A subscription-based personal medical information storage device comprises a data storage unit comprising a computer readable storage medium configured to store medical and non-medical information of a user, and facilitate the retrieval of medical and non-medical information of the user from a remote medical information storage device. The data storage unit is configured to automatically run an authentication routine upon connection with the general purpose computing device to confirm that the personal medical information storage device is neither lost nor stolen before granting access thereto. A communication module is configured to facilitate a communication connection with the remote medical information storage device, and wherein the remote medical information storage device comprises an advertisement module.