UnitedHealthcare Offering Insured Members Free Year of Apple Fitness+

[deeddawg]

Maybe this time I'll actually use Apple Fitness+ before the trial ends. I work out and use the Workout app on my watch to track exercise, but was just never motivated to watch a video on Fitness+ while I had a trial of it. Is it worth checking out?

I've never tried it but from what I've seen it seems like it'd appeal to folks who are oriented towards group classes of whatever sort and appreciate having the "leader" aspect.

My preference is solo outdoor cycling or outdoor running, the latter usually with music or PodRunner music mixes -- but I "get" that many like the "class" style. Whatever works for folks.

I'm certainly curious to hear if my assessment is incorrect, not that I'd necessarily subscribe but my wife does Pilates and she might want to give it a try sometime.

 

[tagmut]

Health insurance provider UnitedHealthcare has announced that a 12-month subscription to Apple Fitness+ will be provided to its fully insured members at no extra cost.

Starting November 1, members who already own an Apple Watch will be able to sign up for a yearlong Apple Fitness+ subscription for free. According to UnitedHealthcare, this covers about 3 million of its members across most states.

Employers with self-funded health plans will, starting next year, be able to purchase an "Apple Fitness Bundle," which provides a 12-month subscription to Apple Fitness+ as well as a $25 Apple digital gift card, said the insurer.
In addition to the 12-month subscription at no additional charge, UnitedHealthcare Motion enrollees can now use program incentives earned to cover an ongoing Apple Fitness+ monthly subscription ($9.99). UnitedHealthcare Motion is a wearable device well-being program available for purchase to employers with self-funded or fully insured plans, and enables members to earn financial incentives for completing daily activities goals.
The initiative follows a similar one announced in January by the insurer that offered five free months of Fitness+ to all enrollees with an Apple Watch.

Article Link: UnitedHealthcare Offering Insured Members Free Year of Apple Fitness+

I wish Blue Cross Blue Shield would do this....

 

[urnotl33t]

A few weeks ago I was looking at some pictures from the 1970's and early 1980's on some photo group. Photos of beaches, streets, carnivals, etc. I couldn't literally spot a single morbidly obese person, and I couldn't spot many obese individuals (or, at least so obese you can see it). I just wonder what happened between now and then because now it's almost difficult to see people in decent shape.

Facebook.

 

[urnotl33t]

Holy expletives, Batman! My plan is eligible and I work for a super small company. Weird that other folks with larger groups aren't eligible... kinda crappy. I guess I'm one of "the 7" mentioned earlier. 6 more of y'all to go!

 

[eliteoOSX27]

What a joke. Of course i will not be popular with this comment, but if you have a problem or just want to do better and can't do anything without subscribing to this nonsense then you have a bigger problem.

.. I presume you don’t exercise.

 

[Rocko99991]

Can anyone decipher from this document what information exactly could be shared with Apple?

By utilizing the redemption code provide by UnitedHealthcare and its affiliates (“UnitedHealthcare”) when registering to use Apple’s Fitness+ service (“Fitness+”) you acknowledge that UnitedHealthcare will disclose information identifying you as a UnitedHealthcare health plan member through the presentment of the redemption code, to Apple, that is Protected Health Information (PHI) as defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and implementing regulations (HIPAA).

You hereby authorize UnitedHealthcare to disclose your PHI to Apple for the purpose of registering for Fitness+ with Apple by utilizing a redemption code provided by UnitedHealthcare.

Completion of this authorization form is voluntary. You may refuse to agree to the authorization, however, you will then be unable to register for or use Fitness+. Signing or not signing this authorization will not affect your treatment, payment, or enrollment or eligibility for healthcare benefits administered by UnitedHealthcare or any of its affiliates.

The information disclosed to Apple may be subject to re-disclosure. Apple is not considered a health plan or health care provider (as defined under HIPAA); the information described in this authorization may no longer be protected by federal privacy regulations.

 

[deeddawg]

@Rocko99991 Remember that Protected Health Information (PHI) covers a wide range of data. Your name is PHI. Your email address is PHI. So is your health plan account number.

Thus for UnitedHealthcare to provide your name or email address to Apple to identify your redemption code as valid would require a HIPAA authorization from you. Just guessing here, don't take this as me knowing what data is used.

Note that HIPAA has a "minimum necessary" standard where data sharing to business associates (which Apple would be I believe) must be the minimum needed to accomplish the task.

I personally wouldn't worry about it, but you may wish to contact UHC directly to ask specifically what data gets shared.

 

[Rocko99991]

@Rocko99991 Remember that Protected Health Information (PHI) covers a wide range of data. Your name is PHI. Your email address is PHI. So is your health plan account number.

Thus for UnitedHealthcare to provide your name or email address to Apple to identify your redemption code as valid would require a HIPAA authorization from you. Just guessing here, don't take this as me knowing what data is used.

Note that HIPAA has a "minimum necessary" standard where data sharing to business associates (which Apple would be I believe) must be the minimum needed to accomplish the task.

I personally wouldn't worry about it, but you may wish to contact UHC directly to ask specifically what data gets shared.

Thank you. I would be ok with name/email address, not with Apple having full access to all my medical records.

 

[deeddawg]

Thank you. I would be ok with name/email address, not with Apple having full access to all my medical records.

To reiterate, I'm speculating on what data they're asking to share -- while I can't see any reason for anything more than name/email level data, and HIPAA regulations say not to share any more than needed, you may still want to contact UHC directly to ask.

 

[Rocko99991]

To reiterate, I'm speculating on what data they're asking to share -- while I can't see any reason for anything more than name/email level data, and HIPAA regulations say not to share any more than needed, you may still want to contact UHC directly to ask.

Will do. Thanks.

 

[DblHelix]

All they are providing to apple is the fact you are a member of United healthcare.

 

[Rocko99991]

All they are providing to apple is the fact you are a member of United healthcare.

Thanks but how do you know that is all?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Can anyone decipher from this document what information exactly could be shared with Apple?

By utilizing the redemption code provide by UnitedHealthcare and its affiliates (“UnitedHealthcare”) when registering to use Apple’s Fitness+ service (“Fitness+”) you acknowledge that UnitedHealthcare will disclose information identifying you as a UnitedHealthcare health plan member through the presentment of the redemption code, to Apple, that is Protected Health Information (PHI) as defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and implementing regulations (HIPAA).

You hereby authorize UnitedHealthcare to disclose your PHI to Apple for the purpose of registering for Fitness+ with Apple by utilizing a redemption code provided by UnitedHealthcare.

Completion of this authorization form is voluntary. You may refuse to agree to the authorization, however, you will then be unable to register for or use Fitness+. Signing or not signing this authorization will not affect your treatment, payment, or enrollment or eligibility for healthcare benefits administered by UnitedHealthcare or any of its affiliates.

The information disclosed to Apple may be subject to re-disclosure. Apple is not considered a health plan or health care provider (as defined under HIPAA); the information described in this authorization may no longer be protected by federal privacy regulations.

If you are using UnitedHealthcare to pay for, or get a discount on your membership in Fitness+, and you say no to authorize UnitedHealthcare to tell Apple you are their 'member', and try to use UnitedHealthcare to pay for all or part of your membership in Fitness+, they are saying they won't pay for it. (It sounds like Apple might be giving them a discount for being a healthcare plan, and they want to get their discount for covering your subscription, so they are demanding your approval to tell Apple they are paying for you)

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Thanks but how do you know that is all?

Ahh, that's harder to tell. They can provide certain information to Apple, or any other entity depending on need, and what's covered in the member agreement you signed when you joined. Most of what Apple could get will likely be 'nothing' stuff. Where you live, etc, and that UnitedHealthcare is paying your subscription. Apple won't get your medical history, or current medical conditions/infections/medications, etc, unless Apple would require them to release it for some unheard of reason.

What it sounds like is Apple has a 'product' they are marketing to healthcare plans to allow them to offer Fitness+ subscriptions to their members. What Apple wants/gets would be in that agreement, but I wouldn't think that Apple would be asking for any information at all, as why would they care. Apple isn't 'treating' you for anything. The less they know, the better they are.

Now if Apple starts 'treating' participants from healthcare plans, they will need more information, but it's not likely that'll happen soon, if at all... All Apple cares about is who pays them...


EDIT: After reading all of that above, from me, I could have just said that it's a CYA exercise on UHC's part, and a declaration that if you don't want them to tell Apple they are paying your Fitness+ account, well, they aren't going to pay for it. I would doubt that there's any 'health' information being shared. Apple might share your exercise performance with UHC, as they are paying for it. It likely would go to show compliance. Again, UHC isn't likely to want to pay for something you aren't using.