Apple Aiming to Bring Apple Watch to 23 Million Aetna Subscribers

[FelixDerKater]

Data doesn’t come cheap.

 

[laudern]

I'm not for weakening privacy, but I don't see what's wrong with unhealthy people paying more for their healthcare and healthy people paying less.

While I do totally understand that thinking, I also believe it is flawed. When do you actually NEED healthcare? When you are sick. As such, sick people need healthcare. You shouldn't be punished for needed the service that you are paying for.

Imagine if you had healthcare for 20+ years and you were fit as a fiddle. Then you get sick, really sick. Is it fare that now you are actually needing the health care you have paid for, your premiums have now skyrocketed?

Healthcare needs to be fair for all. Yes you might see it as 'unfair' on the healthy people. But when you are in need of medical services, your medical condition shouldn't determine how much you are paying in premiums.

What type of cover you have signed up for determines the premium, not the sickness you have...

 

[mlody]

I have Aetna and very recently (about 3 weeks or so) I received an email that I can get any Apple watch for $100 off if I go thru their portal. I know this is not the same as free watch, but I am tempted to go for Series 1, or wait for new models and see if I can get even better deal. the offer is good till the end of the year, so I got time.

 

[doctor-don]

I'm not for weakening privacy, but I don't see what's wrong with unhealthy people paying more for their healthcare and healthy people paying less.

Better not have an accident or contract a serious illness.

 

[dk001]

Privacy is a big issue with Apple.

I doubt Apple would do an about face and allow third party companies (Aetna in this case) access to something as personal as your specific health records.

Your identification would surely be encrypted.

Especially here in California.
I have Aetna. I currently own a Nike Apple Watch. My biggest issue outside of data abuse is the unreliability of the Apple Watch. I frequently lose data connections between them for Activity and Health. After the last update, Health app lost all my historic data. It is hooked to my 7+.

Feel they have a ways to go before I would consider something like this.

 

[wigby]

My question is what kind of health data access will they require you to give up in order to get the free Watch. We all know nothing is "free."

Whatever you already give them plus whatever the watch can give them regularly like heart rate. What else are you thinking?

 

[DeepIn2U]

Data doesn’t come cheap.

I'm not entirely sure I'm comfortable with medical device alliances with a company that is paid and invests in people's medical wellness. Is there medical data to be submitted in order to reap the coverage for medical help you've invested in??!!

 

[Morod]

I'm in Kansas and have Aetna health insurance. If I'm offered a watch for free/discounted price, I'll probably take it.

 

[KPandian1]

Finally, Apple Watch sales figures will improve to Apple's lofty standards. Only way!?

 

[Syed Osama Salahuddin]

Cool idea

 

[dk001]

Whatever you already give them plus whatever the watch can give them regularly like heart rate. What else are you thinking?

Unless they (Aetna) looking at building a profile of you and your "health" habits.
This would allow them to fine tune or better tailor plans and forecast payouts.
That data would be salable even if made anonymous.

 

[satchmo]

I could also see Apple agreeing to this as a way to clear out existing Series 1 stock...(you didn't think Aetna was going to give you a free Series 2 did you?)

 

[dk001]

I could also see Apple agreeing to this as a way to clear out existing Series 1 stock...(you didn't think Aetna was going to give you a free Series 2 did you?)

But But But But But ...... YES!!!!

 

[jonnysods]

Congratulations, but please keep in mind, YOU DID THAT, not the Watch. Taking personal responsibility for your achievement will help insure your future success.

The day that I ditched my SS link forever was when I came up 1 calorie short of my daily calorie burn goal, which killed a several-month streak of all my goals being met or exceeded. I was livid and realized I was addicted to those stupid rings, and Apple wasn't even smart enough to call 599/600 a win.

And don't get me started on how my "day" ends at the stroke of midnight, even though I'm clearly still awake and active until 2-3am. There's no excuse for this kind of sloppiness, especially from a bunch of california health nuts, like Phil. X-)

I know, I just like the visual motivation, and now activity sharing with my friends is another boost.

Yeah the midnight thing would be frustrating for people who aren't white collar and work shifts etc. Or people who are white collar and work nutty hours.

 

[ksnell]

Whatever you already give them plus whatever the watch can give them regularly like heart rate. What else are you thinking?

The Watch is only going to get more sophisticated with more sensors. I don't want them mining that data and saying, you at more junk food than your average citizen last year and also drove over the speed limit, so we are raising your premiums by 40%. Although I understand the business reasoning, this is way too much of a breach of privacy for my liking.

 

[dk001]

Congratulations, but please keep in mind, YOU DID THAT, not the Watch. Taking personal responsibility for your achievement will help insure your future success.

The day that I ditched my SS link forever was when I came up 1 calorie short of my daily calorie burn goal, which killed a several-month streak of all my goals being met or exceeded. I was livid and realized I was addicted to those stupid rings, and Apple wasn't even smart enough to call 599/600 a win.

And don't get me started on how my "day" ends at the stroke of midnight, even though I'm clearly still awake and active until 2-3am. There's no excuse for this kind of sloppiness, especially from a bunch of california health nuts, like Phil. X-)

Always a pain. My roomie starts the day at 21:00.
It is a good concept but as you point out, a bit sloppily done.

 

[ksnell]

As long as you know that you have to give up that information to accept the watch and continuing your insurance isn't tied to accepting, i don't see where there is a problem. I mean my health insurance gets all kinds of information about me from my doctors via the claims they file. Maybe not always exact details but enough to give them a fair idea if I'm a money risk

Okay so maybe version 1 of there system would just look at how active you are and give you a discount for that (still crosses the line for me), but what about once they start compiling other unhealthy lifestyle choices from new sensors. You will be scored based on smoking, drinking, eating (not just food choices but also portions and what time of day), driving, sleep, stress etc.

 

[JoeG4]

Pay more for your insurance, so people that go to the gym pay less!

Big Brother topic aside, this is actually a fabulous idea. People that exercise more are healthier, and people that are healthier require less medical care. You know what that means? CHEAPER INSURANCE!

You have to see beyond the short term quarterly gains BS that fly by night CEOs use to make themselves nice big golden parachutes.

Seriously though, even the most expensive gym memberships probably cost less per month than ONE DOCTOR VISIT.

Shoot, why aren't insurance companies motivating their customers to go to fitness training classes and all? That would be really cool.

 

[dk001]

Big Brother topic aside, this is actually a fabulous idea. People that exercise more are healthier, and people that are healthier require less medical care. You know what that means? CHEAPER INSURANCE!

You have to see beyond the short term quarterly gains BS that fly by night CEOs use to make themselves nice big golden parachutes.

Seriously though, even the most expensive gym memberships probably cost less per month than ONE DOCTOR VISIT.

Shoot, why aren't insurance companies motivating their customers to go to fitness training classes and all? That would be really cool.

Maybe if you are middle class or above or no kids....
There are too many factors to put in the "gym" requirement. Exercise generally means better but it is far from the whole picture and I doubt, hopefully something like this is not used to enforce.

 

[8281]

I didn’t say smart watches are going to make healthcare cheaper. But I do think insurance companies are doing a lot to try and bring costs down. I work for one. We have over 60 petabytes of data we use to try and bring better care to people. I don’t see what the problem is with adding connected device data to this. And yes I think it’s perfectly fine to reward people who try to eat healthier and workout.

I didn't say data was bad, but insurance companies aren't in the business of losing money and there's tons of money being made in healthcare. It's effectively a failed marketplace.

 

[winston1236]

I'm sure at some point in the future they'll look to charge higher premiums for those in poor health and lower for those taking good care of themselves.

It's much like the Progressive SnapShot, where the data isn't necessarily being used for a lot now but in the future they can use it to help push for more favorable legislation to help their own bottom line. Like with Google, it's all about building a more complete profile of your customers in order to better understand them and market to them.

It'd certainly be interesting from the data aspect. Being able to say that these things make a person more likely to be overweight, more likely to suffer certain conditions, and much more.

More likely they will charge unhealthy people more and charge healthy people the same inflated price they already pay.

 

[a.gomez]

I have Aetna, rather just get extra free gym credit. Also illogical to think everyone with Aetna has or wants an iPhone to link this with.

Apple really has no idea how to get this crap out the door... I mean Better idea over the original fashion/luxury angle. Basically just give it away to old people.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

More likely they will charge unhealthy people more and charge healthy people the same inflated price they already pay.

Potentially. Currently Progressive gives safe drivers a discount. Myself and my wife both get 30% off our rates because of it.

 

[macs4nw]

Since when is an insurance company having access to data a bad thing? It’s insurance companies trying to make healthcare less expensive. And the way they’re doing it is with lots and lots of data, machine learning and AI. If I could get a discount on my insurance premiums or buy down my deductible by excercising a certain amount each week and my insurance company tracked it via my Apple Watch I’d sign up for that program in a heartbeat.

Careful what you wish for. Their intentions aren't entirely noble. To put it bluntly, the aim of this initiative is their bottom line, whether that be through being able to justify increased premiums or lower payouts, or both.

They're not giving away, or heavily subsidizing, 23 million AWs without expecting something in return.

 

[Urban Joe]

Well, that's the optimistic version. The more sinister version is that they'll use it to justify denying coverage or increasing premiums. Although potentially both could be true.

When it comes to insurance companies and money....you can bet they are planning to screw you over three ways from Sunday. Sooner rather than later this issue MUST be taken up legislatively. Directly or indirectly, this will effect everybody. Statistics can be manipulated and very soon, the insurance companies will be able to make a case to raise virtually everyones premium for one reason or another. This is a pandoras box and I hope it leads to the annhailation of insurance as we know it. Greed is going to destroy our current system....mark my words.
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Careful what you wish for. Their intentions aren't entirely noble. To put it bluntly, the aim of this initiative is their bottom line, whether that be through being able to justify increased premiums or lower payouts, or both.

They're not giving away, or heavily subsidizing, 23 million AWs without expecting something in return.

Good point. Wait until these “healthy” people have a health issue and then see how they like it. Very few people get through a long life with perfect health.
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Big Brother topic aside, this is actually a fabulous idea. People that exercise more are healthier, and people that are healthier require less medical care. You know what that means? CHEAPER INSURANCE!

You have to see beyond the short term quarterly gains BS that fly by night CEOs use to make themselves nice big golden parachutes.

Seriously though, even the most expensive gym memberships probably cost less per month than ONE DOCTOR VISIT.

Shoot, why aren't insurance companies motivating their customers to go to fitness training classes and all? That would be really cool.

Exercise alone is far from determining long life. A relative of mine was bedridden for years and obese and lived well into their 90's. Lifestyle and stress and attitude have a great deal to do with it. Also, most people who attend church tend to, statistically, live longer lives. Will that be a data point as well? You don't have to be a techno geek gym rat to be healthy. I would rather see a fool proof way to detect/track texting/talking/distractions and driving as that is an extremely deadly habit that has reached epidmic scale already. If you want to get rich quick get into collision repair.