ChatGPT Health: US Launch, EU Excluded, Data Privacy

ChatGPT Health is now live for users in the U.S., allowing them to connect medical records and fitness apps to the chatbot. This feature launched on July 23, 2026. U.S. users who are logged in and at least 18 can link data from hospital systems like Epic or Oracle Health, as well as apps like Apple Health. ChatGPT can then answer questions based on this personal data. OpenAI states these health chats are stored in a separate, encrypted area and not used for model training. However, this feature is not available in Germany, the rest of the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. This is due to stricter regulations on health data in these regions. A lawsuit was filed against OpenAI just before the launch, with a pastor claiming ChatGPT advised him against seeing a doctor. OpenAI points to its terms of service, which state the service is not for diagnosis or treatment. The company is working with doctors to improve safety, but studies still warn that AI chatbots can be unreliable for medical advice. The bottom line is that while ChatGPT can help with general health questions, it is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation.