Life insurer John Hancock is implementing a new program in the United States and it involves fitness trackers, according to
Insurance Journal. The insurer will use information from an insured person’s wearable fitness monitor (e.g., Fitbit) to determine his or her activity and fitness levels. Depending on how active the insured is, the insurer may give the insured a premium rebate on his or her life insurance policy. This program will likely appeal to people who are already exercising regularly. But some people worry that such a program will disproportionally help those with higher incomes, while causing those who are poorer to pay more for their insurance. Others worry about potential privacy implications. Despite such concerns, 22% of insurers are in the process of developing strategies for using wearable fitness devices, according to the
article.
