, daily activities, and productivity at work.
I‘ve been one of those 19 million for as long as I can remember. Every spring, I dread the arrival of pollen season and stock up on Claritin and Kleenex. But even with OTC meds, I still struggled with sneezing fits, brain fog, and the characteristic red eyes.
The idea of getting personalized treatment without the hassle of going to the doctor was definitely appealing. I was also curious about trying prescription options that might be more effective than my trusty Claritin and nasal sprays.
Taking the Picnic Allergy Assessment
The first step to getting started with Picnic is to take their online quiz. The assessment asks about your specific symptoms, when they tend to occur, any medications you‘ve tried, and some general health information.
I liked that the quiz was quick but comprehensive – it only took me about 5 minutes but covered all the key points my doctor would ask about. The interface was user-friendly with helpful explainer notes along the way.
At the end of the assessment, Picnic generated a preliminary treatment plan that included an oral antihistamine, a prescription nasal spray, and some tips for reducing allergens in my home.
Virtual Doctor Consultation
The next step was a virtual consultation with one of Picnic‘s affiliated doctors to go over my assessment results and treatment plan. I was able to schedule my appointment directly through the website for the next day.
On the day of my consult, I received a text reminder and logged on to the secure video chat. The doctor had already reviewed my quiz results, so we were able to jump right into discussing my symptoms and medical history.
The doctor was friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to address all of my questions about the recommended medications. We decided to go ahead with the original treatment plan of levocetirizine tablets and azelastine nasal spray.
The whole consult took less than 15 minutes and felt just as thorough as an in-person visit. Plus, I was able to do it from the comfort of my couch!
Receiving My Picnic Treatment Plan
Two days after my consult, a discreet package from Picnic arrived with a 3-month supply of levocetirizine and 1-month supply of azelastine spray. The box also included detailed instructions on when and how to take each medication.
Picnic offers free shipping on all orders (although they do charge $3 for processing) and will automatically ship your refills so you never run out. They also have a responsive customer support team available by phone, chat, or email.
Picnic Pricing and Insurance
So how much does all of this personalized allergy care cost? Picnic‘s pricing is transparent and straightforward, with no hidden fees or surprises.
Levocetirizine tablets start at $10/month for a 30-day supply or $22.50 for a 90-day supply. Azelastine spray is $22 for a 30-day supply or $49.50 for 90 days. These prices include the cost of the doctor‘s consultation and prescription.
Picnic doesn‘t accept insurance, but their prices are in line with many copay amounts. They do accept HSA/FSA payments for prescriptions.
While paying out of pocket might be a downside for some, I personally didn‘t mind since my allergist copay was $50 anyway. The convenience of not having to take time off work or wait in a pharmacy line was worth it to me.
Comparing Picnic to Traditional Allergy Care
To give you a better idea of how Picnic stacks up, here‘s a quick comparison table:
| Picnic Allergy Care | Traditional Allergy Care | |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation format | Virtual video chat | In-person office visit |
| Consultation cost | Included in medication price | Separate copay or out-of-pocket cost |
| Medication access | Delivered to your home | Pick up at pharmacy |
| Automatic refills | Yes | No, must request each time |
| Ongoing support | Unlimited follow-ups with doctor | Limited to appointment availability |
| Education & resources | Detailed articles on website | Varies by provider |
| Insurance accepted | No, but HSA/FSA eligible | Yes, subject to plan terms |
The main advantage of Picnic is the convenience and personalized approach. Being able to do everything from home and have medications shipped directly saved me so much time and headache. I also appreciated having the peace of mind of unlimited message check-ins with my doctor.
The potential downsides are cost (if you have very generous insurance) and lack of in-person examination for more complex allergies. But for uncomplicated hay fever, I found Picnic to be a great fit.
Real User Reviews
Don‘t just take my word for it – Picnic has glowing reviews from real customers on sites like Innerbody Research and their own social media pages. Here are a few highlights:
"I‘ve had bad allergies my entire adult life and nothing seemed to help. I‘ve been using Picnic for a few months now and can breathe so much better! Game changer." – Rachel D.
"The doctor listened to all my concerns and came up with a plan that is FINALLY working after years of suffering. The fact that I can message her anytime with questions is amazing. Highly recommend!" – Kai R.
"Picnic has been such a great find! No more waiting forever for an appointment with an allergist. And the Rx nasal spray is way more effective than anything I‘ve tried from the drugstore!" – Jenna M.
Key Takeaways
To sum it all up, here are my main thoughts on Picnic Allergy:
Pros:
- Super convenient way to get personalized treatment
- Affordable pricing, even without insurance
- Responsive doctors and support team
- Helpful educational resources
- Auto-refills and free shipping
Cons:
- Doesn‘t take insurance (but HSA/FSA eligible)
- No in-person exam for more complex cases
- $3 per order processing fee
Overall, I‘ve been really happy with my experience using Picnic to get my seasonal allergies under control. The levocetirizine and azelastine combo has made such a difference for my congestion and itchy eyes, and the process couldn‘t have been easier.
If you struggle with pollen and mold allergies like I do, I would definitely encourage you to at least take the free assessment and see what Picnic‘s doctors recommend for you.
Spring should be about getting outside and enjoying the warmer weather, not holing up inside with a box of tissues. Take it from someone who‘s now breathing free – Picnic might just be the allergy solution you‘ve been searching for.
