I actually quite agree with this. I've stated before as well that I don't believe the iWatch is what people believe it is going to be. I believe it will be a health device targeted almost purely at the medical industry, or at a minimum a "fitness" device, but not a conventional tech watch. However, I don't necessarily think they'll get insurance companies to subsidize it for the average consumer....BUT, if they do get insurance companies to offer consumers incentives for wearing the device and reporting their information to the insurance company (Ala a fitbit/pedometer program, except with a lot more sensor capability), then consumers will be willing to fork over the money to buy the watch at full price. If they make it stylish, AND I can get $2-300 per year in incentives from my insurance company, then I won't mind paying $800 for the device.
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Apple in Talks With Insurance Companies Over HealthKit Partnership
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I actually quite agree with this. I've stated before as well that I don't believe the iWatch is what people believe it is going to be. I believe it will be a health device targeted almost purely at the medical industry, or at a minimum a "fitness" device, but not a conventional tech watch. However, I don't necessarily think they'll get insurance companies to subsidize it for the average consumer....BUT, if they do get insurance companies to offer consumers incentives for wearing the device and reporting their information to the insurance company (Ala a fitbit/pedometer program, except with a lot more sensor capability), then consumers will be willing to fork over the money to buy the watch at full price. If they make it stylish, AND I can get $2-300 per year in incentives from my insurance company, then I won't mind paying $800 for the device.
I just got a full medical exam for professional reasons (professional diver) and I'm in excellent health (even though that effort test almost made me cry like a little girl). I appreciate good health, but I also know for a fact that ten or twenty years from now, my exams will start yielding lower scores, and if I were on such a health plan, I'd eventually stop doing that pedometer thing, at which point I'll start paying back those "discounts" they gave me earlier.
What I mean is, they make it look like it's a perk, but it's simply a trojan horse. The more data they have, the better they can adjust the stats, and the more people will get screwed eventually (it's just a matter of time, and when it comes, you'll pay those small yearly discounts manyfold). Again, an iPhone analogy: you don't get it for $0 because you're cute or a good cuatomer, you're just paying it by installments with overpriced contracts, and in the end the resulting price is higher than if it had been paid upfront.
preach it. i had to spent a few days at the hospital a while ago and i got 25 for every day i had to spent in the hospital bed. paying for health? never heard of such a thing over here
I'm genuinely unaware, but don't you guys all pay higher taxes to keep healthcare costs so low?
Give up some freedom and independence and get a "discount"! As long as you conform, then there is nothing to worry about. This seems to be about turning health care into an all seeing eye. Fast forward a bit and you could see your "discount" in jeopardy if you don't wear you iwatch ,or some other tech, 24/7. Of course this, and other data you simply surrender, will never be used improperly or unethically....as long as you conform.
Well it's not a problem for poor people and illegals! They get everything for free already! It's lower middle income bros like me that it screws! (And how the powers that be are rapidly, and intentionally, eliminating the low-mid folks) oh well, Minimum payments FTW!
After reading this entire thread now I really hope Apple forms partnership with insurance companies.
As I suggested earlier, it's worth taking a look at the source article. Nothing in it supports the concept of Apple entering into partnerships with insurance companies. While the word "partner" is used a half-dozen times in the MR article, it appears not even once in the source article. The article makes only this vague and ambiguous statement:
...which MR spun into "Apple in Talks With Insurance Companies Over HealthKit Partnership." In reality, the story here is about large corporations with group medical plans working with their insurers to reduce health costs and their premiums. The rest, MR pretty much totally made up.
Par for a sad course.
Get a job. Study hard in school. It's not that hard to make it in life. Heaven forbid people who come from war zones want a better life.
Lucky here we have the NHS here in the UK meaning that there is no need for us to be watched all the time as we can have huge medical issues and we don't have to pay anymore as a result!
This is why there is a free market. All Health Insurance companies are not created equal. As you change careers, age and lifestyle, you need to switch insurance companies every few years to get the best rates for your position. Any good Health Insurance broker knows the latest shell game of rates and positions.
Personally, looking at the overweight, Fandom convention types to start screaming they are getting higher rates as play the victim on Internet blogs.
This is not good. Apple should stick to making electronic hardware and software. They don't need to be into healthcare.
Yes. And gladly so. Waiting rooms might not be as fancy, and hospital food is generally crappy, but pretty much any important surgery will be done. By definition, healthcare means repairing what's broken, and it WILL cost money, and I don't care how much, when it has to be done, whether for me or for a total stranger, I don't want some corporation directly making a profit out of it, because guess where that profit would come from? I'm glad my tax money will be used for that, even though I hope I'll never have to use it.
Well I still hope Apple partners with insurance companies. One thing we have in abundance is data. UnitedHealth currently manages over 25 petabytes worth of health related data.
Awesome!
But, but, but... who cares if the government knows every little detail about our healthcare and lifestyle... at least we have security.
Haha...guess I wasn't crazy after all....
I figured out a long time ago the iWatch would basically collect data for the insurance companies....now I'm waiting for them to start forcing people to wear what are essentially what people used to call "bugs."
Call me cynical but I think the insurance companies can't wait to get their hands on any information that might give them a reason to further hike your rates....
I figured out a long time ago the iWatch would basically collect data for the insurance companies....now I'm waiting for them to start forcing people to wear what are essentially what people used to call "bugs."
Call me cynical but I think the insurance companies can't wait to get their hands on any information that might give them a reason to further hike your rates....
Now the GOP hates Apple....
Progressive ideas and personal responsibility?
Uh Oh......next they'll want to reform taxes & take away all those nice loopholes.
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Health conscious people lower costs for all...
Progressive ideas and personal responsibility?
Uh Oh......next they'll want to reform taxes & take away all those nice loopholes.
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Health conscious people lower costs for all...
It's possible, I suppose, but more likely I suspect that they'd work with the large insureds, if anyone.
It depends how high your income is and your family status. Married with kids etc. And there's a limit on how much. I guess at least we get something out of it? I pay 75 a month for health & care insurance
I just got my blood tested for anything I could think of
Went to a different doctor for skin cancer check up
Got 7 massages for my back subscribed.
Got a 24 hour heart rate check up
Didn't have to pay a cent and don't have to deal with anything either. I just hand them my insurance card. That's it
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That would be... AWESOME!! As long as there was a "We see you're getting skinnier. You get a discount." notification, too.
Don't you also turn away care like hip replacements for those deemed to old? What about the death panels? It may only sound rosy cuz you are still young.
The more active you are means you are more likely to get hurt also
Do you have plastic runners on your carpet?