Mobile Health Wallet

A week ago I arrived at an MRI appointment just on time, fighting rush hour traffic, only to realize I didn't bring my new insurance card. At least I remembered to bring my wallet. I'm notorious for misplacing it, and once even considered (after watching too many infomercials) to buy a wireless wallet locator.

Well, such devices seem silly now, when one considers the recent trend to forgo the physical wallet altogether for an e-Wallet. Health management organizations have recently jumped on this trend to produce Mobile Health Wallets that carry more than just your digitized insurance cards.

Earlier this year UnitedHealthCare announced the launch of a native app, "Health4me" available through iTunes & Android app stores. The app allows its members to "store their health plan identification card, find the closest hospital or clinic, get information on claims and benefits and keep track of deductible spending."

That's not all:

"Among the technologies that will enhance UnitedHealthcare members' ability to monitor their health is the CareSpeak Communications' medication and disease management application that enables patients to manage their care using two-way text messaging on their mobile phones. The CareSpeak system allows patients to report their medication intakes and biometric data such as blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and weight to their care providers. Patients also receive educational and motivational messages, as well as incentives and rewards for meeting their health goals. 

For those who want to lose weight, Lose It!, created by FitNow, is a mobile app that runs on iPhones or Android devices. The app can improve consumer's ability to track their progress, offering peer support, and providing important caloric and nutritional information on what they eat." 

I agree with Bud Flagstad, Vice President of strategic initiatives at United Health Group, that "[i]n the face of high cost health plans and consumers having to pay more [for the cost of healthcare], these kinds of technology tools have started to become very important." 

A transition from physical ID cards to mobile ID cards alone would save millions of dollars in costs associated  with card activation, print, mail&distribution. Already, Explanation-of-Benefit (EOB) statements are accessible as a pdf document through consumer portals from most major insurers. Even so, pushing the statement to your mobile app would drastically cut down costs associated with portal maintenance and service--and is obviously more cost beneficial (and Eco-friendly) than paper statements. We can also easily add a click-to-chat function to allow for clarification or questions on your EOB with a claims representative. 

Mobile apps that assist consumers to make better health-style choices, such as, helping them develop a customized diet and exercise plan, will contribute to preventative care, saving costs in the long run. If electronic transfer of biometric data becomes refined, many routine checkups, tests, and follow up care can be done from the comfort of ones home and minimize the need for a hospital visit, and save on the associated claim and billing costs.

This trend is not unique to the States. Here are interesting articles on the use of mobile technology in the African context and it's life saving potential. Mobile technology offers the potential to be a great equalizer in the delivery of quality care.

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