Fitbit Wants To Help Corporations Track Employee Health

jfruh writes: Fitbit is pitching its iconic fitness trackers to businesses as a tool to save money on health care costs. Many companies have wellness programs to encourage workers to exercise more, and Fitbit will help employers quantify (and monitor) employee progress. “We think virtually every company will incorporate fitness trackers into their corporate wellness programs,” Fitbit CFO Bill Zerella said

Comments

Re:Great idea!

[Ol Olsoc]

I see both sides on this one and I'm not sure which is the better argument. It doesn't seem right to force workers to have their privacy invaded at such intimate levels in order to qualify for a benefit. I do also see the argument that unhealthy sloths can jack the cost of insurance up for everyone at the company.

And that muthafucka who got cancer at 35 - don't you just hate those unhealthy people? They should be screened for all the things we screen for, and if genetically likely to get some disease, they shouldn't be covered for it. Or in his case, after he went into remission, kick him off the rolls, because he's a known risk, and would probably cost more money, because if he got it once, he'll probably get it again. Then your rates wouldn't be jacked up.

Look at the bright side. That Sloth that smokes and drinks is more likely to have a massive and well deserved heart attack, and not cost you any more money.

We need a free market, not a state market, not employer provided.

As nice as that Randian heaven would be, what do we do with those who can't afford it? At this time, they go to emergency rooms, and get the most expensive care on the planet. And since the Emergency rooms need to cover their expenses, guess who gets charged for it? It's going to be either the guvmint, or Insurance companies, and in any case, passed on to you and me. But those damned doctors, thinking they have to cure everyone - not just the ones who can afford it. We need to change that stupid Hippocratic oath to something more in line with Libertarian principles. Can't have a cure unless you have the means to get it.

Your model only works when we can deny a whole lot of people any healthcare at all, either those who cannot afford anything, or those not passing muster with habit or genetic outlook, or pre-existing condition.

So its a fail. We can either be part of the civilized world, or we can pretend there are only healthy wealthy people who don't smoke, drink, who exercise regularly and have no health problems.