# Can Telehealth Brands Advertise on Microsoft Ads (Bing)?

Reviewed October 6, 2026 · By Michael Borgia, MedScale Health

## Short answer

As of October 2026, yes, with preapproval. Microsoft Advertising requires online pharmacies and telemedicine providers that sell prescription drugs to be preapproved through its Pharmacy and Telemedicine advertiser program form, and US online pharmacies must be accredited by NABP or LegitScript. Its search ads can show on Bing, Yahoo, AOL, DuckDuckGo and other partners. MedScale Health, a paid acquisition agency for telehealth brands and clinics, files the Microsoft form on the same certified domain as Google and Meta.

## What this means for you

- Telemedicine providers that sell prescription drugs need preapproval through Microsoft's Pharmacy and Telemedicine advertiser program form before ads serve. Each market needs its own form.
- US online pharmacies that advertise prescription drugs must be accredited by NABP or LegitScript.
- Every health ad must have substantiated claims, must not misrepresent regulatory approval, and must not target people based on sensitive health information.
- Weight loss ads must target people 18 and over and can't promise amounts or rates of loss. In the US, compounded weight loss drugs must be labelled as compounded, with no suggestion of FDA approval.
- Search ads can show on Bing and on partner sites such as Yahoo, AOL, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, and existing Google Ads campaigns can be imported.

MedScale Health, a paid acquisition agency for telehealth brands and clinics, gets telehealth brands certified for paid search, and the same certified domain and landing pages can carry a Microsoft Advertising account. This page sets out Microsoft's healthcare rules as written today, and what a telehealth brand has to file before its ads serve. This page is marketing guidance, not legal or medical advice. Platform and certification rules change, so check the sources listed at the end before acting on a specific rule.

## The prescription drug rule, in Microsoft's words

Microsoft's Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy, last updated July 1, 2026, says online pharmacies, telemedicine providers that sell prescription drugs, and prescription drug manufacturers must be preapproved to serve ads on the Microsoft Advertising network. Online pharmacies and telemedicine providers may advertise only in a listed set of markets, which includes the United States, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Ads for brick-and-mortar pharmacies are not subject to the same restrictions as businesses that sell prescription drugs online.

The United States section adds three points. Online pharmacies, including pet pharmacies, that advertise prescription drugs to US customers must be accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) or LegitScript. Manufacturers that don't sell their prescription medicines online need no certification. Prescription drug ads that make a product claim must disclose the risks under FDA guidelines.

Microsoft also gives one practical instruction: if you use LegitScript, add the certification badge to the appropriate places on your website, then request an appeal for any existing editorial disapprovals in the account. LegitScript, for its part, lists Microsoft Bing among the platforms that recognise its Healthcare Certification, subject to each platform's own policies.

## The preapproval form

The Pharmacy and Telemedicine advertising program form asks for the business name and postal address, the Microsoft Advertising account numbers and names, the primary brand website, the relationship to the licensee if an agency is applying, the target market, and an uploaded copy of the licence. Microsoft says applications from advertisers without a payment method or active ads in the account will not be accepted, and that each market needs a separate form. Microsoft publishes no review time for the form, so plan the launch date around the answer, not a guess.

## Rules that apply to every health ad

- Claims must be supported by credible scientific evidence, with the study source and date where that applies. Comparative or superlative claims such as "#1 doctor recommended" need a named third-party study in the ad or on the landing page.
- No statements that misrepresent regulatory approval or review of a product, and no exaggerated or unrealistic before-and-after images.
- No targeting based on sensitive health information.
- No imagery or audio that implies endorsement by healthcare professionals unless the endorsement is genuine and disclosed.
- Weight loss ads must target 18+, encourage people to consult a healthcare professional, and avoid specific amounts or rates of loss, guaranteed results, and negative body image. In the US, compounded weight loss drugs must carry "This is a compounded drug" or an equivalent disclaimer and must not imply FDA review or approval. In MedScale's own copy, a compounded drug is always described as compounded, not FDA-approved.

## Addiction treatment is a separate rule

Microsoft allows drug and alcohol addiction recovery ads only in the United States. Rehab facilities, group therapy, sober living, halfway houses and similar services must be certified by LegitScript, the landing pages and every URL in the ad must be certified, and lead generation ads are not allowed.

## Why Microsoft is worth a look

Microsoft says its search ads can appear on Microsoft Bing and on search partner sites such as Yahoo, AOL, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, depending on campaign settings. That is more search demand from people already looking for care, reached with the certified domain and landing pages a brand has already built for Google. Microsoft's Google Import brings existing Google Ads campaigns across instead of rebuilding them, and Microsoft suggests reviewing partner traffic in reporting to see how it contributes to conversions.

The certification work carries over too. A brand that holds LegitScript certification for Google and Meta files Microsoft's form with the same licence and domain. What does not carry over is approval: Microsoft reviews the brand and every ad under its own policy.

## Tracking on Microsoft

Microsoft's policy bars targeting consumers based on sensitive health information, so the same discipline applies to conversion tracking as on Meta and Google. Event names and page addresses should never carry a condition or a drug name. MedScale tracks server-side under a BAA with neutral event names, and no names, emails, phone numbers, IP addresses or browser IDs go to any ad platform.

## What MedScale does

MedScale Health runs paid search on Google for telehealth brands and helps them get certified. When a brand also wants Microsoft Advertising, MedScale's LegitScript certification help includes the Microsoft preapproval form on the same certified domain, alongside Meta's authorization and Google's healthcare certification, and the landing pages and server-side tracking MedScale builds serve both search engines. Preapproval and results are never guaranteed. The free growth audit at medscale.health/audit says in writing whether Microsoft is worth adding for your category.

## FAQ

**Do telehealth providers need LegitScript to advertise on Microsoft Ads?**

Microsoft requires preapproval through its Pharmacy and Telemedicine form, with a licence upload, for telemedicine providers that sell prescription drugs. Its US text names NABP or LegitScript for online pharmacies, and LegitScript lists Microsoft Bing as a participating platform.

**Can I import my Google Ads campaigns into Microsoft Advertising?**

Yes. Microsoft's Google Import brings existing Google Ads campaigns across, with quick or advanced options. Imported healthcare campaigns still need Microsoft's own preapproval before prescription drug ads serve, and every ad is reviewed under Microsoft's policy.

**Where do Microsoft search ads appear?**

On Microsoft Bing and on search partner sites such as Yahoo, AOL, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, depending on campaign settings. Advertisers can choose ad distribution, and Microsoft suggests checking partner traffic in reporting to see what it contributes.

**What does Microsoft require for compounded weight loss drug ads?**

Its US weight loss section requires compounded weight loss drugs to be labelled "This is a compounded drug" or equivalent, with no suggestion of FDA review or approval. A telemedicine provider selling one still needs preapproval through the Pharmacy and Telemedicine form.

**Can addiction treatment centers advertise on Microsoft Ads?**

Only in the United States, and only with LegitScript certification. Microsoft says the landing pages and any URLs used in the ad must be certified, and lead generation ads are not allowed for drug and alcohol addiction recovery.

## Sources

- [Microsoft Advertising: Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy (last updated July 1, 2026)](https://about.ads.microsoft.com/en-us/policies/restricted-categories/pharmacy-and-healthcare-products-and-services) (checked October 5, 2026)
- [Microsoft Advertising: Pharmacy and Telemedicine advertising program (application form)](https://about.ads.microsoft.com/en/forms/pharmacy-and-telemedicine-advertising-program) (checked October 5, 2026)
- [Microsoft Learn: What is the Microsoft Advertising Network?](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/advertising/msa-help/hlp_ba_conc_aboutadvertisingnetwork) (checked October 5, 2026)
- [Microsoft Advertising: Microsoft Search ads (FAQ on placements and Google Import)](https://about.ads.microsoft.com/en/solutions/ad-products-formats/search) (checked October 5, 2026)
- [LegitScript: Healthcare Certification FAQ](https://www.legitscript.com/certification/healthcare-certification/faq/) (checked October 5, 2026)
- [LegitScript: Healthcare Certification, how it works, standards and pricing](https://www.legitscript.com/certification/healthcare-certification/) (checked October 5, 2026)

## Related

- [Why Are Your Google Ads Disapproved for Telehealth, and How Do You Fix It?](https://medscale.health/answers/why-google-rejects-telehealth-ads)
- [LegitScript vs Google Certification: Which Do You Need?](https://medscale.health/answers/legitscript-vs-google-healthcare-certification)
- [How Do Meta, Google and TikTok Differ on Telehealth Advertising?](https://medscale.health/answers/telehealth-advertising-policy-map)
- [Who Needs LegitScript Certification to Advertise Telemedicine?](https://medscale.health/answers/legitscript-certification-for-telemedicine)

Canonical page: https://medscale.health/answers/microsoft-ads-for-telehealth