How to delete your Sharecare account

About deleting your Sharecare account

Sharecare is a digital health platform co-founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Jeff Arnold, designed to provide users with a comprehensive view of their health through the RealAge test, health tracking, and wellness programs. By connecting to various wearable devices and medical records, the platform centralizes sensitive biometric and lifestyle data to provide personalized health insights and coaching.

Users may decide to delete their Sharecare account for several reasons, including concerns regarding the platform's history of data security, a desire to reduce their digital footprint, or the discontinuation of the specific health programs they were enrolled in. Given the highly sensitive nature of the information processed, taking control of your account is a critical step in safeguarding your medical privacy.

Key reasons users choose to close their Sharecare profiles include:

• Concerns about the aggregation of medical, biometric, and insurance-related data.
• Desire to opt out of targeted marketing based on health profile inferences.
• Completion of specific employer-sponsored or insurer-sponsored wellness programs.
• Transitioning to different health tracking or personal health record (PHR) services.

What happens to your data

When you request account deletion, Sharecare is obligated to remove your personally identifiable information (PII) from their active systems. However, because Sharecare often operates as a business-to-business (B2B) partner for insurers and employers, certain transactional or legal records may be subject to retention requirements under HIPAA or other regulatory frameworks. The types of data Sharecare typically collects include:

• RealAge test results and biometric health data.
• Medication logs and allergy information.
• Connections to third-party wearable device data (e.g., activity, heart rate).
• Engagement history with health coaching modules and articles.
• Insurance plan identifiers and demographic information.

Privacy considerations

Sharecare’s business model involves providing insights that can be shared with enterprise clients, such as your insurance provider or employer. This secondary data sharing is a common point of contention for users who value strict confidentiality regarding their wellness metrics. To enhance your privacy while using or leaving the platform, consider the following:

• Disconnect all third-party integrations (like Fitbit or Apple Health) before initiating the deletion process to stop the flow of new data.
• Review the 'Share my Data' settings in the platform before deletion to see if any secondary data sharing can be toggled off.
• Ensure you have downloaded any personal health summaries or reports you may need, as these will be inaccessible after account closure.
• Be aware that if your access was provided through an employer, your HR department may still have access to aggregated, de-identified participation metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my Sharecare account if it was created through my employer?

Yes, you can request account deletion even if your account was provisioned through a company benefit, though you may lose access to employer-specific incentives.

Will deleting my account remove my health data from my insurance company?

Deleting your Sharecare account removes it from Sharecare’s database, but it does not retroactively delete data that Sharecare has already provided to your insurance provider during your period of active enrollment.

How long does it take for Sharecare to process a deletion request?

While the platform aims to process requests promptly, it can take up to 30 days for your data to be fully purged from all backup and archive systems.

Is there a difference between deactivating and deleting my account?

Yes; deactivation is typically temporary, allowing you to reactivate, whereas deletion is intended to be a permanent removal of your account and associated personal identifiers.

What should I do if the delete button is missing in my app?

If you cannot find the delete option, it is likely due to your specific account integration; you must reach out to Sharecare support via email or their official help portal to initiate a manual request.

Can I get a copy of my data before I delete my account?

Yes, you should navigate to your account settings and look for a 'Download My Data' feature to receive a portable copy of your health records before finalizing the closure.