The French company Alan is dedicated to generating all of its income through health insurance offerings, and this core business model will remain unchanged. However, the organization intends to engage with a wider audience by introducing a series of mobile applications designed to provide health information, facilitate connections with medical professionals, and foster community interaction.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of complimentary medical applications accessible to everyone,” stated Jean-Charles Samuelian-Werve, co-founder and CEO, during a virtual press event. “Our strategy involves creating specialized services tailored to individuals confronting particular challenges or seeking answers to specific health-related inquiries.”

The company’s initial offering is Alan Baby, an application focused on supporting parents in managing their baby’s health. This area was selected due to the potential for significant parental stress related to infant well-being.

Upon launching the application, users are presented with a curated stream of articles covering a range of subjects, including sleep patterns, nutritional guidance, and developmental milestones. The content is personalized based on the child’s birthdate, recognizing that parental concerns evolve over time.

Addressing data privacy concerns, Alan confirms that user data collected through Alan Baby will not be utilized for its insurance services. While users can optionally provide their child’s age to refine content recommendations, this is the extent of data usage. French health insurance regulations impose strict limitations on data handling practices, preventing insurers from denying coverage or adjusting premiums based on medical history after a contract is established with an employer.

Recognizing that immediate medical guidance is sometimes needed between scheduled pediatrician appointments—typically around ten in the first year—Alan Baby provides a text-based communication channel with a doctor. Users can anticipate a response within a 24-hour timeframe.

Alan had previously assembled a team of doctors to support a similar messaging service for its existing health insurance customers. The company is now extending this service to a broader user base, including those who are not currently paying clients.

Furthermore, Alan Baby incorporates a community forum where users can connect and exchange information on health-related topics. This mobile-focused platform will be moderated by Alan, with assistance from its medical professionals.

“The infrastructure we are establishing for parents will enable us to expand into other areas in the near future,” Samuelian-Werve explained, citing fertility, mental health, and diabetes as potential subjects for future free applications.

Although these applications will be offered without charge, Alan anticipates that they will attract new customers to its health insurance services, effectively widening the initial stage of its customer acquisition process.

Alan Baby is currently being released in stages within France. Interested users can join a waitlist, and the iOS application is available for pre-order in the App Store at no cost.

An update on the health insurance products

Samuelian-Werve previously indicated that Alan provided coverage for 100,000 individuals as of October. Currently, a few months later, 139,000 people are enrolled in various Alan insurance plans. A total of 8,300 businesses have selected Alan as their preferred health insurance provider. Essentially, Alan experienced more than a twofold increase in its user base throughout 2020.

Within France, workers benefit from coverage through both the public healthcare system and supplemental private insurance. Alan therefore focuses on securing contracts with businesses to offer its services to their workforce. The company has also secured its own health insurance accreditation, granting it the ability to fully tailor its insurance offerings to specific sectors and individual clients.

Alan also provides services in Spain and Belgium, though expansion in these regions has been gradual. Currently, there are 300 members in Spain and 500 members in Belgium. Alan intends to concentrate on strengthening its position in these two markets prior to expanding into additional countries.