<p dir="ltr">The pace of digitalization seems to be unstoppable in almost all walks of life including the health insurance industry. Its actors use the trend exploring the topic of health insurance app development with the main goal of making individual and family health insurance services more accessible. As mobile technologies are so popular and widespread, mobile health insurance apps are invaluable in allowing people to find, compare, and purchase the policy they need; file, track, and manage claims; and identify the nearest doctor, hospital, and clinic.</p> <p dir="ltr">The more documentation is tackled online, the fewer mistakes are made, and the faster these claims are resolved. This means less manual information entry, less paperwork, and lower operating costs.</p> <pre class="language-contactus"><code>{{ "title": "Write ChilliCode", "description": "To help you acknowledge your business needs and decide whether IT services will work for you, I’ve sorted out a list of cases.", "buttonText": "Contact us" }}</code></pre> <p dir="ltr">Health insurance mobile applications can provide users with telemedicine opportunities and wellness information and encourage healthier, more active lifestyles. When properly analyzed, data provided by such apps is a treasure trove for picking up trends in client behavior patterns, risk assessment, and policy creation.</p> <p dir="ltr">If it is difficult for you to get your head around an insurance app development process, below we explain how a health insurance company can bring it to life.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">What the Health Insurance Apps Market Looks Like</h2> <p dir="ltr">From the point of view of health insurance app development, one needs to consider three components. ‘The global healthcare insurance market was estimated at USD 1,899 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 3,948.7 billion by 2030, poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6% during the forecast period 2021 to 2030’[i].</p> <p dir="ltr">There is already a strong need for health apps as lots of people love using them. ‘There were 311 million health app users in 2023’[ii]. So the health app industry is already huge. ‘In 2023 it generated $3.43 billion, a 9.9% increase on the previous year’[iii].</p> <p dir="ltr">As to insurtech, a mix of “insurance” and “technology,” ‘in 2022, the insurtech market generated USD 11.8 billion in revenue, which has been on a consistent upward trajectory. Looking ahead to 2032, the insurtech market is expected to double its revenue, reaching a staggering USD 336.5 billion’[iv].</p> <p dir="ltr">Thus, an opportunity to capitalize on these trends to digitalize and automate health insurance is not to be missed. Now the challenge for health insurance industry actors is how quickly they can create and improve their user-centric mobile apps to go above and beyond what end-users expect, rather than if they should offer such apps at all.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">What Kinds of Insurance Apps to Develop</h2> <p dir="ltr">Three kinds of apps can be developed for the following target audiences – customers, insurance providers, and healthcare professionals. A dedicated app for each of these groups should have different functionality to solve specific issues.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Mobile Insurance Apps Intended for Policyholders</h3> <p dir="ltr">In such an app users should have access to everything a health insurance company is ready to offer – a range of policies and services, an explanation of their details, and multiple ways to contact the insurance providers and physicians.</p> <p dir="ltr">A basic version of the customer-facing application can deal with documentation processing only, streamlining the paperwork, reducing errors, and fast-tracking claims management.</p> <p dir="ltr">A more advanced app can be a virtual health hub for policyholders. Apart from insurance services, it contains tailored health advice based on the information its users share. Such applications encourage users to lead a healthier lifestyle. For those achieving the intended results insurance providers occasionally offer rewards, bonuses, and/or discounts.</p> <p dir="ltr">The most advanced apps can connect policyholders with doctors via teleconferencing and allow scheduling appointments, and getting a chatbot consultation in non-urgent cases.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Insurance Apps Intended for Medical Professionals</h3> <p dir="ltr">These applications assist insurance companies in automating routine processes related to document validity checks, liability management, assessing patients’ eligibility for direct medical billing, and other related duties. Such apps are quite sophisticated, and made with cutting-edge technology like blockchain and artificial intelligence.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/1_9587a63558.png" alt="1.png"></p> <h3 dir="ltr">Apps Intended for Health Insurance Providers</h3> <p dir="ltr">Such applications are designed with industry professionals’ needs in mind allowing brokers and consultants to manage insurance services on a single platform. With all the necessary information at their fingertips users’ chores are simplified, allowing them to focus primarily on the most rewarding activities. Their productivity can rise dramatically as a result.</p> <p dir="ltr">These applications can also gather feedback from customers which helps identify and solve problems promptly. The faster a health insurance company reacts to policyholders’ concerns, the higher the latter’s loyalty.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Advantages Health Insurance App Brings to the Table</h2> <p dir="ltr">There are several important advantages all target audiences of mobile health insurance apps can enjoy.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Availability and Efficiency</h3> <p dir="ltr">In the mobile health insurance app, users may easily access vital medical information and insurance services. With this degree of availability, consumers may locate in-network providers, compare plans and policy terms, and rapidly check their coverage, and their insurance information from any location at any time.</p> <p dir="ltr">For insurance company’s employees, brokers, and consultants a mobile application is like having an office in the pocket.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Communication Brought to the Next Level</h3> <p dir="ltr">Having direct contact with all the parties involved – policyholders, practitioners, and insurance providers – makes their communication efficient as never before. Users can make video and voice calls, exchange instant messages, manage claims, upload, receive, and verify files – limiting visits to insurance company’s offices and paperwork to the minimum.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">User Awareness</h3> <p dir="ltr">Whatever news, changes, and updates there are in claim statuses, policy terms, and insurance services, app users can be immediately informed via in-app notifications. Policy renewal reminders are invaluable in timely payment and not losing coverage.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Service Promotion</h3> <p dir="ltr">In their apps, insurance providers have a unique opportunity to advertise the coverage and policies tailored to each user’s needs. The data shared by users in the app is the source of refining insurance companies’ services</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Emergency Guidance</h3> <p dir="ltr">Should any emergency occur, consumers are in extreme need of help from their insurance provider. Let them get accurate instructions in the app on what to do in urgent situations.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Location tracking</h3> <p dir="ltr">Insurance company representatives can identify the location of incidents involving the company’s customers if its health insurance application has a geolocation option.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Personalization and Enhanced Customer Experience</h3> <p dir="ltr">By streamlining intricate procedures and individualized policy and plan offerings, health insurance apps with an easy-to-use interface can significantly enhance the customer experience.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Identifying In-network Healthcare Providers</h3> <p dir="ltr">Finding just the right physician can be quite challenging for patients. A health insurance application can guide users to the needed medical professionals, plan examinations and tests, request refills for prescription drugs and get telehealth consultations.</p> <p dir="ltr">The following advantages are vital for insurance providers.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Centralized Storage of Information</h3> <p dir="ltr">All data collected from app users can be stored and analyzed revealing patterns most relevant for insurance companies’ business purposes. This information will be integrated with insurance providers’ own and third-party software like remote patient management systems, electronic medical records (EMR)/ electronic health records (EHR), etc.</p> <p dir="ltr">Insurance providers can and should exert full control over information security ensuring consumers’ data is adequately protected.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Reduced Errors and Paperwork</h3> <p dir="ltr">Manual typing of names and other policyholders' details, misplaced medical documents, and mailing them for further processing often leads to errors and delays in claims management. Health insurance mobile applications with user profiles help avoid mishaps and minimize paperwork.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Enhanced Performance</h3> <p dir="ltr">Automation of routine processes optimizes operating costs and drives productivity. Statistical findings show ‘automation has improved jobs for 90% of knowledge workers and productivity for 66% of them’[v].</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Revenue Growth and Cost Efficiency</h3> <p dir="ltr">Having given up on a paper-based approach, insurance providers may cut some office space and administrative expenses. Knowing the clients’ preferences and trends in their behavior patterns, insurance companies can focus on the most profitable activities and service improvement.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Accurate Risk Management</h3> <p dir="ltr">Customer data helps insurance providers accurately assess risks and ensure more precise quotations and rates.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Client Engagement</h3> <p dir="ltr">The more customers see the value a health insurance application provides, the more engaged they will be in all matters connected to their coverage. If such an app helps users to get a prompt reaction to an emergency from their insurance provider, customers will likely keep utilizing health insurance mobile applications for as long as possible.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some policyholders may become more engaged if in the app they are regularly notified of their physical activity. Customers will appreciate rewards and financial incentives from their health insurance company for being active and staying healthy.</p> <p dir="ltr">All of the mentioned above will not be feasible if the app interface is not intuitive and user-friendly.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Competitive Edge</h3> <p dir="ltr">It is crucial to stand out in a crowded insurance industry. An insurance mobile app development can be part of a winning strategy to stay ahead of the competition.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Industry Benchmarks in Insurance Mobile App Development</h2> <p dir="ltr">Below is a short overview of some of the best and most popular health insurance mobile applications.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Oscar Health</h3> <p dir="ltr">This insurance provider was the first to offer customers a health insurance application.</p> <p dir="ltr">By now it has one of the highest ratings in Google Play and App Store. Oscar Health is an insurance world titan that has raised the standard for usability and usefulness in mobile health insurance applications. Its feature sets emphasize the fundamental functionalities that users value and anticipate from these types of apps. The description says that app users ‘find care from anywhere, access ID card, get paid just for walking, message us anytime, refill your meds in a snap, see what’s covered, and talk to a provider 24/7’[vi].</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Aetna</h3> <p dir="ltr">It is another leader in health insurance mobile applications with over 1 mln downloads from Google Play. Its App Store description mentions with Aetna Health you can ‘take charge of your health and benefits in one easy place. The Aetna Health app helps you stay on top of your health. All when and where it works best for you, 24/7’. Some of the features cited allow users to ‘access ID card and save to Apple Wallet, track spending and progress toward meeting your deductible, view your plan summary and get coverage information, see claims and explanation of benefits’[vii].</p> <h3 dir="ltr">myCigna</h3> <p dir="ltr">One more popular app with over 1 mln downloads is described in App Store as containing such features as ‘quickly view ID; search for a doctor, dentist, pharmacy or health care facility, from Cigna's national network and compare quality-of-care ratings and costs; view and search recent and past claims, access and view health fund balances; view and refill your prescriptions right from your mobile device, update billing and shipping preferences; view plan coverage and authorizations; review plan deductibles and maximums, find what’s covered under your plan; view goal activity and awards’[viii].</p> <h2 dir="ltr">In-demand Features in Health Insurance App Development</h2> <p dir="ltr">The overview of the widely used health insurance mobile applications enumerates the features that make these apps so popular. Below there is elaboration of these features.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Policyholder Profile</h3> <p dir="ltr">In the app users will register by email, phone, or policy number, later logging in with the same information. Individual profiles may contain such personal data as age, height, weight, contact details, medical history, drug prescriptions, and reports. The policyholder profile allows accessing ID cards and checking the coverage information.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Purchasing and Renewing Policies</h3> <p dir="ltr">The option to easily buy and renew policies is important both for insurance providers and customers. The best aspect is that they can complete these transactions without going to any branches.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Reliable Payment Mechanism</h3> <p dir="ltr">Ideally, the insurance app's payment methods need to be flexible. The app should offer customizable commission and incentive calculations, and automate the processing of invoices.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Coverage Control</h3> <p dir="ltr">Policyholders should be able to examine, modify, or even cancel their existing coverage. The feature also makes it simple for app users to transfer to a new insurance company that offers a better health insurance policy.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Uploading and Storing Documents</h3> <p dir="ltr">There is little appetite to drop in insurance providers' offices each time customers need to upload their policy documentation like prescription medications, medical records, and paperwork pertaining to claims. It is much simpler to do it in the app where policyholders can access the uploaded documents at any time.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Choice of Physicians, Hospitals and Clinics</h3> <p dir="ltr">A health insurance application can make it easy for customers to locate the necessary in-network healthcare providers closest to where app users are.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/2_637e3ba24a.png" alt="2.png"></p> <h3 dir="ltr">Hassle-free Claims Control</h3> <p dir="ltr">The most essential feature to file, track, and access claims to streamline insurance claims management.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Customized Dashboard</h3> <p dir="ltr">This feature is in high demand in insurance mobile app development as it can propel the app to the top in its category. A customized dashboard contains the users' essential information like name, residence, amount covered, deductibles, copayment, number of insured individuals, extra benefits, etc.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">In-app Notifications</h3> <p dir="ltr">Let app users know what rewards, bonuses, and/or discounts are available to them. Any changes in coverage, renewal reminders, and health advice can also be added to the list of possible notifications.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Ways of Communication</h3> <p dir="ltr">The wider the choice of ways to communicate with an insurance provider, the more efficient the information exchange. In some cases videoconferencing may be indispensable, some customers prefer voice calls, and younger clients may opt for instant messages and chatbots.</p> <p dir="ltr">As is clear from the overview of the health insurance mobile applications, an opportunity to talk to the health insurance company 24/7 is also vital for app users.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Set of Technologies for Insurance Mobile App Development</h2> <p dir="ltr">A healthcare app development company should see to it that just the right tech stack is used for creating a health insurance app. ‘A tech stack is the set of technologies used to develop an application, including programming languages, frameworks, databases, frontend and backend tools, and APIs’[ix].</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Backend</h3> <p dir="ltr">It is the engine behind everything that the app does and what its users see. This element is concerned with the app's data processing, storage, and security. Even though these are backend operations, they are crucial to improving the functionality of the application in question. Make sure to take into account backend languages like Laravel, Node.js, Express.js, Java, and PHP.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Database</h3> <p dir="ltr">For data storing consider MySql, Redis, and MongoDB.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Hosting</h3> <p dir="ltr">For hosting a health insurance app development team can use Amazon Web Services/AWS and Vultr.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Server</h3> <p dir="ltr">Use NGiNX as web server software for your app.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Mobile development <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></h3> <p dir="ltr">React Native for cross-platform, Swift for iOS, and Kotlin for Android are great for mobile development, depending on the platform you choose for your app.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">User Interface, User Experience (UI/UX) Design </h3> <p dir="ltr">For these purposes, Figma, Principle, and Balsamiq work best.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Project Management and Interaction</h3> <p dir="ltr">Slack, Jira, and Confluent are the widely used tools for managing development projects and team Interaction.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Stages of Insurance App Development Process</h2> <h3 dir="ltr">Step 1: Defining the Goals to Reach </h3> <p dir="ltr">Define the main goals of the app. Keep in mind what audiences it will target, how it will differ from the competitors, what platforms it will target.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Step Two: Identifying Competitors</h3> <p dir="ltr">What are the advantages and disadvantages of rivaling apps? How will your app be better? You can carve out a niche for yourself by figuring out their flaws and developing a unique selling proposition/USP.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Step Three: Defining the Tech Stack</h3> <p dir="ltr">Choosing just the right set of technologies is crucial for successfully developing a sought-after health insurance app that is bug-free, feature-rich, and scalable. If you lack the experience to do it, you will need a healthcare app development company as a tech partner.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Step Four: Designing User-centric Interface</h3> <p dir="ltr">Designing UI/UX is important to make your app engaging and intuitive. If customers find it difficult to use the application, all your efforts and investments in the app creation will fall flat.</p> <p dir="ltr">Do not skip the prototyping phase as with a working prototype the development team finds mistakes and closes gaps to provide a smooth user experience. A prototype will also require you to create an application for various screen resolutions.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Step Five: Creating Codebases</h3> <p dir="ltr">Following the chosen tech stack, design codebases – building the frontend and backend and carrying out mobile development.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Step Six: Quality Assurance Testing</h3> <p dir="ltr">Ensure the app developers run a series of tests, both manual and automated, on the brand-new app. Thorough testing will give you peace of mind before launching the app in the market.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Cost of Health Insurance App Development</h2> <p dir="ltr">In insurtech app development there are different approaches to calculating the cost. We will consider the financial component of building a health insurance app from different angles.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Costs by Degree of Complexity</h3> <p dir="ltr">Depending on the factors discussed – the kind of app you need, its functionality, the necessary tech stack, and the chosen platform/s, the cost of health insurance app development ranges from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Costs by Type of Development Team</h3> <p dir="ltr">Another aspect of costs to take into account is the sort of IT team you are going to work with. In software development, there are four types of teams: in-house, freelance, local, and outsourced.</p> <p dir="ltr">In-house developers are full-time employees working on your app only. Such a team has a deep understanding of the goals of the project, available resources, and limitations. It is easy to get in touch with the team to discuss any issues. However, hiring developers full-time is costly. Without extensive experience in recruiting software engineers, the employer risks spending lots of time and money on the hiring process.</p> <p dir="ltr">Contracting freelancers will be much cheaper, but there is no guarantee these freelancers are going to work on your project from start to end. Communicating with them may not always be easy if they are part of several teams creating various apps.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hiring a local agency in the country where your business operates is a great idea if you have significant resources to pay for the agency’s services. On the plus side, both parties know the local business culture and are subject to the same laws and regulations.</p> <p dir="ltr">An outsourced development team ensures you get value for money with a large pool of talent to meet its client's needs in app building. Besides, cooperating with an outsourcing agency is usually more cost-effective compared to the cost of local agency’s services. Working with outsourced software engineers, clients benefit from such team members’ large experience in creating various software. However, some issues may arise in communicating with overseas developers located in a time zone several hours behind or ahead of yours.</p> <pre class="language-subscription"><code>sub</code></pre> <p dir="ltr">The cost of hiring an outsourced development team in North America, especially in the United States, is about 50% higher than in Western Europe. Cooperating with a team in Eastern Europe will be about three times cheaper than in the US. Outsourcing coders in South (East) Asia is considered to be inexpensive, but clients are not always happy with the resulting products.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Grow Your Business with Health Insurance App Development</h2> <p dir="ltr">As is clear from everything we have discussed in this article, mobile health insurance apps can significantly contribute to growing insurance companies’ business. A customer-centric feature-rich mobile app with an engaging and intuitive interface that exceeds users' expectations can become a real business driver retaining insurance providers’ existing clients and attracting scores of new ones.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although an insurance app development process is not simple and cheap, ignoring the trend for digitalization, automation and widespread use of mobile technology can cost much more than investing in insurance mobile app development in a thought-through well-prepared way.</p>
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