5 ms·

Heaven forbid a foreign company knew about my heart rate and age.

cecilpl2 8y ago
And then determined that you actually are 80% more likely to have early stage heart disease based on a big data analysis tool, and then sold that information to an insurance company, which correlated it with other data they have (like strava's activity times) to uniquely identify you, and now wants to raise your premiums by 400% because you have a "increased likelihood of a pre-existing condition".
- krisroadruck 8y ago
  I never actually understood the objection to having people who are putting a greater draw on the insurance system, pay more into it. People who have more accidents also pay higher car insurance premiums. Why shouldn't this be the case for health insurance?
  - betenoire 8y ago
    You should draw up some numbers based on real scenarios and see if your theory holds.
  - saagarjha 8y ago
    > People who have more accidents also pay higher car insurance premiums. Why shouldn't this be the case for health insurance? If you have some sort of genetic condition, you're going to have to pay a premium. So while presumably you have some agency over how you drive, with health insurance you may be penalized for something that you have no control over.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- kilo_bravo_3 8y ago
  >and now wants to raise your premiums by 400% because you have a "increased likelihood of a pre-existing condition". https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/pre-existing-condition/ https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/pre-existing-condition/ >A health problem, like asthma, diabetes, or cancer, you had before the date that new health coverage starts. Insurance companies can't refuse to cover treatment for your pre-existing condition or charge you more. In the US at least, insurance companies can charge: Up to 4x the standard rate, based on age, so that an 18 year old working a minimum wage job has lower premiums than a 55 year old. Up to 1.5x the standard rate for smokers. Everyone's nightmare scenario about insurance companies using Fitbit data to screw customers is only possible if the Affordable Care Act is allowed to die. Everyone else worrying about genetic data should also know that it has been illegal for insurance companies to use genetic data to set rates for years now.
  - trevorjon 8y ago
    And let's be honest, in 10 years, some of these insurance companies will decide that they want to use this data for this, and will start lobbying, and eventually there will be made exceptions and new bills passed. And while it's not directly possible now, laws change, especially when giant companies stand to make a ton of money if they change
- iDemonix 8y ago
  I live in the UK and enjoy my free health service every time I use it, but thanks for the concern.

And then determined that you actually are 80% more likely to have early stage heart disease based on a big data analysis tool, and then sold that information to an insurance company, which correlated it with other data they have (like strava's activity times) to uniquely identify you, and now wants to raise your premiums by 400% because you have a "increased likelihood of a pre-existing condition".

krisroadruck 8y ago
I never actually understood the objection to having people who are putting a greater draw on the insurance system, pay more into it. People who have more accidents also pay higher car insurance premiums. Why shouldn't this be the case for health insurance?
- betenoire 8y ago
  You should draw up some numbers based on real scenarios and see if your theory holds.
- saagarjha 8y ago
  > People who have more accidents also pay higher car insurance premiums. Why shouldn't this be the case for health insurance? If you have some sort of genetic condition, you're going to have to pay a premium. So while presumably you have some agency over how you drive, with health insurance you may be penalized for something that you have no control over.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
kilo_bravo_3 8y ago
>and now wants to raise your premiums by 400% because you have a "increased likelihood of a pre-existing condition". https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/pre-existing-condition/ https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/pre-existing-condition/ >A health problem, like asthma, diabetes, or cancer, you had before the date that new health coverage starts. Insurance companies can't refuse to cover treatment for your pre-existing condition or charge you more. In the US at least, insurance companies can charge: Up to 4x the standard rate, based on age, so that an 18 year old working a minimum wage job has lower premiums than a 55 year old. Up to 1.5x the standard rate for smokers. Everyone's nightmare scenario about insurance companies using Fitbit data to screw customers is only possible if the Affordable Care Act is allowed to die. Everyone else worrying about genetic data should also know that it has been illegal for insurance companies to use genetic data to set rates for years now.
- trevorjon 8y ago
  And let's be honest, in 10 years, some of these insurance companies will decide that they want to use this data for this, and will start lobbying, and eventually there will be made exceptions and new bills passed. And while it's not directly possible now, laws change, especially when giant companies stand to make a ton of money if they change
iDemonix 8y ago
I live in the UK and enjoy my free health service every time I use it, but thanks for the concern.