Would you participate in this? (insurance related)

[hamster]

This year, as part of our wellness campaign, our employer is offering us a "cool wearable device called a Fitbit."

By doing so, and meeting our fitness goals, we can get UP TO (I think this is key) $400 in HealthCash, which can be deposited into our bank account. (This probably means I have $400 to spend in the HealthCash store, or can get cash at X% of the value, doesn't it?) It's unclear if we can say something easy like, "I'm not taking the elevator" and "I'm going to lose 5 pounds" or if it's tied to the rest of our wellness requirements like our blood draw (in which case they'll want me to lower my cholestoral because on paper it's high, but it's only beacuse my HDL is off the charts; they can kiss my ass if they want me to focus on that).

Obviously I like $400. But my tinfoil hat isn't real keen on giving my employer and health insurance this kind of information, even if it's only aggregate data and not tied to my personal fitbit (my hat also wonders how true this is. It's a thinker).

The Fitbit ain't totally free, either. It's a gift and we're taxed on it.

Sadly, this is all the information we've been given thus far.

[mich1]

I would ask if the information acquired is going to be going to an entity that is HIPAA compliant. I'm guessing not. If you are voluntarily supplying this information to a third entity, they do not have to comply with HIPAA and they can provide the info to anyone who asks.

It is like you telling a friend the you are having a hip replacement and that friend telling the media. But the hospital cannot say anything.

My past employer did this too, only they offered cash. I think it was up to $150/year. I didn't do it.

[ladyk]

I'd want more information about "meet our fitness goals" part of it also the "up to" $400 part. We get a certain amount of health and wellness dollars for a quick survey, a bioscreening and logging onto the health and wellness website. I know the info I put there is only aggregated and not tied to me personally when they run overall stats.

The taxed on the gift part, I'm fine with but I want a fitbit anways.

[hamster]

So if I've cracked the code, it looks like there is a chart of 5 phases. Each phase requires you to earn x amount of activity points. There might be non fitbit related points, too. But getting to the top is no cake walk.

It appears they give you gift cards, but it sounds like you can get cash instead (i assume for a lesser value).

My employer is mum. Good point about HIPAA, although you'd think as a hospital we would verify that.

The company is Virgin Pulse if anybody has experience with them.

[mich1]

Sept 29, 2014 11:35:37 GMT -5 hamster said:

So if I've cracked the code, it looks like there is a chart of 5 phases. Each phase requires you to earn x amount of activity points. There might be non fitbit related points, too. But getting to the top is no cake walk.

It appears they give you gift cards, but it sounds like you can get cash instead (i assume for a lesser value).

My employer is mum. Good point about HIPAA, although you'd think as a hospital we would verify that.

The company is Virgin Pulse if anybody has experience with them.

I worked at a medical center that did this and they didn't say a word to me about whether the third party was HIPAA compliant.  It took a lot of digging on my part to determine this.

I thought it was rather sneaky on thir part, especially considering the amount of hoops we needed to jump through ourselves to remain HIPAA compliant for the patients and our research subjects.

[Susie]

I would probably do it. $400 would pay for two half ironman race entries, man! I also don't have any sensitive health information that I would be particularly worried about privacy on. Aside from a couple weird sports injuries I have a super plain vanilla health history. I would probably also be in the upper tier of meeting fitness goals, which would give me more incentive to participate.

[dexteroni]

We participate in something like this now through DH's employer. We both have Fitbits and earn points which translate into money in our HSA account. Right now I'm committed to a weight loss goal, and over the summer I committed to visiting the gym 3 times per week. We also get points for things like taking 10k steps per day, getting flu shots, visiting the doctor and dentist, etc.

Our information is handled through a separate company (it's not Virgin Pulse though), and our info isn't shared with his employer, which makes me feel better about it. It sounds like yours might be too, in which case I would be ok with it. By contrast, when one of my former employers wanted to do a weight loss contest, it required everyone to weigh in with the person whose idea the competition it was, and no way would I agree to weigh in in front of a coworker.

[Poppy]

Sept 29, 2014 11:35:37 GMT -5 hamster said:

So if I've cracked the code, it looks like there is a chart of 5 phases. Each phase requires you to earn x amount of activity points. There might be non fitbit related points, too. But getting to the top is no cake walk.

It appears they give you gift cards, but it sounds like you can get cash instead (i assume for a lesser value).

My employer is mum. Good point about HIPAA, although you'd think as a hospital we would verify that.

The company is Virgin Pulse if anybody has experience with them.

We have a similar program through Virgin Pulse. We were not offered the fitbit but some other pedometer that they mailed to us which required their proprietary software. Honestly I really wanted to do it because I want the $ incentive, but their software/website was AWFUL. I could never get the pedometer to sync to my computer (and I do SW for a living so it's not like I am totally clueless). So yeah, I wasted a bunch of time trying to get it to work and I'm pretty irritated. I am not too concerned with protecting my health info (especially pedometer type stuff) but my faith in their technological capability to protect the data is very low, if that matters to you.

[dexteroni]

Oh and re: HIPAA - I agree, I wouldn't do it unless they specify that they're HIPAA compliant. Our wellness plan is, but they don't volunteer that information up front; I had to search for it on their website. If you can't find it, ask your benefits person or whoever at your company is handling this plan.

[hamster]

Eh. I'm not really digging this privacy policy. My employer only gets aggregate data, but they also sell aggregate data to third party people and the company keeps track of me individually and staff are allowed to contact me regarding my participation.

I'm an open book, but not about my health to big companies. This doesn't sound worth "the potential" for $400.

[savan]

Our work holds a fitness challenge every year. They give us a free pedometer. It's just a step counter, nothing like a fitbit. If we average a certain number of steps a day we can earn up to $100, given as an Amazon gift card. DH and I participate every year. We like money.

[sunshineluv]

I would do it. I am also one of those people who doesn't worry about putting my kids picture on the internet.

I paid for my fitbit, I love it.

$400 incentive to be more active, sign me up! Take my data, I don't mind.

[dexteroni]

Sept 29, 2014 12:15:58 GMT -5 hamster said:

Eh. I'm not really digging this privacy policy. My employer only gets aggregate data, but they also sell aggregate data to third party people and the company keeps track of me individually and staff are allowed to contact me regarding my participation.

I'm an open book, but not about my health to big companies. This doesn't sound worth "the potential" for $400.

I don't see the big deal about them selling the data for XYZ Corporation. It doesn't sound like your name will be used. As far as the company contacting you, I don't see this as being any different than junk email from any other company - sign up with a junk email address, or see if you can opt out of them contacting you, or just don't reply to any of their calls/emails. They can *attempt* to contact you, but no one can make you talk to them.

Of course it's totally fine if you aren't comfortable with it too. I just don't see potential for disaster here.

[msmerymac]

My husband works for a company that buys aggregate data for health care and pharma. It's all HIPAA compliant (i.e. no names or identifiers attached). And I'd be really surprised if your company gets any information about your health. Plus, this is a fitbit. The info is calorie consumption and activity, which is hardly the same as a cancer diagnosis.

Anyway, if I wanted the fitbit, I'd sign up (taxes are negligible vs. the cost of the item). Forget the incentive; the fitbit IS an incentive, and of course helping your health, even if you don't end up with $400.

ETA: If you buy pretty much any prescription medication, that information is already being sold. Surprise!

[hamster]

I agree, I probably already give my employer and insurance agencies more than I care to think about. Hell, Google knows more about me than I know about myself.

Its just kind of big brothery. I know it's unavoidable with smartphones, etc. but do I really need to voluntarily sign up for the opportunity at $400. Unless I put it on Wyatts collar at daycare, or my coworkers ultramaratoner husband, I feel like I'm probably not likely to hit all of the goals.

[cheezer]

I want a fit bit so I'd probably do this. However, I'd want to know what the $400 could be used for.

[audette]

Stuff like this just fuels the argument that insurance should be separate from employment... Blargh.

[sessy]

Sept 29, 2014 11:35:37 GMT -5 hamster said:

So if I've cracked the code, it looks like there is a chart of 5 phases. Each phase requires you to earn x amount of activity points. There might be non fitbit related points, too. But getting to the top is no cake walk.

It appears they give you gift cards, but it sounds like you can get cash instead (i assume for a lesser value).

My employer is mum. Good point about HIPAA, although you'd think as a hospital we would verify that.

The company is Virgin Pulse if anybody has experience with them.

I've been doing a company health incentive with virgin pulse for the last 3 years. I love the program and I'm addicted to my pedometer. I get cash every quarter and a bonus if I meet my step goals every quarter for the year. Free money, and it's tied to fitness. I haven't seen a downside in the last 3 years.

[Deleted]

I love the idea of incentives for health insurance, but hate that health insurance is still so tied to employment in this country. So, I would say no thanks and keep my health data to myself.

I don't even use a fit bit or any of those things since I am freaked out about data tracking and stuff (well, more curious or skeptical).

Not worth it in my view.