Terms of Service

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of the Tickortreat telehealth service and website at tickortreat.com, operated by Tickortreat LLC (“Tickortreat,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By using our service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our service.

1. Our service

Tickortreat provides asynchronous telehealth evaluations for patients who have been bitten by a tick. Our licensed clinicians review patient-submitted information and, when clinically appropriate, prescribe doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis following a high-risk tick bite. Prescriptions are sent electronically to the patient’s preferred pharmacy.

Tickortreat is a management services organization. Medical services are provided by independently owned and operated professional corporations staffed by licensed healthcare providers. Tickortreat itself does not practice medicine, diagnose conditions, or prescribe medications.

2. What we do not provide

Tickortreat is a prophylaxis service. We do not diagnose or treat active Lyme disease, erythema migrans (the bullseye rash), or any other established infection. We do not evaluate or treat other tick-borne illnesses, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever or alpha-gal syndrome. We do not provide laboratory testing of any kind, including testing of ticks.

If you have symptoms, if you are outside the window for prophylaxis, or if your situation requires physical examination, our clinicians will tell you so and direct you toward appropriate care.

3. Not emergency care

Tickortreat is not an emergency service. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, including difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe allergic reaction, or any life-threatening condition, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. Do not use Tickortreat for emergencies.

4. Eligibility

To use Tickortreat, you must:

• Be physically located, at the time of your visit, in a state where Tickortreat is authorized to provide services. Our planned launch area is Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut, with New York pending regulatory authorization. The current list of states is shown at the point of service
• Be at least 18 years old, or be a parent or legal guardian submitting a visit on behalf of a minor
• Provide accurate and complete information in your visit intake form
• Have a valid email address for communication about your visit

5. No guarantee of prescription

Completing a visit and paying the visit fee does not guarantee that a prescription will be issued. Our clinicians exercise independent clinical judgment based on established guidelines and the information you provide. If the clinician determines that treatment is not appropriate, you will be notified with an explanation and, where applicable, a recommendation for alternative care. The fee covers the clinical evaluation whether or not a prescription results from it.

6. Accuracy of information

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information in your visit intake form. Inaccurate or incomplete information may result in inappropriate care. You are responsible for the accuracy of all information you submit, including information submitted on behalf of a minor.

7. Informed consent

By submitting a visit, you consent to a telehealth evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider. You understand that:

• Telehealth has limitations compared to in-person evaluation
• The clinician will make their assessment based on the photographs and information you provide
• A prescription, if issued, is based on clinical judgment and established guidelines
• You should seek in-person care if your symptoms worsen, new symptoms develop, or you have concerns that are not addressed by our service
• Doxycycline, like all medications, may have side effects including nausea, photosensitivity, and, rarely, allergic reactions

8. Fees, payment and refunds

The pre-screen is free and requires no payment. If the pre-screen indicates that online care may be appropriate for your situation and you choose to continue, Tickortreat charges a flat fee of $75 for clinician review, payable at the time of submission. Payment is processed securely through Stripe. The fee covers the clinician’s evaluation and, if appropriate, a prescription. It does not include the cost of the medication itself, which is purchased separately at your pharmacy.

If your visit has not yet been reviewed by a clinician, you may request a full refund by contacting us. Once a clinician has reviewed your visit, the fee is non-refundable, because the service you paid for — the clinical evaluation — has been provided. This is the case whether or not a prescription was issued.

Tickortreat does not bill insurance. We provide a superbill with appropriate diagnostic and procedure codes that you may submit to your insurance carrier for potential reimbursement, and a PDF of your clinical encounter that you may keep or share with your own clinician. Reimbursement is not guaranteed and depends on your insurance plan.

9. Pharmacy and medication

Prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy you designate during intake. You are responsible for picking up your prescription. Tickortreat is not responsible for pharmacy availability, medication stock, pharmacy errors, or delays in pharmacy fulfillment.

10. Follow-up

After your visit you will receive automated follow-up messages to check for the development of symptoms. These messages are for monitoring purposes and do not constitute ongoing medical care. If you develop symptoms at any time, contact your primary care provider or seek in-person evaluation.

11. The tick identification tool

Our photo-based tick identification tool is a separate, free, educational service. It does not provide medical advice, is not part of a clinical visit, and nothing submitted to it reaches a clinician, enters a medical record, or affects whether you can be seen. Its use is governed by its own terms and privacy notice. An identification from the tool, or the absence of one, has no bearing on your eligibility for care.

12. Privacy

Your health information is protected under HIPAA and our Privacy Policy. By using our service, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to our Privacy Policy.

13. Intellectual property

All content on the Tickortreat website, including text, graphics, logos, illustrations, and software, is the property of Tickortreat LLC or its licensors and is protected by copyright and trademark law. All illustrations are original works by Louisa Conrad and are used under license by Tickortreat LLC. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without written permission.

14. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Tickortreat LLC and its affiliates, officers, members, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of our service. Our total liability for any claim arising from your use of Tickortreat shall not exceed the amount you paid for the visit giving rise to the claim.

This limitation does not apply to liability arising from gross negligence or wilful misconduct, or to any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

15. Disclaimer of warranties

Tickortreat provides its service on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We do not warrant that the service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components. We make no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided through our service.

16. Governing law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Vermont, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of our service shall be resolved in the courts of Windham County, Vermont.

17. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the updated version on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Your continued use of our service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.