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Aetna, Apple Tie Up to Improve Consumer Health Experience

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Aetna Inc. recently introduced a new initiative to improve consumer health experience. The company intends to incorporate the efficiency of the iOS apps into its own analytics-based wellness and care management programs.

Under this deal, Aetna is slated to make Apple watches available to large employers and individual customers during its open enrollment season at a subsidized rate. The insurer will be offering monthly payroll deductions to cover the remaining cost easily. Aetna also intends to promote more productive and healthy lifestyle among its workforce. To this end, it plans to provide Apple Watch to own 50,000 employees, free of cost. These employees are expected to participate in the company’s wellness reimbursement program.

Furthermore, Aetna intends to take up numerous iOS-exclusive health initiatives that can be availed from Aetna’s health apps installed in the apple devices. These apps can be used on multiple devices and thus, are extremely easy to operate.

The availability of Aetna’s premium quality healthcare services through the highly popular iOS apps is likely to result in better business for both the companies. In addition, this alliance is expected to improve health with the help of these simple, intuitive and personalized technology solutions of Aetna-Apple apps.

These iOS-exclusive Aenta’s health apps will guide consumers on several health events like new diagnosis or prescription medication with user-driven support from nurses and people with similar conditions. They are also likely to help customers keep track of their medications. Consumers having these apps installed in their Apple devices can check their deductible and pay bills with the help of Apple wallets. Aetna members will further be timely informed on personalized health plan on-boarding along with messaging and decision support.

The CEO of Apple Inc. (AAPL - Free Report) , Mr. Tim Cook has expressed his optimism and relief over Aetna’s supervision on the health of Apple Watch users. On the other hand, Aetna’s CEO, Mark Bertolini anticipates better customer experience in the Healthcare industry.

At a time when the entire HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) industry is suffering from rising medical costs, several big players like UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH - Free Report) , Molina Healthcare Inc. (MOH - Free Report) , have turned to strategic alliances to meet the growing demand of personalized services and curtail operating costs. Aetna too is no exception to this trend as evidence by the aforesaid deal.

Aetna presently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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