Apple Offers Free Genetic Testing to Cupertino Employees

[MacRumors]

Through Apple's AC Wellness services that offer health benefits to Cupertino employees, Apple has begun providing its staff with free genetic testing, reports CNBC.

AC Wellness operates on-site health clinics on and near Apple's Cupertino campuses, and through a partnership with Color Genomics, employees are able to get genetic screenings for diseases.

Genetic testing is expected to help employees uncover health problems that could turn into risks later in time, allowing patients to take preventative steps. Color's test is able to look for gene mutations associated with cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The test created by Color is not sold directly to consumers and is instead ordered by clinicians at AC Wellness, with a follow up appointment required to discuss the health results.

Article Link: Apple Offers Free Genetic Testing to Cupertino Employees

 

[rpmurray]

This is a good way for Apple to weed out those employees that may become a significant health care cost.

 

[sundog925]

Can’t wait for people to complain about this in someway.

 

[Tapiture]

A more private system than the dubious stuff going on at 23andMe and Ancestry I guess

 

[nfl46]

Wow. That’s pretty good.

 

[smorrissey]

This is a good way for Apple to weed out those employees that may become a significant health care cost.

Those were exactly my same thoughts.

 

[Rogifan]

A more private system than the dubious stuff going on at 23andMe and Ancestry I guess

I did one of those Ancestry kits. It was weird as it showed my history as being only Ireland and northern England even though my mother‘s side of the family is almost entirely German.

 

[1146331]

I bet the FBI will have a field day with this.

FBI: We need you to unlock a phone.
Apple Employee: No
FBI: We found your DNA at a crime scene
etc.

While the intent is good, there needs to be limits on the use of this data.

 

[||\||]

Genetic testing done through an employer?

Ha, ha - no.

 

[yaxomoxay]

GATTACA in progress

 

[||\||]

I did one of those Ancestry kits. It was weird as it showed my history as being only Ireland and northern England even though my mother‘s side of the family is almost entirely German.

These are nationalities.

 

[Rogifan]

This is a good way for Apple to weed out those employees that may become a significant health care cost.

Only on MacRumors would Apple hate be such that trying to prevent illness/disease is seen as a bad thing. Yes what a terrible thing that a company would put in place programs to try and prevent employees from incurring significant health care costs in the first place.

Full disclosure: the insurance company I work for has Apple as one of its self insured customers. We have a dedicated team that supports Apple 24/7.

 

[||\||]

Only on MacRumors would Apple hate be such that trying to prevent illness/disease is seen as a bad thing. Yes what a terrible thing that a company would put in place programs to try and prevent employees from incurring significant health care costs in the first place.

Full disclosure: the insurance company I work for has Apple as one of its self insured customers. We have a dedicated team that supports Apple 24/7.

If this was Apple's real concern, they'd offer reimbursement to the service of an employee's choosing.

 

[ericwn]

This is a good way for Apple to weed out those employees that may become a significant health care cost.

That information is unlikely to channel back to the employer.

 

[||\||]

That information is unlikely to channel back to the employer.

No one can know that.

 

[PC_tech]

Only on MacRumors would Apple hate be such that trying to prevent illness/disease is seen as a bad thing. Yes what a terrible thing that a company would put in place programs to try and prevent employees from incurring significant health care costs in the first place.

Full disclosure: the insurance company I work for has Apple as one of its self insured customers. We have a dedicated team that supports Apple 24/7.

It’s not hate just because you don’t agree with it

 

[iapplelove]

Can’t wait for people to complain about this in someway.

And you’re shocked? Soon employers will make this mandatory.

What strange times we live in.
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That information is unlikely to channel back to the employer.

Ok.Sure.

 

[RalfTheDog]

A more private system than the dubious stuff going on at 23andMe and Ancestry I guess

I don't think 23andMe or the other non medical services are covered by HIPA. This requires a medical consultation, so it is.

Genetic testing done through an employer?

Ha, ha - no.

The testing is being paid for by the employer. The testing is being performed by an actual medical company that is bound by the Health Information Protection act.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Only on MacRumors would Apple hate be such that trying to prevent illness/disease is seen as a bad thing. Yes what a terrible thing that a company would put in place programs to try and prevent employees from incurring significant health care costs in the first place.

Full disclosure: the insurance company I work for has Apple as one of its self insured customers. We have a dedicated team that supports Apple 24/7.

Perhaps it's not Apple hate, though.

Humans and worse yet, corporations, have a horrible track record of wielding such power to the ends of which they SAY they're going to use it for.

I would be concerned over this regardless of which company implements it, particularly in a scenario where the individual cannot opt out.

 

[RalfTheDog]

No one can know that.

https://www.truevault.com/resources/compliance/how-much-do-hipaa-violations-cost

The cost if they were caught would be bad, not just for them but for the healthcare provider.

 

[||\||]

https://www.truevault.com/resources/compliance/how-much-do-hipaa-violations-cost

The cost if they were caught would be bad, not just for them but for the healthcare provider.

Because Corporate America never rolls the dice where serious legal consequences are concerned. It's hard data. No one can know exactly where it is going.

 

[Analog Kid]

https://www.truevault.com/resources/compliance/how-much-do-hipaa-violations-cost

The cost if they were caught would be bad, not just for them but for the healthcare provider.

Maximum penalty of $1.5M? Peanuts...

 

[Strelok]

Because Corporate America never rolls the dice where serious legal consequences are concerned.

So don’t do it. I wonder if you guys know what the word “offer” actually means.

 

[RalfTheDog]

Because Corporate America never rolls the dice where serious legal consequences are concerned.

It's all about cost/benefit. From the healthcare provider's perspective, this could cost licenses. From Apple's perspective, the bad publicity would have an enormous cost. In both cases, the benefit would be trivial.

 

[||\||]

So don’t do it. I wonder if you guys know what the word “offer” actually means.

I don't work for Apple. It's not an option for me. If I were asked - HA, HA - NO.
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It's all about cost/benefit.

Yup.