Digital health and disability claims

Abstract

Digital technology is starting to enable new and improved modes of healthcare delivery. The healthcare and disability claims spaces are closely intertwined. Disability claimants certainly have healthcare needs but disability claims management has the added dimension of supporting return to work. In this paper, we explain what is meant by the term Digital Health. We then compare the challenges in the healthcare and disability claims management spaces where digital technology may improve outcomes. We touch briefly on how the efficacy of digital technology may be evaluated. The later parts of the paper focus on Digital Health technology providers who have engaged with the insurance industry and we conclude with some learnings around the challenges of implementing these technology-based opportunities. This paper focuses on interventions once a policyholder's health has failed to the extent that they need to claim. There are many opportunities to improve wellness and prevent claim using digital technology, as noted by the IFoA Wearables and Internet of Things Working Party, 1 and we do not discuss these further this paper.