NEWSROOM

Augmented Reality (AR) is no longer just a buzzword in the insurance and tech worlds. AR is now a practical tool that you can implement at your agency to help better serve clients and even drive sales and leads. But what is AR exactly? Simply put, AR blends digital content — like images, data, or animations — with the real world, enhancing how people interact with their surroundings. Think of it as adding layers of visual, interactive information through a smartphone, tablet, or AR glasses.

Augmented Reality in Insurance 

For brokers, AR offers innovative ways to engage clients and improve experiences in insurance and health care. Here are seven key things brokers and agencies should know about AR use cases:

1. AR Can Enhance Client Education

AR tools can simplify complex topics, like explaining how certain insurance policies work. For instance, a broker might use AR to visually demonstrate different health plan coverage scenarios. Imagine overlaying real-life medical costs with interactive policy details, helping your clients make informed decisions on the spot.

2. Virtual Office Visits for Consultations

Some providers are using AR to replicate in-office visits virtually. With AR, a broker can walk clients through health plan options or insurance products as if they were sitting in the same room. These virtual settings add a personalized touch, combining convenience with clarity.

3. Streamlined Claims Processes

Insurance companies are beginning to integrate AR into claims management. With AR-enabled apps, insured clients can document auto damages or home property losses in real-time using their phones, automating a significant part of the claims process. Brokers could educate clients on how these tools work, offering more value.

4. Innovative Health Care Support Tools

Some health plans and providers now include AR tools for medical procedures, wellness programs, or condition management. For example, AR can guide patients in managing chronic illnesses by overlaying step-by-step instructions for medication usage or physical therapy exercises. Brokers should familiarize themselves with these benefits to better showcase the value of advanced health care plans to clients.

5. Interactive Wellness Campaigns

Many wellness programs incorporate AR to make healthy living more engaging. Consider insurers offering gamified fitness challenges using AR, like virtual races or exercise tutorials. Brokers could use this as a selling point to promote wellness-focused plans.

6. Improved Training for Benefit Enrollment

For your clients that are navigating annual benefit enrollments, AR can transform otherwise tedious training sessions. Employers could use AR to simulate different real-world benefits scenarios, making the process more interactive and intuitive. By recommending plans that incorporate such technology, brokers can give employer clients a cutting-edge advantage.

7. Enhanced Marketing and Engagement

AR has become a fantastic tool for marketing insurance products. Imagine offering potential clients an AR walkthrough of coverage options or a “try before you buy” experience for plans. Brokers can partner with carriers offering these features to attract and retain clients by providing unique, memorable interactions.

Why It Matters for Brokers

AR is a rapidly growing field, and its applications in insurance and health care are becoming more practical every day. Brokers and agencies who stay informed about these advancements can gain a competitive edge. Clients want solutions that are modern, accessible, and efficient, and AR is paving the way for that experience. Integrating AR-led options in your recommendations not only makes you a trusted advisor, but it also strengthens your role as a forward-thinking broker in a rapidly evolving market.
 
By staying up to speed with technologies like AR, you can improve client outcomes, drive engagement, and build relationships that last. Explore what some of our carrier partners are doing with AR and consider how you can position it as part of your brokerage strategy today.
 

About the Author

Kalup Alexander is Digital Marketing Director for The Word & Brown Companies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in New Media Communications and Marketing from Oregon State University and has been at Word & Brown since 2014.