Insuring Digital Health - Building a bridge between startups and health insurers

While the digital transformation in medical practices and hospitals has long been in full swing, startups often still face the challenge of adapting their digital innovations to the needs of patients and, above all, to the requirements of the healthcare system - especially with regard to reimbursement systems.

This issue was addressed by the "Insuring Digital Health" event. For the third year in a row, we were able to offer a platform in cooperation with EIT Health to connect the healthcare sector: on the one hand, health insurance companies, insurance companies, patient organizations and service providers, and on the other hand, startups, with digital solutions in the healthcare sector.

The focus, of the event held online on September 28, was on patient solutions for improved and individualized diagnosis, treatment and medication options. The aim is to integrate the innovative solutions of the startups in the field of digital health into the service portfolio of the health insurance companies.

Insuring Digital Health 2021

After the welcome by Dr. Michael Lüttgen, EIT Health, and Dr. Frank Funke, 5-HT Digital Hub Chemistry & Health, who both briefly introduced the ambitions of their organizations, the keynote moved on.

This year, Dr. Cihat Cengiz, Senior Associate at Dieter von HOLTZBRINCK Ventures spoke about the "Do's and Don'ts of building digital health startups from a VC perspective," and provided a good and practical insight especially for the startups.

A successful moderation debut by Lisa Tschalenko

Lisa Tschalenko from the 5-HT Digital Hub Chemistry & Health led through the event. With her charming manner, she gave a successful moderation debut and is looking forward to upcoming events in the field of digital health, because "digitalization in healthcare opens up a wide range of opportunities for health insurers and patients. It's our job to build a bridge between startups and health insurers to implement more patient-centric solutions in healthcare."

Caption: Behind the scenes: Lisa Tschalenko & Peter Kuhn

The setting was embedded in a virtual event space including an exhibition area to showcase the range of services offered by the participating startups, which allowed viewers to fully immerse and interact in the virtual 3D environment.

Virtual event space including an exhibition area for the presentation of the range of services of the participating startups

Startup pitches including Q&A

After the inspiring opening speeches, the excellently prepared startups had the chance to prove themselves at the in a pitch and present their business models in front of the representatives of the health insurance company and the 5-HT community.

These 8 startups were part of the third Insuring Digital Health:

• CureCurve Medical AI 

• Cynteract GmbH

• DeinePflege (by ucura)

• MedKitDoc

• mentalis

• MentalStark

• Midaia

• yeswecan!cer 

All startups presented their innovative solutions, which directly support the insured and patients in different life situations in a practical and implementable way.

Matchmaking between health insurance companies and startups

A short round of introductions by the representatives of the health insurance companies and the pitches of the startups in the plenary session were followed by speed dating sessions, in which individual issues could be discussed in bilateral exchanges.

Representatives from eight health insurance companies were present, including AOK PLUS, BIG direkt gesund, GWQ ServicePlus AG, IKK classic, Mhplus Krankenkasse, pronova BKK, R+V Versicherung and Techniker Krankenkasse.

The health insurance company representatives, most of whom had already been participants in "Insuring Digital Health" in previous years and were convinced by the format, found the opportunity to get to know exciting startups and discuss points of contact for collaborations.

Matchmaking between health insurance companies and startups

For all participants, the event again meant a gain in new ideas and realization possibilities of digital solutions for the benefit of the patient. "Once again a successful event: entertaining, diverse and innovative. Many thanks to the organizers and gladly again!", Florian Brandt from IKK Südwest praised the event. Hannah Tendyck from Techniker Krankenkasse is also enthusiastic:

Great exchange with creative minds and absolutely inspiring to look into the medical care world of tomorrow."

From the startup side, Midaia Co-Founder Felix Lang speaks highly of the event:

What topics move health insurers? How can health economic improvements be achieved? Through the event, we were connected with exactly the right contacts and will now discuss with health insurers how care in rheumatology can be improved in a patient-centric and health-economic way through digital applications.

And Hans-Jürgen Stein from Mentalis adds:

Insuring Digital Health and the applied speed dating with top performers was one of the best events in 2021. We were impressed by the high density of relevant contacts!

We are pleased with the consistently very positive feedback from the participants and their willingness, already expressed at the end of the event, to be part of the next "Insuring Digital Health" again. On behalf of the entire 5-HT team, we would like to thank EIT Health for the pleasant cooperation and all participants for the exciting exchange.