Health management next stage for insurers

More customers are paying for a wide range of medical and health management services in addition to seeking protection from insurance products, company data shows.

Last year, about 17 million users bought medical protection and health management services with ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co Ltd, an online-only insurance technology company.

Taking health insurance as the breakthrough point, the insurer is ramping up efforts in the field of health by building Internet hospitals and working with ecological partners.

In July, ZhongAn launched a protection plan which included outpatient and emergency treatment. Under the cover, policyholders can make online consultations and drugs can also be delivered to their home.

Since the launch of its Personal Clinic policies in 2016, extensive medical insurance coverage has been offered at relatively low premiums for over 11 million customers.

It paid up to 1.3 million yuan (US$188,291) for a single hospitalization case. And it takes only one working day for people with a critical disease to enjoy green channel treatment after their application.

Data from the firm also shows that young women have a strong protection awareness and the Personal Clinic policies were most popular in Shanghai, followed by Sichuan and Henan Province.