Media information, 18 September 2025
New approaches to treating COPD: DKV and Kaia Health expand their cooperation
Innovative app gives DKV policyholders access to evidence-based treatment
DKV Deutsche Krankenversicherung AG (DKV) and Kaia Health Software GmbH are expanding the digital health collaboration initiative they launched back in 2022. Following the successful launch of the “Kaia Rückenschmerzen” digital health app for individuals suffering from back pain, DKV is now also offering the “Kaia COPD” app to policyholders suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The new service marks an important step in the quest to support COPD patients. It is available to anyone with comprehensive DKV health cover or to individuals with supplementary insurance policies that include healthcare management services.
Digital application to support COPD patients
The new app for insureds suffering from a chronic lung condition marks the next logical step for our now well-established digital health programmes. Our aim is to provide our customers not only with conventional treatment options, but also with innovative digital solutions via our cooperation partners.
The app features a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment programme for self-management of COPD, comprising breathing and relaxation sessions, knowledge content and exercises that meet the very highest medical standards. The app also tailors the course of treatment to suit individual users and stands out with a very special feature: an integrated, AI-based exercise coach. The coach allows individuals to correct their movements in real time and provides instructions as feedback. It can provide a key incentive, especially for COPD patients with particularly life-limiting forms of the condition, to remain active and exert a positive influence on disease progression. Overall, the app meets the most exacting data protection requirements and is a CE-certified medical device.
Innovative partnership for modern healthcare
“Kaia COPD” therefore provides a universal digital for the home environment, an ideal add-on to the standard course of treatment for COPD patients in Germany. The innovative solution is customised to suit patients’ individual needs and can be incorporated into their daily routine as an easily accessible, guideline-compliant course of treatment that reflects each patient’s own capabilities.
We are delighted to have expanded our cooperation with DKV. It sees us join forces to use innovative approaches that pursue the objective of improving care in Germany in the long term. The current situation in the healthcare system underscores how urgently we need to be able to make digital healthcare solutions available more quickly and across the board.
Further information is available (in German) at www.dkv.com/gesundheit-besser-atmen.html and www.kaiahealth.de.
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Further information
DKV has been a leading force in the field of health insurance for more than 98 years with its portfolio of needs-based and innovative products. As a specialist insurer, it offers a comprehensive range of health and long-term care insurance products and, via its cooperation partners, health services to people insured under both private and public systems. A further core competence of DKV is the provision of high-quality medical support. In 2024, the company generated premium income of €5.4bn.
As a health insurance specialist, DKV is part of the ERGO Group and is therefore ultimately owned by the latter’s parent, Munich Re, one of the world’s leading reinsurers and risk carriers. For further information, please go to www.dkv.com
Kaia Health was established by Konstantin Mehl and Manuel Thurner in Munich back in 2016. The digital health company develops digital health applications based on multimodal treatment (a combination of exercise, knowledge and relaxation). The effectiveness of Kaia’s digital treatment options has been proven in several randomised controlled trials. The applications use artificial intelligence to adapt to a specific user’s pain intensity and capabilities. The integrated 3D exercise coach also enables corrective assistance during training sessions. As such, Kaia also offers treating medical practitioners a service that can be used alongside conventional forms of treatment. With over 700,000 users, Kaia Health is the global market leader in the digital treatment arena. The company currently employs around 100 people in Munich and New York. Further information can be found at www.kaiahealth.de
This media information contains forward-looking statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the management of ERGO Group. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements given here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation and performance of our Company. The Company assumes no liability to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.