“Is this a Fitbit?” I asked my customer and pointed at her fancy wristband.
“Yes, it is. Our health insurance requires us to wear it.”
“Are you serious?” I couldn’t believe what I just heard.
She explained to me, wearing a Fitbit was recommended by her Employer. The data from the Fitbit is automatically synced to a program that the Health Insurance Company and the Employer have access to and -if the Employee walks the recommended 10,000 steps a day (every day) then they get a 20% premium discount.
That’s quite a motivation to stay active; that’s a lot of money. “I wonder how many people put it on their dog?” I couldn’t help but wonder, and she laughed.
“We all attached it to the ceiling fan at work first,” she confessed, and we both roared with laughter.
They got caught, it didn’t work for long.
“I suppose it’s hard to trick modern technology,” I said, still chuckling.
“Oh, no,” it’s actually quite easy. We all have a Chines cat on our desk for good luck. It works like a charm.”
I didn’t get it right away and then she explained.
300 steps per minute – Life writes the best stories!
The happy Quitter! 
You can’t make this stuff up but, if it works and your customer collects the discount, I think she should share this hint with others!
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Nope, don’t like being told by my employer what I should be doing. That’s my business not theirs.
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In the end, it is your choice. Nobody has to participate, but saving $1000/per year on your health insurance premium is something I would go for as well.
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I love her thinking 😂
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You and me both 🙂
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Doesn’t this sound a little “Big Brother” to you?
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Yes, indeed. I thought about George Orwell as well. As a matter of fact I am just listening to 1984 and it terrifies me. It doesn’t sound like fiction.
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I can’t decide if I like the idea or not- my Health Insurance offered a gym discount if a person went a certain amount of times a week. I suppose it can be motivating, but the “tricking” or taking advantage leaves me wondering.
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I can’t decide either. I have to think about it a bit more, tonight with a glass of wine. 🙂
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Holy Crap! As a privacy professional, I’m appalled by this!! The potential for abuse of this information is frightening. I can’t imagine a company here trying to do that without the Privacy Commissioner jumping all over it.
On the surface it appears to be a promotion for good health, but since when do insurance companies do anything that isn’t intended to ultimately improve their bottom line?!
Good grief!
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I was shocked at first as well. However, it’s not mandatory, only the ones who want to have the 20 % discount are wearing it -even though they cheat.
I think privacy is an illusion these days. We have drones that can spy on us, people have smart phones that can be pinged and tracked at any time and many of us have Alexa or Echo in the home. To be honest I am still debating on where I am standing on this.
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I’m clinging to my illusions as hard as I can … even while I participate in social media 😉
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🙂
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It is a bit common thing insurance company
do. I first heard and had it by a company i worked for..
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Who paid for the fit bits? Because if I was told I had to wear one you best believe I’d expect to be given one.
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I am going to see again in about four weeks. I am going to ask her. I have no idea. Good question!
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I’ll be interested to know!
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Jeez, why not just walk the 10,000 steps?
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Good question. Perhaps it’s not so easy to walk 10,000 steps every day when you have a full time job. I love to walk my dogs for miles and miles but not in the rain.
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It is amazing what we will do or give up for money.
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The want to reward the people who are active and I am not sure if I am on board with it. My thinking process has not be completed at this time. 🙂
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I get the active part but the collection of information about you is tough. Next will their be a sensor to know what you are eating and how many calories you are taking in “because it is good for you?” Will they scan you for genetic diseases, which is now legal in many states, before hiring you?
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It’s scary to think any further isn’t it?
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Hilarious!
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Someday we will all be mirco-chipped, Bridget, and probably in our lifetimes. I image that there will be great benefits, but I also cringe at the idea.
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I fear the same. We will be controlled and under observation at all times. I can see the benefits but also the downside. It was scary in Sci fi movies, imagine how much scarier it will be in reality.
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*Chills*
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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