Cigna TTK Health Insurance, a joint venture between US based global health service leader, Cigna Corporation and Indian conglomerate TTK Group, announced the launch of Health Coach as part of its ProActiv Living Programme to help customers manage chronic conditions through customised targeted programmes.

Diabetes is a silent epidemic and according to WHO, there are 246 million people in the world living with diabetes. This is almost 6 per cent of the world's adult population. India is the diabetes capital of the world. It is estimated that currently there are 40 million people with diabetes in India and by 2025 this number will swell to 70 million. This would mean every fifth diabetic in the world would be an Indian. Hypertension is one of the most common lifestyle diseases today. Studies indicate that approximately one-third of Indians suffer from hypertension out of which 60 per cent of them are completely unaware about their condition.

The Health Coach initiative by Cigna TTK is a complimentary programme that is aimed at helping all Cigna TTK customers living with diabetes and hypertension lead healthier and fulfilling life. The programme assigns the customers to a health mentor who helps them identify their health risk and provides them with the expertise and support that they need to reach their respective health goals. Our current enrolment rate in the programme is in excess of 20 per cent of the eligible population.

The targeted Health Coaching programme is initiated with an orientation call with a trained health coach followed by a detailed assessment using a specialized health risk assessment tool coupled with diagnostic test results. This assessment is followed by a goal setting activity, based on what the customer feels they can achieve; taking baby steps to build sustainable healthy habits. The customer is provided with a Health Passport that includes a personalized meal and lifestyle activity plan which is based on the customer’s set goals. Throughout the duration of the programme, various customized recipes, customized health mailers, regular progress follow-ups and reminders are sent to the customer. The customer’s progress is measured across several metrics such as, reduction in blood sugar levels, reduction in BP, medication adherence, diet adherence, weight loss achievement etc. at regularly scheduled intervals. At the end of each programme, the Health Coach discusses the outcome vis-à-vis the set objectives and also the way forward, with the customer.

Commenting on the initiative, Sandeep Patel, MD & CEO, Cigna TTK Health Insurance said, “At Cigna TTK Health we partners with customers in wellness and illness. The Health Coach programme has been introduced with the aim of helping our customers to improve their health and well-being. We help them understand their health and work with them to get healthier. We are confident that our customers will benefit from this programme and work towards a focused wellness and condition management plan through one-on-one interactions with their health coaches. This programme will not only help customers make lifestyle changes that will put them on the road to good health, but will also give them Healthy Rewards that can be redeemed against ProHealth premiums or in the form of additional benefits.”

The programme has been received positively by customers with over 80 per cent of members contacted by Health Coach getting on board and continuing to be actively engaged with goals set and acknowledged.

Manjit Chugh, a Cigna TTK customer and a Health Coach user says, “I am very happy with my health coach. The dietary modifications advised by my health coach are very useful and easy to implement. I have lost 4 kilos in just a month and even my diabetes medications are stopped as my sugar levels are now very much under control.”

These initiatives are a part of Cigna TTK’s ProActiv Living Programme, which is a specialised programme with both online and offline health and wellness initiatives. The programme helps customers understand their health through health check-ups and targeted online health assessment and improvement activities. It then helps them get healthier with customized programmes, supported by a health coach, and provides access to health and wellness discounts. The customers also earn points for participating in these programmes that enable them to either increase their benefits or reduce their premiums.