Elevance Health Expands Access to Digital Tools, Helping Bridge the Healthcare Digital Divide

Key Terms

digital divide technical

The digital divide refers to the gap between people who have easy access to digital technologies like the internet and devices, and those who do not. This gap can limit opportunities for education, work, and communication, affecting economic growth and social inclusion. For investors, understanding the digital divide highlights areas where technology adoption may influence market potential and economic development.

telehealth medical

Telehealth is the delivery of healthcare services and consultations remotely using video calls, phone, text messaging, or connected devices to monitor and transmit medical information. It matters to investors because it can reshape how patients access care, lower costs, and create new revenue streams or risks for healthcare providers, insurers and technology companies—similar to how online banking changed financial services—while also exposing businesses to reimbursement and regulatory shifts.

value-based care medical

A health-care delivery approach that rewards providers for keeping patients healthy and improving outcomes instead of charging for each test or visit. For investors, it matters because it shifts where profits and losses come from—favoring providers and technologies that lower long-term costs, prevent complications, and demonstrate measurable results; think of it like paying a contractor only when the house stays sound, which changes who wins and loses financially.

medicaid regulatory

Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance program that provides medical coverage to low-income individuals, families, elderly people and people with disabilities, administered jointly by the federal government and state governments in the United States. For investors, Medicaid matters because changes in eligibility, funding, or payment rules can alter patient volume and the prices hospitals, nursing homes, insurers and medical suppliers receive—similar to how a large customer or contract can shift a company’s revenue outlook.

medicare regulatory

Medicare is a large government-run health insurance program that primarily covers people aged 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities. For investors it matters because Medicare acts like a huge customer and rule-maker for hospitals, drugmakers and medical-device companies—its coverage decisions, payment rates and regulatory policies can change demand, revenue and profit margins across the healthcare sector, similar to how a major client or regulator can shape a business’s prospects.

broadband access technical

High-speed internet service that lets homes, businesses and devices send and receive large amounts of data quickly over wired or wireless networks. Think of it as a digital highway: wider, faster connections let more cars (data) travel smoothly. Investors care because broadband access fuels demand for online services, supports remote work and commerce, and drives revenue and infrastructure spending for providers and related technology companies.

virtual care medical

Healthcare services delivered remotely using video calls, phone, secure messaging, or connected devices that track symptoms and vital signs — essentially a virtual doctor’s visit or digital check-in instead of an in-person appointment. Investors watch virtual care because it can change how quickly a provider or tech company reaches more customers, cuts or shifts operating costs, and alters reimbursement and competitive dynamics, much like online banking reshaped how people access financial services.

care coordination medical

Care coordination is the organized process of making sure a patient’s various healthcare services—doctors, tests, prescriptions, and follow-up—are planned and communicated so nothing falls through the cracks, like a project manager keeping different teams in sync. For investors, effective care coordination can lower costs, reduce hospital readmissions, improve patient outcomes and satisfaction, and increase operational efficiency and revenue predictability for companies that provide or enable healthcare services.

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INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Elevance Health is advancing its commitment to improving healthcare access by addressing one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges: the digital divide. Through innovative programs like Get Connected for Health and services offered by CareBridge, a subsidiary of Elevance Health, the company is helping ensure that individuals - especially those in underserved communities - have the tools, connectivity, and support needed to help them better manage their healthcare.

Access to digital health tools has become increasingly essential in today’s healthcare environment. Yet millions of Americans still lack reliable internet access, appropriate devices, or the digital literacy required to fully engage in their healthcare. Elevance Health is working to close this gap by embedding digital access into the care experience, making healthcare more equitable, convenient, and personalized.

“Consumer experience is about meeting people where they are and simplifying their healthcare journey,” said Saurabh Tandon, Chief Experience Officer at Elevance Health. “By expanding access to digital tools and services, we are helping remove barriers that can prevent individuals from getting the care they need.”

Elevance Health’s broader consumer experience strategy focuses on making healthcare easier to navigate - from finding care to understanding benefits - while reducing confusion and saving time for members and their families. This approach recognizes that improving access to digital tools is not just about technology, but about empowering people to take control of their health with confidence.

One key example of this commitment is Elevance Health’s Get Connected for Health program, which directly tackles the root causes of the digital divide by expanding access to connectivity and digital resources.

Get Connected for Health provides eligible members with a high-quality smartphone preloaded with a curated suite of digital and virtual health tools, along with unlimited data, talk, and text service at no cost. These tools include telehealth services, health plan apps, and personalized health and wellness applications designed to meet individual needs.

The program reflects a growing recognition that connectivity itself is a critical driver of health. Research shows that a significant portion of lower-income individuals lack broadband access, and many rely solely on smartphones to connect to the internet. Without reliable digital access, individuals may face challenges scheduling appointments, communicating with providers, or accessing important health information.

By addressing these barriers, Get Connected for Health helps create more equitable access to care. The program also includes educational resources and technical support to improve digital literacy, ensuring participants can fully utilize the tools available to them.

Importantly, the initiative is built through collaboration with leading telecommunications providers, enabling scalable solutions that can reach hundreds of thousands of members across multiple states. Early results have shown increased adoption of digital health tools and improved engagement, underscoring the impact of combining connectivity with personalized healthcare resources.

In addition to Get Connected for Health, CareBridge, a value-based care company within Elevance Health, supports a wide range of individuals including those enrolled in Medicaid plans, individuals in Dual-Special Needs Plans (who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare), and people receiving home and community-based services. CareBridge provides patients with easy-to-use, cellular-enabled tablets that connect them directly to their care teams.

Through CareBridge, patients can access virtual care services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using video, chat, or text in multiple languages. This always-on connectivity enables individuals to receive care in the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for unnecessary emergency visits and improving overall health outcomes.

The platform is specifically designed with accessibility in mind. Patients are equipped with simple, intuitive devices and supported in their preferred language - CareBridge clinicians collectively speak 19 languages and support more than 300 additional languages. By removing both technological and language barriers, CareBridge helps ensure that vulnerable populations can stay connected to care teams and manage their health more effectively.

In addition to virtual care access, CareBridge integrates care coordination, data insights, and real-time support, enabling a more holistic and responsive care experience. The result is a model that not only improves convenience but also enhances independence and quality of life for individuals receiving long-term services and support.

Together, CareBridge and Get Connected for Health illustrate how Elevance Health is embedding digital equity into its care model. By delivering both the technology and the support needed to use it, the company is helping individuals overcome barriers related to income, geography, and language.

These efforts align with Elevance Health’s broader mission to transform healthcare into a more accessible, intuitive, and human-centered experience. By leveraging innovation and partnerships, the company continues to reimagine how care is delivered - ensuring that more people can access the services they need to lead healthier lives.

“As healthcare continues to evolve, digital access will play an increasingly central role in outcomes and experience,” Tandon added. “Our goal is to make sure no one is left behind.”

About Elevance Health

Elevance Health is a lifetime, trusted health partner whose purpose is to improve the health of humanity. The company supports consumers, families, and communities across the entire healthcare journey – connecting them to the care, support, and resources they need to lead better lives. Elevance Health’s companies serve approximately 105 million consumers through a diverse portfolio of industry-leading medical, pharmacy, behavioral, clinical, home health, and complex care solutions. For more information, please visit www.elevancehealth.com or follow us @ElevanceHealth on X and Elevance Health on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527112444/en/

Hieu Nguyen
hieu.nguyen2@elevancehealth.com

Source: Elevance Health, Inc.