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News
Zocdoc has made its first-ever acquisition, buying insurance tech startup Sohar Health to streamline real-time insurance eligibility checks for patients booking appointments. The deal, which closed Oct. 2, builds on an existing partnership that has already helped 1 million patients verify coverage. Zocdoc is rapidly expanding its healthcare access infrastructure, recently launching an enterprise platform with partners like Amazon Health AI and Google Gemini.
Zocdoc, the online medical appointment scheduling platform, has acquired Sohar Health — its first-ever acquisition in nearly 20 years — as it pushes to become the backbone of healthcare access infrastructure. Sohar's technology automates insurance discovery, eligibility and benefits verification, network status checks, and cost estimates, with 90% of verifications completed in under 30 seconds. The deal, which closed Oct. 2, solidifies a partnership that has been in place since 2025.
The acquisition is part of a broader strategic push by Zocdoc to go beyond appointment booking. Last month, the company launched its enterprise offering, Care Access Network, which embeds its scheduling capabilities into third-party apps, insurer websites, and AI tools — with partners including Amazon Health AI, Google Gemini, Yelp, Blue Shield of California, and Healthgrades.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Insurance confusion is one of the biggest barriers to patients seeking care. By embedding real-time eligibility checks directly into the booking flow, Zocdoc is tackling a systemic friction point — making it easier for patients to know upfront what's covered, and reducing administrative headaches for providers.
