Identity Verification
Who needs to verify, why we require it, and how it works.
Why we verify identity
Appendix is a licensed telemedicine practice. To prescribe medication or deliver clinical care under U.S. telehealth law, we have to:
- Confirm you are who you say you are. Prescriptions go to a real, identified person whose name and date of birth match a government-issued photo ID.
- Match the patient to their state. Our physicians are licensed in specific states; the patient’s state of residence determines which physicians may treat them.
- Protect against fraud. Identity-verified accounts prevent prescription fraud and impersonation.
We do this with Stripe Identity — the same service used by major banks and gig-economy platforms.
Who needs to verify
| Person | Verification |
|---|---|
| The account holder (you) | Required, once per account |
| An adult patient on your plan | Required, once per patient |
| A self patient (you, on your own plan) | Inherits the account holder’s verification |
| A minor or dependent | Inherits the account holder’s verification |
You only need to verify each person once. Once verified, you can submit unlimited encounters for any verified patient on your plan (subject to our Fair Use Policy).
How verification works
- Click “Verify Your Identity” on your account page or during checkout.
- Take a photo of your government-issued ID. Driver’s license, U.S. passport, or state ID.
- You may be asked to take a selfie. If prompted, Stripe matches your selfie to the photo on your ID.
- Done. Verification typically completes in under a minute.
If verification fails the first time, you can retry. Common causes are glare on the ID, a blurry photo, or a photo of someone other than the account holder.
Questions
If verification keeps failing or you have privacy questions, email us at hello@appendix.com.