VeryWell Cookie Policy

Cookies are small text files stored on a user’s device, such as a computer, tablet, or mobile, when a website is visited. They allow the site to recognise the device on a return visit and recall certain information from the previous session.

These files do not contain executable code and cannot run programmes on a device. Their primary function is to store data that helps a website operate correctly and deliver a more consistent experience.

Common examples of what cookies remember include:

• Login status, so users are not required to sign in on every visit;
• Language and display preferences;
• Items or selections made during a browsing session;
• Technical data used to maintain website performance.

Cookies are set either by the website being visited (first-party cookies) or by external services integrated into the site (third-party cookies). Both types may be used on this platform, each with a distinct purpose.

Cookies are used across VeryWell for a variety of practical reasons. Each serves a specific function that contributes to how the platform operates and how users interact with it.

The main purposes include:

• Account access: Cookies help maintain login sessions so users can navigate the platform without being signed out unexpectedly;
• Security: Certain cookies are used to detect unusual activity and help protect accounts from unauthorised access;
• Performance: Data gathered through cookies supports the identification of technical issues and the ongoing optimisation of website speed and reliability;
• Personalisation: Preferences such as language settings and display options can be stored so they are applied automatically on each visit;
• Analytics: Cookies collect aggregated data about how users interact with the site, which informs decisions about content and feature improvements;
• Service development: Patterns identified through cookie data help the platform evolve in line with how users are actually using its services.

No cookie is placed on a user's device without a defined purpose. The information collected is used to support platform operations, not for purposes unrelated to the services provided.

Different categories of cookies serve different functions. Understanding these distinctions helps users make informed decisions about their preferences.

The main categories used on this platform are:

Essential Cookies

These are necessary for the website to function. Without them, core features such as account login and secure navigation would not be available.

Performance and Analytics Cookies

These monitor how the website is used. They collect data on page visits, traffic sources, and user interactions to help improve how the platform performs.

Functionality Cookies

These remember user preferences and settings. They enable a more personalised experience by storing choices made during previous visits.

Advertising and Marketing Cookies

These track browsing activity to support the delivery of relevant content and to measure the effectiveness of marketing activity.

Each category is described in greater detail in the sections that follow. Users who wish to limit certain types of cookies can find guidance in the managing preferences section of this policy.

Essential cookies are required for the website to operate. They cannot be switched off without affecting the availability of core platform features.

These cookies are activated in response to actions taken by the user, such as logging in, completing a form, or navigating between pages. They do not store personal information for marketing purposes.

Functions supported by essential cookies include:

• Maintaining an active login session throughout a visit;
• Protecting account access by flagging suspicious or unusual activity;
• Enabling secure navigation across different areas of the platform;
• Supporting form submissions and similar interactive features;
• Ensuring that the website displays correctly on the user’s device and browser.

Because these cookies are directly tied to the operation of the platform, they are placed on all users’ devices as a condition of using the site. Disabling them through browser settings may result in certain areas of the platform becoming inaccessible or functioning incorrectly.

Performance and analytics cookies collect information about how users interact with the website. This data is used to identify areas for improvement and ensure the platform continues to function reliably.

The information gathered through these cookies is typically aggregated, meaning it reflects patterns across many users rather than identifying any individual. Examples of what this data covers include:

• Which pages are visited most frequently and for how long;
• How users navigate through the site, including entry and exit points;
• Error messages or technical issues encountered during a session;
• How different features and content areas are used over time.

This insight supports decisions about website development, content structuring, and feature optimisation. The goal is to ensure that the platform remains stable, efficient, and straightforward to navigate.

Users who prefer not to have their browsing activity included in this type of analysis can adjust their cookie preferences through the site’s consent tools or their browser settings.

Functionality cookies allow the website to remember choices made by users during previous visits. These cookies do not track activity across other websites. Their sole purpose is to improve the experience on this platform.

Settings and preferences that functionality cookies may store include:

• Language selection, so the site loads in the user’s preferred language;
• Display or interface preferences applied in previous sessions;
• Device and browser recognition, which allows the platform to present content in a format suited to the user’s setup;
• Notification or communication preferences previously indicated by the user.

These cookies are not essential in the strict technical sense, but disabling them will mean that certain preferences will need to be set again on each visit. The browsing experience may feel less consistent without them in place.

Advertising and marketing cookies are used to deliver content that is relevant to a user’s interests. They also help assess how effective marketing activity has been across different channels.

These cookies may collect information about:

• Pages and content viewed during a session;
• Interactions with promotional material on or off the platform;
• Referral sources that led a user to the website;
• Engagement patterns that help measure campaign performance.

The data collected is used to ensure that any marketing communications or content presented to users reflect their activity and preferences, rather than being entirely generic. It also supports decisions about how and where marketing budgets are directed.

Marketing cookies are not essential to the use of the platform. Users who do not wish to have this type of data collected can opt out through the cookie consent preferences available on the site. Opting out will not affect access to the platform itself, though some content may become less tailored as a result.

Some cookies placed on users’ devices originate from external service providers rather than from the platform itself. These third-party cookies are set by companies whose technologies are integrated into the website to support specific functions.

Examples of services that may place third-party cookies include:

• Analytics providers: Tools used to measure website traffic and user behaviour in aggregate form;
• Payment service integrations: Technologies that support secure transaction processing and may require session data to function correctly;
• Identity verification tools: Services used to confirm user identity as part of account registration or compliance procedures;
• Content delivery networks: Providers that help the platform load efficiently for users in different locations.

Third-party service providers operate under their own privacy and cookie policies. VeryWell does not control the cookies set by these providers directly. Users who wish to understand how data is handled by these third parties are encouraged to consult the relevant provider’s documentation.

Only reputable and necessary third-party services are integrated into the platform. No third-party provider is given access to personal data beyond what is required to deliver the specific function they support.

Users have the right to control which cookies are placed on their devices. Several options are available for managing these preferences.

Cookie Consent Tool

When visiting the platform for the first time, a consent notice is displayed. This allows users to accept all cookies, decline non-essential cookies, or customise their preferences by category. These settings can be revisited at any time through the cookie settings option on the site.

Browser Settings

Most browsers include built-in controls for managing cookies. These settings can be used to:

• Block all cookies by default;
• Delete existing cookies stored on a device;
• Allow cookies only from specific websites;
• Receive a notification when a cookie is about to be placed.

The exact steps for adjusting these settings vary between browsers. Users can typically find relevant guidance through the help section of their chosen browser.

Effects of Restricting Cookies

Disabling certain categories of cookies may affect the browsing experience. In particular:

• Blocking essential cookies may prevent access to account features or cause pages to display incorrectly;
• Disabling functionality cookies means preferences will not be saved between visits;
• Turning off analytics or marketing cookies will not prevent access to the platform but may reduce the relevance of any content presented.

Users are advised to consider these effects before making changes to their cookie settings.

Cookies collect certain types of data as part of normal website operation. This data is handled with care and in accordance with VeryWell’s broader privacy and data protection practices.

Key principles that apply to cookie-related data include:

• Purpose limitation: Data collected through cookies is used only for the purposes described in this policy and is not applied to unrelated activities;
• Data minimisation: Cookies collect only the information necessary to fulfil their stated function;
• Security: Appropriate technical measures are in place to protect cookie data from unauthorised access or misuse;
• Retention: Cookie data is not stored beyond the period required for its intended purpose. Session cookies are deleted when the browser is closed; persistent cookies expire after a defined period.

For a full overview of how personal data is collected, stored, and used across the platform, users are encouraged to consult the Privacy Policy available on the website. The Privacy Policy sets out the broader framework within which all data processing activities, including those connected to cookies, are conducted.

This Cookies Policy may be updated from time to time. Updates may be necessary for a number of reasons, including:

• Changes to the technologies or services used on the platform;
• Updates to applicable data protection requirements or regulatory guidance;
• The introduction of new features that involve the use of cookies or similar technologies;
• Revisions to how third-party providers operate or what data they collect.

When a material change is made to this policy, users may be informed through a notice on the website or via other appropriate communication channels. Minor or clarificatory changes may be made without a specific notification.

The date of the most recent update is displayed at the top of this policy. Users are advised to review this page periodically to stay informed about how cookies are used on the platform. Continued use of the website after any update constitutes acknowledgement of the revised policy.