Privacy FAQs

What is a cookie and why does WebMD put cookies on my computer? Do I have a choice about them if I want to use the site?

A "cookie" is a small line of text that WebMD can store on your hard drive when you visit the site. Cookies help us give you a better experience as you move through the site. Once you've registered, cookies can allow you can bypass the log-in process. Cookies can allow you to tailor the site to your preferences and allow us to display advertisements that may fit your interests while you visit the site. Note, however, we do not send your personally identifiable information to the advertisers.

There are two types of cookies:

Cookies tell us how often a computer, or a person using a login ID, visits our site. They can also record what parts of our site you visited. The text of a cookie can contain a unique identifier assigned to your browser. It can also contain information about you or your preferences.

We do not store your personally identifiable information in your permanent cookies. And WebMD does not and will not link that data to your permanent cookie.

You don't have to accept cookies if you don't want to. You just need to change the settings in your browser to reject all cookies. If you do, you can still visit WebMD, but you'll miss out on certain features. You'll have to log in each time you want to customize your home page and access other sections of the member-only portions of the site. And certain services (such as the Health Risk Appraisal) will not work.

How can I be sure that my health information will remain confidential?

Please visit How We Protect Your Information - Site Security Features. You control the contents of the health information stored in the WebMD Health system. Only you or someone you authorize can access this information. The WebMD Health Manager is built with state-of-the-art security features to keep your health information confidential.

What is my username?

Along with your password, your username is the secret name you will use to access the member areas of WebMD. Your username can be any name you choose and must be at least six characters, and it may contain any combination of letters or numbers. Access to member areas of WebMD Health requires both a username and a password.

What is my password?

Your password is the secret code you will use in combination with your username to access, review, or update your WebMD Health member data. Your password should be at least eight characters long and can be any combination of letters and numbers (alphanumeric). Please do not use spaces, punctuation, or any special characters (like &, *, @, etc.) You may change your password at any time. It is important that you make your password easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess.

How do I make changes or update information I have stored?

Log in to your WebMD Health Manager account. It's that simple!

Why do I have to provide my email address to register for WebMD? I don't want to receive any emails, anyway.

We ask for your email address in registration so that we can contact you if necessary. Some examples include:

- To contact you about changes in our privacy policy

- To seek your consent for any new uses of your personal information

- To inform you if we were to receive a subpoena or court order for your personal information

You will also receive newsletters at your email address unless you opt out of receiving them (which you can do at any time).

Does WebMD track and record my movement through the site? If so, how is this information used?

Through the use of cookies, WebMD has the ability to track and record your movement through the site (commonly known as the "click stream"). This information is not linked and will not be linked with your personally identifiable information. Thus, this information remains anonymous. WebMD uses this anonymous information to collect general statistics about how people use our site and to target advertisements to your interests and preferences.

Can I use WebMD without revealing ANY of my personally identifiable information?

Yes. You can visit the site and have access to vast stores of health information without ever having revealed any personally identifiable information. There will never be a time when we capture personally identifiable information without your knowledge.

The nature of some features, such as MyHealthRecord and Health Risk Appraisal, require that you share some personally identifiable information.