Swiss Re Reinsurance Solutions has partnered with Wysa to launch Wysa Assure an artificial intelligence (AI) based mental health support app.
Australia’s MLC Life Insurance is the first provider to pilot the solution which integrates Swiss Re’s risk expertise and proprietary scoring system and Wysa’s AI-powered mental health solutions.
Central to the app’s design is an AI chatbot built on cognitive behavioural therapy principles, enabling users to be supported on-demand, guiding them through evidence-based mental health resources selected for their needs.
The app, which prioritises user anonymity to address data protection concerns. It also integrates self-management modules and insurers’ support networks in a bid to foster proactive mental wellbeing management and encourage early support seeking. By avoiding symptom deterioration it aims to potentially enable claims savings for insurers.
Through the incorporation of Swiss Re’s risk-oriented scoring mechanism, Wysa Assure users can monitor their mental health.
Meanwhile insurers can benefit from its reporting suite equipped with data to enhance their portfolio management.
Australia is the first country to benefit from the solution, with MLC Life Insurance the first to pilot it.
Wysa Assure is available to existing and new MLC Life Insurance retail customers through its Vivo programme. Other app features include stress-relief programmes and therapeutic techniques, as well as exercises and a wellbeing score to help users keep focused on their mental and emotional health.
Carl Christensen, head of life and health solutions at Swiss Re Reinsurance Solutions, said: “Wysa Assure combines mental wellbeing and protection, emphasising the importance of open discussion around mental health.
“The app we co-developed with Wysa is designed to meet the needs of insurers and their customers, reflecting our commitment to customer-centric solutions that improve the adoption of insurance whilst improving the quality of people’s lives. We look forward to bringing this health and wellness solutions to other markets soon.”
Andrew Beevors, chief claims officer at MLC Life Insurance, said: “We’re always looking for innovative ways to improve the total customer experience, and that’s why we’re proud to be pioneers in this space and to further complement our award-winning Vivo program.
“We’re focused on delivering an industry-leading customer experience because we know how important our promise for life is to our customers, often at the most challenging times. Our ‘here for you’ philosophy means offering a personalised, caring, and supportive response.”
Ramakant Vempati, co-founder and president of Wysa, added: “Wysa Assure is more than a mental health tool; it is an AI companion designed to assist anyone navigating life’s challenges. We are confident that Wysa Assure will help enhance the industry’s understanding of mental illness, paving the way for better protection and product design.”