Based on consumer research that the most appealing health-related mobile applications help users save money and easily access their health information, Aetna plans to expand its online features.
The national health insurer has reformatted its mobile website for streamlined, on-the-go web surfing, including claims and physician searches, according to the company.
Aetna is also set to unveil a mobile application, allowing Blackberry and iPhone users to access information, including a Global Positioning System to search for physicians with turn-by-turn directions to offices. They also may present an electronic ID card and download a physician’s contact information into their address book.
In addition to Aetna’s Medicaid text-messaging program for diabetic members, reminding them to have routine blood testing, and a program for pregnant members with reminders of appointments, the insurer said it plans to expand its texting capabilities to its commercial membership, including a text-based alcohol risk assessment to determine a member’s risk for problem drinking. The feature would be available to callers to Aetna’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Alcohol Disease Management program.
“Our culture is increasingly on the go – with one in five Americans accessing the mobile web on a typical day,” said Meg McCabe, vice president of consumer marketing and product for Aetna, in a statement. “It’s imperative that we meet our members where they are with resources that engage them in making well-informed health care decisions, improve their interactions with their physicians, and even help them save a little money along the way.”
Aetna expanding apps, other mobile solutions for its customers via IFAwebnews .
