[theforceawakens]

Orthogonal issue but here is what I think -- While I agree that privacy is of great concern, I do think the way to approach this would be with more frequent health checkups. Our body is the best marker at the end of the day to measure our healthiness. Everything else doesn't matter, which is also the reason the allure of wearables is wearing out. (It's great, but what do you do now that you have all this data that you have gathered?)

[feld]

They also gave "points" in this reward system for recording visits to doctor, dentist, proving you had an annual physical, etc.

I'm sorry but while it's great to encourage that behavior it's not my employer's not my insurance company's business to know these details about my healthcare.

[superuser2]

>not my insurance company's business to know these details about my healthcare.

What exactly do you imagine a health insurance company is? Dealing with the details of your healthcare is the entire reason it exists.

[theforceawakens]

Agreed. In your case, it looks the ratio of info/value is really high. Honestly, this is the first time I have heard such an exploitation of personal health related data from an employer. Was this a large org? (Would understand if a small startup did this..perhaps lack of know-how. Still very alarming though.)

[feld]

Yes, a large org; an electrical and gas utility company.

[theforceawakens]

Oh man, that sucks to hear. I'm not sure if it's even legal for the employer to collect personal medical info (if you have a family covered under the insurance, potentially exposing theirs as well)...insurance companies might want that kinda info to determine the premiums. Do you know?

[aggie]

Well, it surely is a health insurer's 'business' to know about your health-related data. Whether you are willing to provide access, presumably for a better rate, is another question.

[feld]

It is in their interest to snoop on your personal life and habits, but it's not their right

[emodendroket]

Yeah but how? There aren't enough primary care doctors and the work is being farmed out to nurse practitioners and physician's assistants (and anyone who says the quality of care is just the same hasn't experienced it)

[theforceawakens]

> There aren't enough primary care doctors and the work is being farmed out to nurse practitioners and physician's assistants

Thanks for the insight, but is there any empirical evidence here?

[emodendroket]

There is quite a bit and that this phenomenon is happening is not controversial. I turned this up quickly; you could probably find better sources with more careful research: http://kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/tapping-nurse-practition...