Viewpoint: Patients should be wary of insurers subsidizing Apple Watch

Apple reportedly is in talks with private insurers to subsidize the cost of its Apple Watch for Medicare enrollees. However, some industry experts are cautioning patients over potential privacy concerns related to the deal, according to an op-ed in Forbes.

"Many tech writers, researchers and ethicists, myself included, have written about the dangers of constant medical monitoring and the potential for hacking and other privacy violations that come with new wearable devices," writes freelance journalist Jessica Baron, PhD.

"That doesn’t mean people should toss [Apple Watches] aside, but that we need to get much more clear on how this data will be stored, who can access it, and what an insurance company can do with your data if it's going to give you a discount on an expensive gadget like an Apple [Watch]," she continues.

Particularly as more health plans offer members discounted wearables — the iPhone maker has already struck deals with Aetna and United Healthcare — Dr. Baron warns that individuals who have an Apple Watch should understand how their data is stored and whether it's secure. Access to data that the smartwatch collects, she adds, can provide insight into wearers' activity levels, stress levels, medication reminders and location — all of which could potentially be used against them.

"Maybe you don't care if someone knows you didn't get your 10,000 steps in. But what about an employer who provides you with the health insurance that gets you the Apple Watch — do you want them to know you took 10,000 steps during the workday when you were supposed to be in your cubicle?" Dr. Baron writes, adding that the same holds true for insurers, who could raise premiums based on exercise information.

Another concern Dr. Baron notes is hacking. Health data is incredibly valuable on the dark web, and healthcare organizations are often targets for cyberattacks. Many individuals, she writes, tend to be careless about privacy or frequently agree to share their data with other entities, despite being unaware of their security practices.

"So be careful when you accept that shiny new watch from your insurer ...  Find out how your data will be used," she writes. "Remember, your insurance company wants you healthy and alive, but at the end of the day, you as an individual are less important than their bottom line."

To read Dr. Baron's complete op-ed, click here.

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