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Aetna to Provide Apple Watch to 50,000 Employees, Subsidize Cost for Customers
MacRumors ^ | Tuesday September 27, 2016 11:02 am PDT | by Juli Clover

Posted on 09/27/2016 9:37:24 PM PDT by Swordmaker

Insurance company Aetna today announced a major health initiative centered on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, which will see Aetna subsidizing the cost of the Apple Watch for both large employers and individual customers.

Starting this fall during open enrollment season, Aetna will subsidize "a signficant portion" of the Apple Watch cost and will offer monthly payroll deductions to cover the remaining cost.


apple watch series 2

Aetna also plans to provide Apple Watches at no cost to all of its nearly 50,000 employees as part of a wellness reimbursement program to encourage them to live healthier lives.

"We are thrilled that Aetna will be helping their members and employees take greater control of their health using Apple Watch," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "Aetna's new initiatives will be a powerful force toward creating better customer experiences in health care, and we look forward to working with Aetna to make them successful."

Aetna plans to develop several iOS health initiatives with "support" from Apple, debuting "deeply integrated" health apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch that will be available to all Aetna customers.

According to Aetna, these apps will "simplify the healthcare process" with features like care management to guide customers through a new diagnosis or a medication, medication reminders and tools for easy refills, quick contact with doctors, integration with Apple Wallet for paying bills and checking deductibles, and tools to help Aetna members get the most out of their insurance benefits.

Aetna's health-related apps will be available starting in early 2017, but the Apple Watch initiative will begin in 2016. Aetna has not detailed how much of the cost will be subsidized or which Apple Watch models will be available to subscribers.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: aetna; applepimp; icult
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To: RegulatorCountry
I’m an Apple fan from way back, have been using Macs since the 80’s. But, I’ve never quite gotten the Apple Watch, neither the cost or the utility.

So, it bothers me to say this, but with this announcement I’m beginning to get the sense that it’s going to become something of an Obamacare ankle bracelet.

Why? The user is free to turn all of that off and use other functions as he or she sees fit. I use it because I need to get more fit but I don't use Obamacare at all, neither does my girlfriend and she's lost 16 pounds in the last six months using the assistance of her Apple Watch which helped her track the calories used in her exercise regimen. . . and the reminders to take a break ever hour from her sedentary work at a desk which otherwise she found herself working through without taking a break at all. It is YOUR choice whether you buy or use this help in meeting YOUR goals to get a discount from your costs. How much more capitalist can you get?

41 posted on 09/28/2016 12:08:12 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: Swordmaker

It’s a just a short distance to requiring people to wear them and not turn them off to maintain coverage. With the cost of policies, a discount can be the difference between being able to afford coverage at all or going without and facing the penalty.


42 posted on 09/28/2016 12:11:09 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Swordmaker

Another Apple tax dodge.


43 posted on 09/28/2016 12:37:11 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: Swordmaker

Aetna most certainly receives subsidies under ObamaCare and is therefore and extenstion of the Givernment.

Senate GOP Leaders Endorse Bill To Extend Obamacare Subsidies To 2017
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3282328/posts

The Supreme Court’s Obamacare Decision Is Already Worth $3 Billion For Insurers

The five largest publicly traded health insurance companies (UnitedHealth, Anthem,1 Aetna, Humana and Cigna) — all of which were party to an amicus brief in support of the subsidies filed by America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade group for insurance companies — rose an average of 1 percent over their opening prices by 11 a.m. Thursday. The bounce started at approximately 10:10 a.m., right when SCOTUSblog first announced the Supreme Court’s decision. All five companies.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3304214/posts

They are taking subsidies, which is taxpayer money...


44 posted on 09/28/2016 1:32:19 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway - "Enjoy Yourself" ala Louis Prima)
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To: Swordmaker

In regards to your “Not all Health Insurance provided by employers is Obamacare subsidized” argument.

It’s a non-sequitor, as they are receiving reimbursements from the government.

It’s a little like saying Ford doesn’t receive subsidies on all its cars. Only the Plug in ones.

They are still receiving subsidies...


45 posted on 09/28/2016 1:35:03 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway - "Enjoy Yourself" ala Louis Prima)
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To: Vendome
It’s a non-sequitor, as they are receiving reimbursements from the government.

Only for the required subsidy coverage customers in the state or Federal operated exchanges, not for the group coverage paid for by employers. Sorry. You really don't know what you are talking about. I was the health insurance administrator for our office and even though we were a very small group, none of our employees was eligible for health care subsidies. It turned out less expensive for us and them to toss them into the State Exchange so they would qualify!

The health insurance companies are subsidized for the shortfalls the premium subsidies don't cover for the care provided only for those groups. So, sorry, again you are wrong. Why do you think the companies are pulling out of the exchanges across the country? Simple answer. . . they are losing money hand over fist by staying in!

46 posted on 09/28/2016 4:44:14 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: minnesota_bound
Another Apple tax dodge.

What an idiotic conclusion, Minnesota. Apple gets no tax advantage from this. What would make you think so? Apple is selling these to Aetna's customers. Aetna is going to subsidize their purchase. There is only a TAX ON APPLE in the form of more income taxes for selling more goods and services.

47 posted on 09/28/2016 4:48:47 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: Jonty30
According to Aetna, these apps will "simplify the healthcare process"...

MORE technology is going to simplify our lives and our "healthcare processes." What planet do these people live on? If you want simple, go for a walk or run, ride your bike, play tennis or swim. Sheesh...21st century lunacy.

48 posted on 09/28/2016 5:41:07 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Swordmaker

Nothing insurance companies require is voluntarily given. They have every right to decide what you must do to be insured by them. Sure, I can go elsewhere until everything collapses into Obamacare. If you’re not insured, you will pay an ever increasing amount in fines until you are either broke and in jail or wearing a stupid watch.

Where do you go after that?


49 posted on 09/28/2016 6:13:37 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
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To: Swordmaker

Camel in the tent. Once they get you wearing the watch, they will require you to ensure you are wearing it a set percentage of the time. Then that set time will keep increasing until you are defacto wearing it all the time. May be they will make you own two, so one will always be charged and ready to go.


50 posted on 09/28/2016 6:22:53 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
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To: Jonty30
Camel in the tent. Once they get you wearing the watch, they will require you to ensure you are wearing it a set percentage of the time. Then that set time will keep increasing until you are defacto wearing it all the time. May be they will make you own two, so one will always be charged and ready to go.

You are a "glass is half empty" type of guy, aren't you? Insurance companies have had incentive programs such as this for decades. Quit smoking, lose weight, etc., and get a discount. They've NEVER been made mandatory. Give it a rest.

51 posted on 09/28/2016 6:32:29 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: Jonty30
Nothing insurance companies require is voluntarily given. They have every right to decide what you must do to be insured by them. Sure, I can go elsewhere until everything collapses into Obamacare. If you’re not insured, you will pay an ever increasing amount in fines until you are either broke and in jail or wearing a stupid watch.

You are conflating "insurance companies" with Liberals in government mandating of its purchase.

52 posted on 09/28/2016 6:34:59 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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