Current News/Innovations

Under a reported partnership Aetna is considering with Apple, the insurance giant would offer Apple Watches to its 23 million insurance customers for free or at a discounted price to encourage healthier lifestyles. The two companies held "a series of secret discussions" about the plan in California Thursday and Friday, according to a report yesterday by CNBC. In addition to executives from Apple and Aetna, a number of chief medical information officers from hospitals across the U.S. also attended, the report said. Last fall, Aetna began offering the Apple Watch at no cost to its nearly 50,000 employees, and made the wearable available to "select large employers and individual customers" through a subsidized, monthly payroll deduction plan. Aetna's move is part of a larger trend where businesses are encouraging or requiring employees and/or customers to wear smart devices to reduce health and accident risks. Partner Program Starting Next Year? Apple is ...