Posted by Digitization has seeped into every sector of the economy. Specifically, the healthcare industry is going through rapid changes. It aims to offer convenient and comfortable health solutions. Therefore, app development for health insurance makes the perfect sense.
The patients and doctors have been waiting for such developments for an extended time. It expedites the data management processes. There is transparency and timely solutions.
Insurance application development will fix the traditional flaws. It will lead to a personalized service experience. However, developing an insurance app requires an in-depth study of considerations. There are various insurance app ideas you can use to run your business.
Types Of Health Insurance App
The insurance application connects three crucial players. It brings harmony among them. However, all three have varied needs. The app focuses on each users’ requirements in different models:
1. Insurance App For Patients
It is a broad market with many users worldwide. Patients can access their insurance files digitally and quickly. The app stores insurance information systematically.
The app becomes a one-stop shop for all insurance needs. Integration with EHR records can be fruitful. Patients will know what they’re paying for to the healthcare provider. They can also get protection from scams. In-app payments, hospital finder, appointment reminders, etc., are some features of the patient insurance app.
2. App For Healthcare Providers
A healthcare firm deals with too many patients every day. It makes data management complex.
An insurance application enables medical professionals to get information from a single source. It makes the routine less burdensome. They can check the documents’ validity, direct billing, and other necessary details.
Insurance application serves as a specialized solution, automating the tedious data management and validation process. Furthermore, it enables better focus on strategizing.
3. App For Insurance Companies
Digitization has been pressing the insurance industry to transform. Therefore, insurance firms today are realizing its significance. The insurance application for insurance firms provide the following services:
- Access business performance analytics
- Receive real-time updates of patients’ status
- Reminders about claims needing coverage
An insurance app automates the tedious business processes of the industry. It enables better attraction and customer retention. Nowadays AI in insurance is also taking shape.
Features Of A Health Insurance Application
Although it depends on the user base, an insurance application must cover the following features:
1. Health Insurance Plans
Allowing comparison between different insurance plans provides various benefits to the users. They can compare the pros and cons, consider the characteristics of each program, and select the one that suits them the most. The app can also take a survey to determine users’ preferences and recommend plans accordingly. You can also add health tips like obesity and diet to improve app’s time usage.
2. Buy Or Renew Policies
The insurance application must enable the users to choose and buy a healthcare plan. The in-app payment feature must be secure to protect sensitive information.
The app must provide an ID to access the insurance files. Also, it must enable renewal to an existing user like various healthcare apps has.
3. Electronic Health Records Integration
Health insurance helps patients cover their medical expenses. Thus, having details about their current health condition will help them make informed decisions.
The EHR solution enables users to view medical history, recommendations, check-up results, screening results, etc. Users can use this information to understand what they pay for to the medical community.
4. In-App Payments
The insurance users pay premiums monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the plans. Because it is a recurring expense, users must have a convenient feature in the app.
The insurance application must offer different payment options, including:
- Online via debit/ credit card, UPI, Paypal, etc
- Via mobile app checking account
- Calling concierge through phone
- Mailing a check
It must also include auto-debit to make the recurring expense convenient to manage.
5. Claims
The user must be able to view the status of claims received or in processing. Every app can use different tags to mark the status- “waiting for review,” ” in review,” “completed.” It can also enable uploading a scanned medical bill to file a claim.
Stages Of Insurance App Development
Developing a relevant and successful insurance application requires implementing the following stages:
1. Identifying Target Market And Expectations
Before developing the insurance app, you must determine the audience you want to serve- patients, insurance companies, healthcare providers. Based on this, identify your consumers’ problems, needs, and requirements.
An application will succeed in the long run only when it addresses and resolves the issue bothering its users. The audience must get what it wants. It can include:
- Solving long queue problems
- Excessive documentation management and storage
- Complicated communication with medical professionals and insurance providers
- Insurance-related complaints, suggestions, etc
- Health tips to stay fit and healthy
2. Analyzing Competitors
After determining the target audience and their needs, you must research your external environment. Analyzing the competitive scenario serves a fruitful purpose. It indicates:
- What rivals are offering
- Where they lack
It can help the app developer mitigate its risk. Presenting a solution that already exists in the market will be exhausting. Therefore, conduct thorough research.
You can build your business model and incorporate specific features accordingly. It will eliminate the last-minute changes, project issues, and unexpected budget hikes.
3. Designing The App
Design an application that reflects usability and functionality. It must not emphasize unnecessary details. Instead, it should be easy to navigate and to the point.
The color, fonts, and layout must prompt the user to use the application without hesitation. It must push them to fill in the necessary details securely.
The app must be feature-rich. It should add value and convenience to users’ lives.
4. Prototype
Design a prototype (early model, sample) to test the concept and process. It will keep you on the right path. The infancy stage model can give insights into functioning and navigation. It enables developers to make changes wherever necessary for a successful app launch.
5. Fitting Compliance Regulations
The healthcare insurance industry has to adhere to several regulations for smooth functioning. It must focus on the following crucial rules:
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HIPAA and HITECH
The Health Insurance App Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) focus on the digitized healthcare industry. While the former covers a person’s health-related information, the latter ensures its security and liability.
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GDPR
General Data Protection Regulation takes security and privacy one step further. It outlines the cases of breach of privacy.
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PCI-DSS
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard focuses on organizations processing credit card information. It aims at compliance with encryption requirements to protect customers’ sensitive data.
6. Testing And Maintenance
Before releasing the app to the public, you must conduct a quality check. It involves detecting bugs and flaws and correcting them timely for a seamless user experience.
Keeping up with the rapidly changing market requires constant updates and maintenance of the software. Firms must conduct adequate testing and maintenance activities without exceeding their budget.
Winding-Up
Developing an health insurance app is a perfect solution to bring insurers, healthcare providers, and customers under one umbrella. It can prevent various insurance frauds and scams. Insurance firms can quickly and efficiently solve customer complaints and settle disputes.
The healthcare providers need not employ resources to coordinate with the insurance company and the patient. Instead, they can focus well on their operations. Insurance applications can also facilitate doctor-patient communication through EHR integration. Paperwork and data management reduces considerably.
The insurance company can serve its customers well with a personalized application. They can achieve higher ROI with automated and efficient processes.