Insurance Company wants Google Fit Data to Set Premiums

[Ktik]

Hi Everyone!

My health insurance company adjusts their tariffs every year based on average number of steps logged per day on Google Fit (They released an app that syncs with Google Fit).

Trouble is, I don't like to keep my phone in my pockets on the treadmill or the crossfit trainer... Just my Fitbit Charge 2 on my wrist, as I don't like annoyance of having my phone juggle in my pockets while I exercise.

Since, Fitbit mods have already clarified 2 days back, that Google Fit integration is currently "not under consideration", I was wondering if anyone has found any easy and reliable workarounds.

If not, I'll be forced to abandon fitbit the next time I purchase a wearable, as it will either be fitbit, or higher insurance premiums every year.

Thanks!

[MarciM]

I'm surprised your insurance company is only accepting Google Fit data. The company I work for is in the process of negotiating new rates and this came up, we had to ask for Fitbit to be included, but they did agree upon asking. I don't have a solution, other than try asking. Fingers crossed that works for you too.  

[Bill_k]

They can force you to own a fitbit?

[WavyDavey]

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@Bill_k wrote:

They can force you to own a fitbit?

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There's no legal requirement. But why not, if it saves money annually on premiums?

It will be interesting to see which insurers partner up with which fitness tracker companies. It seems some of the tracker companies don't play nicely together, so I don't expect a lot of choices.

In the near future-- a change of jobs (or insurers) might mean an unplanned change in your fitness tracker brand?

[Ktik]

@MarciM Oh, its great that you could do that.  Sadly for me, this situation is in the case of a personal health insurance policy (employer doesn't have to provide one, where I live).  So, my bargaining power is a lot lower.  But, thanks for the suggestion... will definitely try talking with customer care at least.

[Ktik]

@Bill_k No, sorry I was unclear.  They want to force me to log my steps with Google Fit.

Since as of now, there is no way adding steps manually or support for syncing Google Fit with Fitbit, I need to find a workaround for syncing or find a new wearable 😞

[shipo]

Interesting, my company's health care plan has an interface to pretty much every phone and every fitness tracker on the market.  I just identify my Fitbit account and grant access to fetch the steps and I get my discount.  Mind you at $360 it isn't a huge annual discount, but hey, better than a sharp stick in the eye.  🙂

[Rich_Laue]

@Ktik the reason Fitbit has no current plans is because this link up needs to be performed by you insurance company.- not Fitbit. Fitbit has already supplied all the tools needed with their API. 

With no mention of your insurance company it makes it hard to Google (company AND fitbit) but I'm surprised that the company hasn't already set this up if they do access Google fits API. 

Have you contacted your health company about a link to Fitbit yet? 

[MarciM]

@Rich_LaueThanks for supporting my suggestion early on in this thread to ask the insurance provider. It worked for my company and hopefully will work for everyone that asks. 🙂

[Rich_Laue]

Your welcome @MarciM. I thought I would approach your answer from a different viewpoint 

This is not something Fitbit is able to set up but needs to be done by the insurance company. 

[Ktik]

Hi @Rich_Laue.  Thanks for your reply.

My insurer is Apollo Munich - one of the most popular health insurers in India.  They are yet to reply to my request for fitbit linking.  I doubt they will, as I have no real leverage.

And I feel differently though.  If fitbit wants to increase their market share in emerging markets, I think it's their onus to be on the forefront, lobbying with insurance companies for adopting Fitbit syncing, rather than making their loyal customers lobby with insurance companies.  If fitbit doesn't want to lobby with insurance companies, then why not just get it to sync with Google Fit? (I know, they've decided not to)

If fitbit doesn't want to do either, and if Apollo Munich doesn't want to bother with Fitbit, there isn't much I can do, except find a different wearable that I like as much as Fitbit, which also syncs with Google Fit, during my next purchase.

Of course, this will be a moot point, if there is a workaround to force Fibit to sync with Google Fit.  I tried using MyFitnessPal, which syncs with both Fitbit & Google Fit, but it only updates weight from Fitbit to Google Fit - not the step count (which is what I need).

[Rich_Laue]

Lobbying insurance companies and doctors is one thing. 

Pushing oneself on a company is another thing. This can't be done until the company is willing to receive Fitbit 

Therecare insurance companies, doctors and one school that can access Fitbit data 

[SunsetRunner]

Sounds like another way for an insurance company to screw over its subscribers. Although why they would insist on self generated data is beyond me, too easy for people to fake the number of steps and unless they have you under surveillance (which wouldn't surprise me if they did)  how are they going to prove you did or didn't do those so called steps you said you did or their accuracy.  I could stand about and conduct and orchestra for an hour and clock up 40,000 steps.

Seems like a stupid path for insurance companies to follow but that's just mho and whoever said insurance cos were smart, they're just con men in my book 😉

[Hoder]

I haven't looked into this but it may be possible to use a third party app (My Fitness Pal, etc) that will sync to both Fitbit data and Google Fit, merging the data. Might be worth investigating.

Our insurance company started out only supporting Fitbit but now they support a whole bunch of data sources. Too bad they only support steps though and not workouts (heart rate).