Privacy Policy

ClearCost collects limited information necessary to provide the Service. We do not collect information beyond what is needed to operate the price transparency tool.

• Search queries. The plain-text descriptions you enter when searching for healthcare procedures (e.g., “knee MRI” or “blood test for cholesterol”). These are used to translate your query into billing codes and return price results.
• Location data. Latitude and longitude coordinates used to return geographically relevant hospital pricing results. Location data is used only for search and is not stored unless you save a search.
• Google account information. If you choose to sign in, ClearCost receives your email address, display name, and profile picture from Google via OAuth. This information is collected only if you create an account; account creation is not required to use the Service.
• “Notify me” sign-ups. When we can’t price a search yet, you can choose to leave your email address. We store it with the procedure you searched for and use it only to email you when that price is available. Because it links your email to a health service, we ask for your consent first, never sell it, and never use it for advertising.
• Usage data. Our hosting provider keeps standard server logs (pages requested, browser type, and time of request) for security and troubleshooting. ClearCost does not use advertising or cross-site tracking tools.
• Product analytics. We record a small set of actions so we can tell whether ClearCost is useful: that a search was run (its text and whether a location was set), how many hospitals were shown, and when you open a price, tap Call, Directions or Website, save a search, or ask to be notified. These events are tied to a random ID kept in your browser, not to your name, email, or account, and never include your coordinates or email address. Page addresses are recorded without their search details. We do not record your screen or what you type into forms.
• Error reports. When something breaks, a technical report (the error, the page it happened on without its search details, and your browser type) is sent to our error tracking service so we can fix it. Error reports do not include your name, email, or location.

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Price search. Your search query is sent to our AI interpretation service to translate it into standardized billing codes (CPT, HCPCS, MS-DRG), which are then used to query hospital pricing data near your location.
• Saved searches. If you are signed in, you may choose to save search results for future reference. Saved searches are stored in association with your account and are accessible only to you.
• Service improvement. Product analytics and error reports, which are not linked to your identity, help us understand which features are used, fix technical issues, and improve the Service over time.
• We do not sell your personal data. ClearCost does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing or commercial purposes.

We specifically do not collect or store:

• Medical records or clinical documentation of any kind
• Insurance plan details, member IDs, or coverage information
• Social Security numbers or government-issued identification
• Patient identifiers as defined under HIPAA
• Diagnostic codes tied to a specific individual
• Treatment history, prescriptions, or clinical notes
• Financial account numbers, payment card numbers, or banking information

ClearCost uses the following third-party services to operate. Each has its own privacy policy governing how it handles data.

ClearCost retains data only as long as necessary to provide the Service or as required by law.

• Search queries. The text of a search and the answers you pick in guided search are stored without your name, account, or IP address, so that the same search can be answered faster next time. A random session ID records which results were opened. Unsaved searches are never linked to your account.
• Saved searches. Retained until you delete them through the Service or submit a deletion request. You can delete individual saved searches at any time from your account.
• “Notify me” sign-ups. Kept until we send the email you asked for, or until you ask us to delete it by writing to info@clearcost.live, whichever comes first.
• Analytics events and error reports. Kept by PostHog and Sentry for the data retention period of our plans with them, then deleted. They are never linked to your account.
• Account data. Your email address, display name, and profile picture are retained for as long as your account remains active. Upon account deletion, your personal data and associated saved searches are removed from our database.

You have the following rights with respect to your data held by ClearCost:

• Access. You may request a copy of the personal data ClearCost holds about you.
• Deletion. You may request deletion of your account and all associated data. Saved searches can be deleted directly through the Service at any time.
• Download. You may request a copy of your saved searches in a portable format.
• Opt out of data collection. You may use ClearCost without creating an account. Unauthenticated use stores no information that identifies you. Browser settings or extensions that block analytics or error tracking do not affect how ClearCost works.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@clearcost.live. We will respond to verifiable requests within 30 days.

ClearCost is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), if we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will promptly delete that information from our systems.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has provided personal information to ClearCost, please contact us at info@clearcost.live and we will take steps to remove that information.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the Service, applicable law, or our data practices. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide additional notice — such as an in-app notification or an email to registered users.

The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the date of the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

The current version of this Privacy Policy is always available at clearcost.live/legal/privacy.