HealthKit could soon be a tool for US health companies
Apple is working with major US health insurers, with plans to allow them to utilise data from its new HealthKit developer tools.
The move, revealed by executives at UnitedHealth and Humana, two of the United States’ largest health insurance providers, could see Apple products used to track employee health and wellbeing, reducing high premiums in the process.
New US health reforms mean insurers are able to offer rewards to customers who take care of their health. Accessing HealthKit data could facilitate such a move, but privacy campaigners are already voicing concerns that this could lead to insurers denying payouts if customers do not hit certain targets.
BP has already tied up with FitBit to offer a similar deal. Employees who wear the tracking devices were offered cheaper health insurance. This lessens health risks and, claims BP, prevents concerns from company bean counters about having to pay out costly sums to cover hospital costs.
The move is unlikely to materialise in the UK, especially as healthcare in this country remains free at the point of use.
Apple’s plans for HealthKit formed a huge part of its iOS 8 launch at WWDC back in June. The company is set to allow developers to share health data to develop a more holistic approach to fitness. Apple is expected to use the platform to tie in with the fitness features on its upcoming iWatch.
Read more: iOS 8 officially unveiled with HealthKit focus
Via Bloomberg