CVS opens hundreds of SmileDirectClub stores in its stores

The retail team got in touch with his new colleagues at health insurer Aetna, which merged with CVS for a $ 70 billion acquisition. Aetna was already in discussion with SmileDirectClub and will start covering aligners this summer with more than 10 million Aetna Dental members. UnitedHealthcare will also begin to cover the services of SmileDirectClub for its more than 1.5 million members with orthodontic coverage, the insurer said Thursday.

In both cases, patients will be able to purchase clear teeth aligners for less than $ 1,000. Without insurance, SmileDirectClub charges $ 1,850 for a one-time payment or $ 2,170 for a two-year payment plan. Traditional braces can cost more than $ 9,000.

"This is a great way to raise awareness and open up new marketing opportunities," said SmileDirectClub co-founder Alex Fenkell. "We have embarked on this activity to improve access to care."

The partnership with CVS gives SmileDirectClub an opportunity to evolve quickly. The company was put online about five years ago and now has about 250 stores. With CVS, its brick and mortar footprint will more than double in the United States.

The link with CVS is not exclusive either, he added, which means that SmileDirectClub can still work with other pharmacy chains. And it's already done. The start-up has opened four SmileShop stores in Walgreens stores earlier this month. But Fenkell said it was "too early to determine" how that would evolve from now.

CVS will add SmileShop to its new health-oriented concept stores, called HealthHUBs, by the end of the year. The HealthHUB is designed to help clients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma. Meanwhile, CVS will continue to look for other services to bring to stores, such as optics, Hourican explained.