Innovative app paired with mHealth device and AI Health coach enables life insurance customers with diabetes to self-manage their condition better
Sydney, 21 February, 2022: Zurich Australia has today launched an Australian-first pilot of a new mobile health app that enables life insurance customers with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels and self-manage their diabetes. The program – an innovative partnership with US based start-up Pops Diabetes Care – will be available on an exclusive, free-trial basis to 100 Zurich Group customers* from February.
Pops is a first-of-its-kind integrated health management system consisting of a simple glucose meter that attaches to a smartphone. Paired with the Pops app and AI health coach, it wirelessly records blood sugar results making it one of the most discreet and easy to use diabetes self-management tools available.
The Zurich Australia pilot follows Pops’ win in the Australian round of Zurich Innovation Championship 2020 and silver award in the global round.
The real-time app also features an AI virtual coach, Mina, to assist and facilitate with the following:
- Identify trends, enabling the user to take a more active role in managing their condition.
- Keep track of HbA1c (blood sugar) goals.
- Set health targets and provide guidance and tips on how best to achieve them.
- Provide conversation and education on diabetes.
In the US, use of the Pops system has led to health improvements for users in the way of reduced glucose levels^.
Jacqui Lennon, Head of Customer & Digital, Zurich Life & Investments, said: “The Australian pilot with Pops Diabetes Care is one of the ways we collaborate with the start-up community under our LiveWell strategy, to source new ideas that help improve customer wellbeing. Pops can replace traditional testing kits currently in use by many Australians. We’re very proud to partner with a start-up that will help our customers with diabetes self-manage their condition 24/7, all from their smartphone.”
Lonny Stormo, CEO and founder of Pops Diabetes Care, said: “I’m very excited to introduce Pops to Australian users. Pops has proven to be an easy way for people to monitor their blood glucose levels and self-manage their diabetes, connecting live coaches to manage customers remotely around the clock. We appreciate the recognition from Zurich and the ongoing support from Zurich Australia to bring Pops to Australian users.”
To get started, recently underwritten Zurich and OnePath Life customers with a diabetes loading on their life insurance policy can simply download the Pops app by searching “Pops Rebel” in their smartphone app store. A PIN will then be provided from Zurich Australia.
The first 100 customers to register will receive the Pops glucose meter and welcome kit in the mail. A step-by-step video tutorial on how to use Pops is available in the app.
*For customers who have a medical loading on their life insurance policy for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. After the free trial with Zurich Australia has ended, customers can opt-in to subscribe to Pops at a reasonable price. The ongoing service covers the glucose meter, a month’s supply of testing strips, access to the Pops app and tips from the virtual AI health coach, Mina.
^ Research from the International Journal of Digital Health concluded that a 17% improvement in blood sugars was sustained for 24 months. See full research article at https://www.graphyonline.com/archives/IJDH/2021/IJDH-107/
