Alan, a 4-year-old Paris-based insurtech focused on healthcare, has rolled out a new feature that allows customers to take part in instant-message chats with doctors.

Why should we care?
Alan, which has so far raised $136M in funding, operates in a market where consumers have access to both public and private health plans. Alan’s live chat feature with doctors, which is included in its plans, isn’t intended to replace primary care practitioners, but act as an extra resource. Alan, which currently has 100,000 customers. It says it doesn’t intend to replace the public system, but grow its client base through partnerships with CNP Assurances, Livi, and Petit Bambou. Alan also focuses on niche consumer groups, including hospitality workers and retired individuals. The company differentiates by modernizing how health data and documents are handled through a document and provider interaction repository offered upon customer consent to share information. The platform also estimates cost of services beforehand, minimizing the risk of surprise bills.