The first digital lipedema care program LipoAlly - a success story from LipoCheck and Pronova BKK

A special foundation stone was laid at the “Insuring Digital Health 2023” event organized by 5-HT Chemistry & Health: the health startup LipoCheck and the health insurance company Pronova BKK came together, paving the way for a groundbreaking project. A few months later, their collaboration culminated in the launch of the first digital lipedema care program, LipoAlly. Pronova BKK is the first health insurance company in Germany to offer this program to its policyholders - an important step for the care of people with lipoedema and a revolution in digital healthcare.

Andrea Kalkofen Pronova BKK, Anina Langhans & Helena Rapprich LipoCheck, Joseph Meiser Pronova BKK (from left to right) have realized the cooperation

LipoAlly - more than just a digital program

LipoAlly was developed with the aim of closing a gap in the treatment of lipoedema. Lipoedema, a chronic and painful fat distribution disorder, affects an estimated 10% of all women in Germany. However, the number of unreported cases is high. The level of suffering is enormous, as there is often a lack of information and suitable treatment options. This is precisely where LipoAlly comes in: the program offers comprehensive support for people who have been diagnosed with lipoedema or are still in the diagnostic phase.

LipoAlly is covered for those insured by Pronova BKK

The aim of the program is to offer those affected early and well-founded support, thereby improving their health and quality of life in the long term. The special thing about lipoedema is that it cannot be cured quickly or with a simple medication. The disease requires comprehensive care and structured therapy as part of standard care. LipoAlly also provides targeted support and guidance digitally.

“With this unique approach, we want to be the first health insurance company to close a gap in lipoedema treatment and make it easier for our policyholders to access relevant healthcare,” says Joseph Meiser, Digital Health Manager at Pronova BKK. The health insurance company will cover the costs of LipoAlly for twelve months, offering those affected a direct and unconventional route to special care. “There's no quicker way to get care based on a need,” confirms Andrea Kalkofen from the care management department at Pronova BKK.

The LipoAlly app

How Insuring Digital Health paved the way

Insuring Digital Health (IDH) has established itself as a valuable platform for health start-ups to get in touch with health insurance companies and initiate potential partnerships. It enables start-ups and health insurance companies to get in touch easily.

Joseph Meiser from Pronova BKK described the event as the “highlight of the year”.

According to LipoCheck Co-Founder & CEO Helena Rapprich, the opportunity to come into direct contact with health insurance company representatives speeds up the implementation and decision-making processes considerably: “Bringing all the relevant people together in one place saves us an enormous amount of time. The people we met there are exactly the people who are interested in digital solutions.”

Lisa Tschalenko, Senior Ecosystem Manager Digital Health, program manager and moderator of the IDH, has been running the format since 2021 and notes: “The participants of the IDH, health insurance companies and start-ups alike, appreciate the open, trusting exchange at eye level in a manageable setting. The trusting and intimate atmosphere that we have built up over the years enables deep, honest discussions. Our startup coaching and our careful pre-selection process for startups ensure that we not only create opportunities, but also curate meaningful, effective collaborations.”

Helena Rapprich presents LipoCheck at Insuring Digital Health 2023

5-HT moderator and IDH program manager Lisa Tschalenko and Helena Rapprich during the subsequent Q&A session at Insuring Digital Health 2023

Rapprich found the format of the event - with a mixture of plenary presentations and individual discussions - to be particularly beneficial. Here, start-ups were able to engage in an intensive exchange with representatives from health insurance companies. “It often helps to be forced to sit together at a table in order to realize that you can work on a problem together,” explains Rapprich. “Such discussions brought us closer to our goal more quickly, as all the relevant decision-makers were at the table.”

Rapprich recalls Joseph Meiser's important role in this project: “For us as a start-up, it is crucial to find the right contacts. Joseph is an enthusiastic supporter of digital health services and actively promotes our ideas. It was his commitment and expertise that drove the project forward. Without this enthusiasm and willingness to break new ground together, we wouldn't have got this far.”

Joseph Meiser from Pronova BKK presents the LipoCheck success story at Insuring Digital Health 2024, which was initiated at the previous year's event.

The contacts made at the event helped both sides enormously: while LipoCheck gained valuable insights into how health insurance companies work, Pronova BKK recognized the potential of LipoAlly as an innovative health solution. For months, the LipoCheck team worked closely with Joseph Meiser and his colleague Andrea Kalkofen to refine the concept, fine-tune the contract details and adapt the program to the needs of the insured.

LipoAlly: a digital care offering for many

LipoAlly is aimed at a large number of potential sufferers: according to estimates, one in ten women in Germany is affected by lipoedema, but only around 480,000 cases have been registered with health insurance companies to date. Due to the complexity of the disease, many sufferers often receive a diagnosis late or are not properly supported by conventional health services. Helena Rapprich comments: “The biggest problem is the lack of information and the frequent lack of continuous care. The disease can lead to excessive demands and further health problems - this is exactly where we come in with LipoAlly.”

Pronova BKK has taken on a pioneering role here by giving its policyholders access to LipoAlly and covering the entire cost of the program for the first 12 months. This commitment shows that health insurance companies are increasingly recognizing and promoting innovative health solutions.

LipoAlly-App

Tips for startups and health insurance companies

Helena Rapprich gives valuable tips for other start-ups and health insurance companies based on her experience of working with Pronova BKK. It is important for start-ups to understand the language and requirements of health insurance companies. “Our LipoCheck app was already on the market, but we had to learn that this alone is not enough. Health insurance companies and start-ups come from completely different worlds - and that's exactly what makes their collaboration valuable. It's about learning from each other and combining their respective strengths: startup innovation meets the expertise of statutory health insurance companies. And you have to be open to that.”

For health insurance companies, Rapprich advocates a more open and flexible approach: “Many solutions may not fit into the system at first glance, but it's worth thinking one step ahead. Through targeted discussions and openness to new ideas, health insurance companies can promote innovative programs such as LipoAlly and improve their care.”

The importance of collaboration and a look into the future

The successful launch of LipoAlly is the result of intensive collaboration based on openness and trust. “An important aspect for startups is to understand the language of health insurance companies and to act as a solution partner,” explains Helena Rapprich. The right contacts and an environment that encourages exchange - such as at the 5-HT Chemistry & Health event - can help startups and health insurance companies pave the way for future healthcare projects.

The launch of LipoAlly is a decisive step, but the vision of LipoCheck and Pronova BKK goes further. The aim is to make the model accessible to other health insurance companies and to offer effective care to even more people affected in Germany. Important contacts have already been made and deepened at Insuring Digital Health 2023.

With LipoAlly, LipoCheck is setting new standards in digital healthcare. The partnership with Pronova BKK is an impressive example of how targeted networking and an open mindset can lead to real innovation. Insuring Digital Health 2023 made this meeting possible and thus created an example of how events of this kind can act as catalysts for progress in the healthcare industry.