Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 17, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to MediGuard Companion. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your sensitive health data. This privacy policy explains how we handle your information when you use our iOS health management application.

2. Information We Collect

MediGuard Companion is designed with health data privacy as a top priority. We collect minimal information:

• Medication Information: Medication names, dosages, schedules, and notes you enter are stored locally on your device only.
• Health Metrics: Blood pressure, glucose, weight, and heart rate data you log are stored locally on your device.
• Medication Logs: Records of taken/missed medications are stored locally on your device.
• User Preferences: App settings (large text mode, voice enabled, AI enabled) are stored locally.
• AI Query Data (Premium Only): When you use AI features, minimal anonymized context is sent to AI providers (Groq or OpenAI). We DO NOT send your full medication list or personal health records.
• Subscription Information: When you subscribe to Premium, Apple handles all payment processing. We receive only basic subscription status from Apple.

3. How We Use Your Information

All health data you enter is used solely for the app's functionality:

• Medication information for scheduling reminders and tracking adherence
• Health metrics for tracking trends and providing insights
• User preferences for personalizing your experience
• Anonymized queries to AI services for educational suggestions (Premium only)
• Subscription status to enable premium features

4. Data Storage

Local Storage Only: All your health data (medications, health metrics, logs, preferences) is stored exclusively on your iOS device using SwiftData. We do not operate servers that store your health records.

iCloud: If you have iCloud backup enabled on your device, your MediGuard Companion data may be included in your iCloud backups according to Apple's iCloud policies and end-to-end encryption standards.

No Cloud Sync: We do not provide cloud synchronization between devices. Each device maintains its own local database.

5. AI Data Processing (Premium Feature)

When You Use AI Features:

• Only minimal, anonymized context is sent to AI providers (Groq using llama-3.3-70b-versatile, or OpenAI using gpt-3.5-turbo as fallback)
• We DO NOT send personally identifiable information (PII)
• We DO NOT send your full medication list
• Queries are limited to educational context only (e.g., "medication adherence tips" or "wellness advice")
• AI responses are cached locally for 1 hour to minimize external requests
• You can disable AI features at any time in Settings

AI Provider Privacy: AI requests are subject to the privacy policies of Groq (primary) and OpenAI (fallback). These services process requests transiently and do not store health data.

6. Data Sharing

We do not share, sell, or transfer your health data to third parties. The only limited data sharing occurs when:

• You use Premium AI features (anonymized queries only, as described above)
• Apple processes your subscription through the App Store
• You explicitly export a health report (PDF remains on your device until you share it)

7. Third-Party Services

MediGuard Companion integrates with:

• Apple StoreKit: For in-app purchases and subscriptions
• iOS Notifications: For medication reminders (processed locally)
• Groq AI API (Premium): For AI health assistant features (anonymized queries only)
• OpenAI API (Premium Fallback): Backup AI provider (anonymized queries only)
• Apple Speech Synthesis: For voice readout (processed locally on device)

External services are only used for AI features (Premium) and subscriptions. All core health tracking is done locally.

8. Permissions

MediGuard Companion requests the following iOS permissions:

• Notifications: To send medication reminders (required for core functionality)
• Speech Synthesis: For voice readout features (optional, for accessibility)

You can manage these permissions at any time in iOS Settings.

9. Medical Disclaimer

NOT A MEDICAL DEVICE: MediGuard Companion is for informational and organizational purposes only. It is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals regarding medications or health conditions.

AI Suggestions: All AI-generated suggestions are educational only and not medical advice. AI responses include safety disclaimers and are filtered for dangerous content.

10. Children's Privacy

MediGuard Companion is designed for adults managing their medications. While the app is suitable for seniors, it is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

11. Data Retention

Your health data remains on your device until you:

• Delete medications, health metrics, or logs within the app
• Uninstall the app
• Erase your device

AI query cache is automatically cleared after 1 hour.

12. Data Security

Your health data security is primarily managed by iOS's built-in security features:

• Data is stored in the app's sandboxed container using SwiftData
• iOS encryption protects your device data
• Health records are never transmitted to our servers
• AI queries are sent over encrypted HTTPS connections
• AI responses are filtered for safety before display

13. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA Compliance)

You have complete control over your health data:

• Access: All your data is accessible within the app
• Modification: You can edit or delete any data at any time
• Export: Premium users can export health reports as PDF
• Deletion: Delete individual items or uninstall the app to remove all data
• Portability: Export your data in human-readable format (PDF reports)
• Opt-out: Disable AI features to prevent any external data transmission

14. International Data Transfers

Since health data is stored locally on your device, there are no international data transfers of your health records by MediGuard Companion.

AI Requests (Premium only): Anonymized AI queries may be processed by servers in the United States (Groq, OpenAI). These queries do not contain PII or complete health records.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the new privacy policy in the app
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Showing an in-app notification for major changes

16. Analytics and Tracking

MediGuard Companion does not use analytics services or tracking tools. We do not collect usage statistics, crash reports, or behavioral data about your health management habits.

17. Cookies

MediGuard Companion does not use cookies or similar tracking technologies.

18. Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your health data, please contact us:

• Email: support@mediguardcompanion.com
• Privacy Team: privacy@mediguardcompanion.com
• App Support: Use the contact form in the app settings

19. Compliance

This privacy policy complies with:

• Apple App Store guidelines
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) principles (though not a HIPAA covered entity)
• Other applicable privacy and health data laws

20. Data Protection Officer

For privacy-related inquiries or concerns regarding your health data, you can reach our data protection team at: privacy@mediguardcompanion.com

21. Emergency Situations

Important: MediGuard Companion is not for emergency use. In case of medical emergency, call your local emergency services (911 in the US, 112 in Europe) immediately. Do not rely on the app for emergency medical situations.

This privacy policy is effective as of February 17, 2026.