Neko Health opens Manhattan clinic with $499 AI exam

Neko Health's U.S. debut comes as health care costs are rising on multiple fronts. Large U.S. employers expect a median 9.2% increase in health care costs next year, and the Trump administration announced plans this week to remove 760,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees from public health care exchanges. Against that backdrop, a $499 fixed-price exam offers a contrast to the insurance-based system.

The company is also entering a market where AI is already changing clinical work. Half of health care professionals surveyed in the 2026 Philips Future Health Index say AI saves them at least 132 hours annually, and they report seeing more patients and making fewer mistakes. Neko Health's model extends that efficiency push into the consumer-facing side of preventive care.

Whether the Manhattan clinic becomes a template or a one-off likely hinges on whether the company can replicate its in-person, technology-heavy experience at more locations, and on whether U.S. consumers treat a $499 preventive exam as a worthwhile expense rather than a luxury.