{"id":651812,"date":"2013-04-11T08:00:55","date_gmt":"2013-04-11T12:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gigaom.com\/?p=629998"},"modified":"2013-04-11T08:00:55","modified_gmt":"2013-04-11T12:00:55","slug":"simplee-goes-mobile-to-help-you-figure-out-medical-payments-at-the-doctors-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/651812","title":{"rendered":"Simplee goes mobile to help you figure out medical payments at the doctor\u2019s office"},"content":{"rendered":"

Simplee,<\/a> a Palo Alto, Calif., startup with a Mint-like approach to managing medical expenses, is bringing its service to mobile.\u00a0Through a new iOS app, launched Thursday, users can view a breakdown of their medical bills, outstanding claims and deductible coverage, as well as pay their bills directly from their smartphones.<\/p>\n

Since launching in 2011, the startup has provided those features through its website, but by bringing them to mobile, Simplee wants to help patients make decisions and negotiate payments at the point of service.\u00a0\u201c[In most cases], you\u2019re in the wrong place at the wrong time when you get the information,\u201d said John Adractas, Simplee\u2019s CMO. \u201cMobile\u2026 gives you the information when it matters, when you\u2019re standing in the doctor\u2019s office, when you\u2019re making decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

As an example, Evelyn Wang, Simplee\u2019s director of design, said that when she went in for knee surgery earlier this year, the hospital tried to collect payment upfront. But because she could reference her payment history from Simplee\u2019s app, she knew she had already met her deductible and could show the hospital that their information was out-of-date. Ultimately, she said she was able to push back and didn\u2019t over-pay.<\/p>\n

Obviously, the app won\u2019t come to the rescue for every patient in such a clear way. But as a Simplee user, I can see the benefits in being able to review and pay my medical bills from my smartphone in the same way I can check my bank balance and make other payments on the go.<\/p>\n

Simplee said that its new app would integrate with its SimpleePAY<\/a> patient and loyalty service, which enables participating health care providers to issue digital bills.\u00a0 Patients can pay directly via app, as well as earn loyalty rewards for using it.<\/p>\n

The company, which has raised nearly $8 million, says its average active user pays an average of $1,200 in medical bills annually and uses the service 15 times a year. Over the past two years, it said its handled nearly $2 billion in medical expenses for its users.<\/p>\n

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