Dr. Alexander Tittel (KIT) / Laura Gungl (AOK) 

This collaborative master's thesis between the KIT and AOK Baden-Württemberg holds immense potential for groundbreaking research and innovative solutions in the health insurance field. With the shared expertise and resources of two leading organizations, this partnership is poised to deliver impactful results that will benefit current and future KIT Students and help AOK to provide student-oriented products and services.

Problem Statement

At the onset of their academic journey, students frequently find themselves overwhelmed by new impressions and experiences, the number, choice and selection of educational courses, social events, fellow students, and the bureaucratic intricacies of university administration. Consequently, crucial matters, such as health insurance, tend to be overlooked and disregarded, not being on their priority list. Frequently, there is a lack of straightforward access to essential information regarding the importance, terms and conditions, and options available for health insurance.

Research Objective and Research Questions

The objective of the Master's thesis is to investigate, analyze, and present existing challenges faced by new students in terms of awareness and decision-making criteria regarding suitable health insurance options. Based on that, it aims to develop and suggest innovative and target group-oriented options for a potential solution (artefact) and evaluate the artefact with the stakeholders. The following research questions (RQs) should be addressed:

RQ1: How knowledgeable are students about their health insurance coverage at the beginning of their study?

RQ2: What are the critical decision criteria for students when choosing health insurance?

RQ3: What is an appropriate and effective artefact that could meet a student´s requirements in the context of a health insurance selection?

Methodology and Research Design

To accomplish the research objective, the Design Science Research (DSR) approach should be applied and complemented with qualitative and quantitative research methods in the respective DSR steps.

Expected outcomes

The findings from the research should offer a complete and comprehensive understanding of the current difficulties students face when looking for information and deciding on a health insurance plan and company. Furthermore, the study is expected to present practical, data-based, and validated solutions to help students choose and select health insurance products and services.