The digital transformation in healthcare: opportunities and potential for the insurance industry.

The digital transformation in healthcare: opportunities and potential for the insurance industry.

According to a report from www.versicherungsbote.de, the healthcare system is currently experiencing rapidly advancing digitalization, which has a significant impact on the market, consumers and the insurance industry. The increasing use of telemedicine, e-prescriptions and electronic health records suggests that patients are becoming more open to digital healthcare services. Markus Zimmermann, Head of Insurance Strategy Consulting at Accenture (DACH), emphasizes the importance of digital health as a driver of change and asks how the insurance industry can support and benefit from this transformation.

Data shows that health insurers, as reimbursers, are involved in all touchpoints of the patient journey and are uniquely positioned to create integrated digital journeys for patients. According to a study by Accenture, 73 percent of insurance customers expect comprehensive support on all health topics from PKVs. This trust offers insurers the opportunity to transform their role from traditional reimbursement provider to digital solution orchestrator.

The aging society poses major challenges for the healthcare system, including the growing shortage of skilled workers and rising healthcare costs. Insurers see an opportunity here to offer digital solutions in the area of ​​health and care in order to open up new business areas and move from being a pure “payer” to a noticeable “carer”.

The digitalization of healthcare services offers a way to defuse the conflict of interest between patients' expectations of the best possible services and insurers' cost control. By using data analytics and AI, both efficiency potential for insurers and benefits for the customer experience can be achieved.

It is therefore clear that the insurance industry should seize the momentum of digital transformation in the healthcare sector and position itself as a driving force to make the most of the opportunities arising from patients' increasing readiness for digital solutions. It is crucial to redefine your own role and consistently support the digital transformation in healthcare in order to be successful in the long term.