AXA Mansard has introduced Karis, a WhatsApp-based digital platform, designed to simplify access to health insurance services and improve the experience of enrollees at healthcare facilities.

AXA Mansard’s head of marketing, Olusesan Ogunyooye, said the platform was developed to address common challenges faced by health insurance subscribers.

He disclosed this while speaking at the inauguration of the new executives of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos on Thursday.

Mr Ogunyooye said some of the challenges include delays in retrieving enrolment details and accessing information on their healthcare benefits. He explained that Karis enabled customers to retrieve their enrolment numbers, verify their health insurance benefits and identify accredited healthcare providers through WhatsApp using their registered phone numbers.

According to him, many enrollees arrive at hospitals without their enrolment numbers or are unsure whether certain medical services are covered under their health plans, often resulting in delays before treatment.

“The chatbot eliminates such challenges by providing instant access to policy information without requiring customers to contact customer service.

“The platform allows customers to check what they are covered for. It also allows customers to retrieve their enrolment details and locate specialists such as dermatologists, dentists and Ear, Nose and Throat clinics closest to them,” he said.

Mr Ogunyooye noted that the digital solution would help bridge the information gap between health insurers and policyholders, while enhancing service delivery through technology. He said the innovation was part of AXA Mansard’s commitment to ensuring that customers spent less time on administrative processes and more time receiving medical attention.

“Our objective is to make access to health insurance services seamless, so that customers can focus on what truly matters, which is their health,” he said.

Mr Ogunyooye also urged the media to continue promoting public understanding of health insurance by interpreting industry developments in simple language. He noted that increased awareness would boost confidence in health insurance and encourage wider adoption across the country.

He commended insurance journalists for promoting the industry, noting that their work aligned with AXA Mansard’s mission of protecting what mattered and advancing human progress. According to him, there is still a significant communication gap between insurance companies and the public.

(NAN)