Use Wearable Fitness Devices, or Don't Get Insurance

[engine]

This is a worrying move. One large insurer in the U.S. has said it'll only give cover if wearable fitness and health data devices are worn.
What happened to freedom of choice?

Many insurers usually offer discounts if new technology is used, but they don't refuse to insure people.

I wonder if they will have to rethink this.

[reuters.com...]

[keyplyr]

Says in the article John Hancock is Canadian owned, so not US company (any longer.) This stuff looks good on paper but seems rediculous in practice.

On a similar note, Progressive Auto Insurance (US) gives discounts for "good driving" contingent on using their OBDII device that records your driving & tracks where you go... presumably voiding your policy if caught speeding or taking your car out on the track. Obviously I am not a subscriber.

[NickMNS]

I've got nothing to hide! [sarcasm]

[LifeinAsia]

Update to the old maxim:
Big Brother is watching you.
And Google is storing the data and doing analytics on the data.
And hackers are stealing the data.

[lucy24]

I hope I'm not the only one who thinks it's funny that a company named John Hancock is now owned by the descendants of Loyalists.

Interactive life insurance, pioneered by John Hancock’s partner the Vitality Group, is already well-established in South Africa and Britain and is becoming more widespread in the United States.

I wonder if this is really true, or if they’re just reading off a press release.

Counting on fingers reveals that they started in 1862. Interesting time to start up a life-insurance business in the US; were policies sold only to people who promised not to enlist (or who, after 1863, promised to pay someone else to serve in their place)?

[Marshall]

So a) are they going to pay for the device and b) are they going to pay for the connection? Not only are they forcing people to give up their privacy, but also to spend money they may not want to (or be able to) spend. Then there are people like me who simply do not want to be connected, beyond the work I do. I see class actions suits in their future.

[lucy24]

I don’t think it can be considered “forcing” unless they have a de facto monopoly on the life-insurance market.

[engine]

The company might be painting themselves into a corner, especially when they operate in a competitive market.

[keyplyr]

Further reading reveals the insurance company has stock in the fitness gear. What a surprise.

[engine]

Oh dear, that's not good at all.

[blend27]

Aha, strap that Wearable Fitness Device to your Poodle and get a bigger discount for moving a LOT!

True story:

I worked as a contractor 2 years ago for a company that had a deal with health insurance company that gave discount if the person was exercising & walking a lot. There was even a tally of miles posted on corporate intranet monthly and the winner would get even more $$$.

The more you walk, the bigger discount you get. Being it was a software dev company it did not take long until some folk started doing exactly that - man's best friend to the rescue.

Did not last long though, some got caught doing 40 miles a day(pure greed imho). There was an end of the every month gathering in cafeteria where most pounded on Free lunch and doughnuts though :).

[engine]

Aha, strap that Wearable Fitness Device to your Poodle and get a bigger discount for moving a LOT!

LOL, great idea!

[Leosghost]

The canine heartbeat rate of even a "Standard Poodle" might give it away.. ( when they move it is much higher than that of a human moving ) a small poodle even more so ( they , all small dogs ) have a much faster resting and exercising heartbeat rate than humans..large dogs resting rates are around 60 to 100 bpm..but a little movement takes theirs much higher than it does us..the small dogs even more so..

[engine]

Spoilsport ^^^^^ ;)

[LifeinAsia]

Yeah, but for many Americans, just walking might push their HR way over 100.

[NickMNS]

Most these devices either don't read heart rates or have trouble reading them accurately on humans. That is devices without a chest strap. These basic devices typically use motion sensors and body temperature to make inferences about a person's activity level, not exactly accurate or reliable. Intermittent doggy data would likely go unnoticed. Obviously if you keep it strapped to your dog for days on end it may become more evident.

How would you strap it to the dog?

[LifeinAsia]

Forget about the dog- pay a runner in your neighborhood a few bucks a week to wear your monitor. (I can just see some guy running down the street with a dozen devices strapped to him...)

[NickMNS]

I'm available if any one would like to wear a wearable while I run. I run fast, long and often, I also cycle! I see a business opportunity :0)..

[Leosghost]

There are other more pleasurable ways to get one's daily exercise.. ;)

[NickMNS]

Means of daily exercise are not mutually exclusive.

[LifeinAsia]

Oh, and if you don't have access to a dog or runner- FitBit on a robot [youtube.com]

[Leosghost]

I was thinking of the means of daily exercise with the emphasis on the "mutual".. ;)

[lucy24]

I was thinking of

Well, of course you were. You’re French.

Har, har.

[Leosghost]

Nope..not the reason..I'm not..

[tangor]

If this catches on, pretty soon someone will suggest installing a monitor at birth.

I miss the 1950s -- when all this was science fiction.

[justpassing]

The company might be painting themselves into a corner, especially when they operate in a competitive market.

Excepting if all companies are doing the same. Health insurance companies are here to make profits, not to provide better health cares to people. If they can get only healthy clients, they'll improve their benefits ...

[blend27]

@Leosghost

@The canine heartbeat rate of even a "Standard Poodle" might give it away..

3 Starbucks(Happiest Place on Earth for some) LARGE before geek shift starts. It is on almost every corner in NYC. :)

Go Poodles!

[Leosghost]

Do Starbucks do coffee ?
With actual caffeine ..
As opposed to cherry on a stick and celery with a shot of pose and your choice of tax jurisdictions..

[blend27]

I see & Agreed..
But do do a WiFi is free with that...

[not2easy]

Health insurance companies are here to make profits, not to provide better health cares to people.

This is not even health insurance - they're putting the requirement on Life Insurance policies and Term Life Insurance policies (even worse) so they can refuse you next year if it looks like your health is declining. :(