The cost to use an app for women dealing with menopause can now be covered by public health insurance in Germany.
The Vera app was developed by the Chemnitz-based start-up Endo Health to support women with menopausal symptoms (Wechseljahrsbeschwerden) with evidence-based guidance and practical support.
It's the first app of its kind to be provisionally listed as a "Digital Health Application" (DiGA), making it eligible for coverage by statutory health insurance.
Several other menopause-focused start-ups, such as Berlin’s Frieda Health, are expected to follow suit in the coming months.
Endo Health had previously launched the Endo-app for endometriosis and severe period pain.
How Vera works and how to access it
The Vera app is designed to provide support for typical menopausal symptoms – including hot flushes, sleep disturbances, mood swings, pain and exhaustion – by providing methods and exercises to relieve the symptoms of menopause, as well as self-management strategies.
It’s intended for patients with at least moderate symptoms who have been diagnosed with “conditions related to menopause”.
To access Vera, women with public health insurance can download the app to their smartphone (on Apple iOS or Google Android) or use it as a web application.
But to have the costs covered by statutory health insurance, users must first obtain a prescription from their doctor or psychotherapist, which would then be forwarded to their health insurance provider.
The insurer should then issue an activation code, enabling free use of the app for the duration of the prescription – typically 90 days.
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Which other digital health products are covered by public health insurance in Germany?
Currently, 55 more digital health applications are covered by public health insurance in Germany, with 43 permanently approved and 12 provisionally approved.
These apps span a wide range of medical fields, including; mental health (26 apps), metabolism (8 apps), musculoskeletal conditions (5 apps), heart and circulation (3 apps), nervous system (3 apps), urogenital system (3 apps) and others.
Popular examples include Mindable for social phobia, actensio for hypertension, Cara Care for irritable bowel syndrome, and the Endo-App for endometriosis.
The full list is available here. Most of these apps are available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or can be accessed from web platforms.
Again, the cost of using these apps will only be covered by your insurance if you can provide a prescription from your doctor or psychotherapist.
Understanding the DiGA system in Germany
Before public health insurers will cover the costs of using healthcare apps, they first have to be approved by the DiGA scheme.
DiGA is short for Digitale Gesundheitsanwendung or “Digital Health Application”. Overseen by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), DiGAs are classified as medical devices that support the recognition, treatment and alleviation of diseases.
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The scheme was created to ensure that apps meet strict standards for safety, functionality and data protection, and that they demonstrate a positive effect on patient care.
Interoperability is a key requirement, allowing patients to export therapy-relevant data for use by themselves or their healthcare providers, and ensuring compatibility with other digital products and medical devices.
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