What is Vida Health?

Vida is a digital platform that offers personalized health programs and live, one-on-one support from an expert health coach — all through an easy-to-use mobile app and website.

When you sign up with Vida, you’ll share your health goals and preferences. Vida will use that information to tailor a program to your needs, and you’ll pick a coach to support you along the way. Your program will include helpful resources like videos, lessons, recipes, and more, plus easy progress tracking. You’ll also be able to connect any fitness trackers or health devices you use.

Who is eligible for Vida through Ascension SmartHealth?

All SmartHealth members and their spouses/dependents 18+ enrolled in the Ascension medical plan that have been diagnosed with a chronic condition (such as obesity, diabetes, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.) are eligible for Vida Health Coaching at no charge.

What kind of health coaching can I receive through Vida?

At Vida, we handpick the best coaches and health experts from across the country. Whether you’re just starting your health journey, training for your next marathon, or somewhere in between, our coaches and providers can help you reach your personal goals. Here are a few examples of things we can help with:

• Managing diabetes, blood pressure, or cholesterol
• Tackling pre-diabetes or other risk factors, so they don’t lead to chronic disease
• Handling asthma or COPD
• Medication prescribing and lab orders*
• Nutrition, including support for specialized diets (gluten-free, paleo, vegan, keto, and more)
• Exercise and strength training, from getting started to prepping for competitions
• Coping with stress
• Improving sleep

*The Vida Cardiometabolic Medical Prescribing Service is only available to some members currently enrolled in one of our cardiometabolic (CMB) programs (such as Whole Health) who would benefit from the addition of working with a prescribing provider.

Can I only participate if I have a chronic condition?

Vida’s program for Ascension SmartHealth is designed for those with chronic conditions. However, when you join Vida you can choose the program you are ready to focus on – whether you are looking to get (or stay) fit, lose weight, handle stress, prevent disease, manage your condition, or meet another health goal, we have expert coaches available to help.

Can I choose my coach?

Absolutely. After you download the Vida Health app, you’ll be prompted to create an account and choose your preferred program. Then we’ll ask you a few questions, including what kind of coaching style you’d like — for example a cheerleader type, drill sergeant, listener, or something else.

We’ll recommend some coaches that could be a good fit, and then the choice is up to you.

Can I change coaches if it doesn’t work out with my first coach for some reason?

Absolutely. To request a change, go to the Home screen in your Vida app, tap the gear icon in the upper right, then tap Request New Coach. You’ll complete a brief survey so we can match you with a new coach that’s the best fit for your style and goals.

What is the Vida Cardiometabolic Medical Prescribing Service?

The Vida Cardiometabolic Medical Prescribing Service is available to some members currently enrolled in one of our cardiometabolic (CMB) programs (such as Whole Health) who would benefit from the addition of working with a prescribing provider.

How do I find out if I’m eligible for the prescribing program?

Your eligibility is based on your reported medical conditions, medication history, and past lab tests. If you seem like a good fit for our prescribing program, you will receive an in-app eligibility form that will be reviewed by our medical team.

If I get a new medicine prescribed by Vida, how do I send my prescription to my pharmacy? 

Prescriptions will be submitted electronically to a pharmacy of your choice. It can be a local pharmacy or a mail-order pharmacy. The Vida medical provider will ask you which pharmacy you prefer.

How often will I meet with my prescriber?

You will have an initial consultation with your prescriber to assess your medication needs and will have a follow-up visit to review progress. Additional visits beyond these two are dependent on your situation and can be scheduled as needed. You also have the option to message your prescriber on an unlimited basis.

Can I communicate with my prescriber outside of a scheduled appointment?

Yes! You will be able to send messages to your prescriber at any time. Response times from providers are usually within 1-2 days, but often the same day.

How do I schedule appointments?

You will be able to schedule an appointment directly through the app from the Home screen.

Will insurance cover the cost of my prescription?

You will be able to provide your insurance information directly to your pharmacy. Coverage of costs will vary depending on policy information, formulary and co-pay structure of your SmartHealth insurance. If you have any questions about cost, please reach out directly to SmartHealth  or your local pharmacy for specific details about your specific policy and the cost of prescription.

What happens if my pharmacy is unable to process or refill my prescription?

Please contact your prescriber through the chat tab in the app. If you need further assistance, you can also contact support@vida.com.

What happens to the information I provide to Vida?

All personal information that you share through Vida’s app is confidential and is securely stored in encrypted databases. Vida Health is fully HIPAA-compliant. If you wish to have your information deleted, please contact privacy@vida.com.

What type of information will SmartHealth receive?

Vida and Ascension take your personal health information very seriously. Your individual data will only be accessible to your Vida Health team and select health apps you connect to Vida. Vida will NOT share your individual participation, results, or any personally identifiable health information with Ascension.

Can I connect other health and fitness apps/devices to my Vida account?

You can! Connecting your fitness tracking apps and devices to Vida is a great way to stay on track with your health goals. We support integrations with 100+ apps and devices, including:

• Fitbit
• Garmin
• iHealth
• Jawbone
• Runkeeper
• Strava
• Withings/Nokia Health
• Apple Health (e.g. Loseit, MyFitnessPal) (iOS only)

How do I connect another device or app to my Vida account?

When you log into Vida for the first time, you’ll see a task on the Home screen that says Connect Devices & Apps. Tapping this will guide you through the device setup process. If you decide to add or change a connected device/app at a later time, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the device/app you’d like to connect is set up and that data tracking is working properly.
2. Log into the Vida app.
3. Go to the Home screen, tap the gear icon in the upper right, then tap Connect Devices & Apps.
4. Select the device/app you’d like to connect and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Repeat these steps if you need to connect more devices or apps.

Why isn’t my device or app syncing to Vida?

First, please make sure your device is properly connected (see previous FAQ: “How do I connect a 3rd-party device or app to my Vida account?”). If you’ve checked this and are still having problems, please email us at support@vida.com.

I was asked for a credit card when signing up. Isn’t Vida provided to eligible Ascension SmartHealth employees at no charge?

Vida is indeed available at no charge to eligible Ascension SmartHealth employees. If you’re seeing a credit card request in error, email us at support@vida.com and we can help you get set up.

I forgot my password. Can you help?

Sure thing. Simply open the Vida app and tap Login. On the login screen, tap Forgot your password? and enter the email address associated with your account. We will send you an email with instructions on how to change your password.

Didn’t receive an email? You can reach out to us directly at support@vida.com.

How do I change my password?

To change your password, simply go to the Home screen in your Vida app, tap the gear icon in the upper right, then tap Change Password. From there, follow the on-screen instructions.

How do I change the email address associated with my Vida account?

Please email us at support@vida.com to change your email address.

My spouse or dependent is having trouble signing up. How do they sign up through my employer benefits?

Your family members (including spouses and dependents ages 18+) are eligible to use Vida’s services at no charge through your SmartHealth benefits. To enroll, spouses and dependents should use their name, email, and date of birth. They should use the employee’s information if asked for an Employee ID.

If they need additional help, they can reach out to us directly at support@vida.com.