A popular new commercial that shows a couple video-conferencing with a doctor after ill-timed dance moves sent them crashing into their dining room table illustrates a rising trend among health insurers: the use of innovative technologies to simplify the health care system.
"There are thousands of ways into the complex health care system. And UnitedHealthcare has ways to make the system simpler, like virtual doctor visits," the narrator says, as an overview of the insurer's online options flashes across the screen.
Virtual doctor visits have been an option for years, but they're receiving renewed attention as health insurers focus on presenting themselves as digitally savvy.
UnitedHealthcare's efforts to revolutionize the way Americans engage with their health insurer don't end with online consulting options. They've also signed on to a research project that seeks to use sleep and activity trackers to personalize treatment options for people over 50, Mobile Health News reported this week.
"The study will evaluate the usability of (devices like Fitbit and Jawbone) and the effectiveness of the devices in changing users' behavior," the article noted.
In a statement to Mobile Health News, UnitedHealthcare's chief consumer officer, Tom Paul, described the research as one aspect of the company's commitment to paving the way toward a healthier future for its customers.
"We're grateful for the opportunity to help healthcare technology better meet the needs and wants of consumers 50 and older," he said.
Bruce Broussard, president and CEO of Humana, another health insurer, shared similar sentiments in a column for Forbes on Monday. In it, he explained how Humana would use "mobile devices with their real-time networking capabilities" to build healthier communities.
Noting the complexity of the current health care system, Broussard wrote, "It shouldn't be this way. Health should be easy. We're giving consumers the tools they need to see medical professionals virtually, to Skype with the doctor instead of wait in her office, to self-monitor vital signs, to connect with health-related communities and to choose physicians based on reliable data about outcomes and cost."
These initiatives echo many of the themes addressed in the Obama administration's Precision Medicine Initiative, which will work to help the health care system capitalize on technological advancements. If successful, the program will put a 21st century spin on the current system, allowing for online data collection and organization, as well as more personalized treatment plans.
According to Gallup polls, many Americans might welcome the change. In 2013, 52 percent of Americans said the system has "major problems" and 21 percent said it was in a "state of crisis," Gallup reported.
"There are thousands of ways into the complex health care system. And UnitedHealthcare has ways to make the system simpler, like virtual doctor visits," the narrator says, as an overview of the insurer's online options flashes across the screen.
Virtual doctor visits have been an option for years, but they're receiving renewed attention as health insurers focus on presenting themselves as digitally savvy.
UnitedHealthcare's efforts to revolutionize the way Americans engage with their health insurer don't end with online consulting options. They've also signed on to a research project that seeks to use sleep and activity trackers to personalize treatment options for people over 50, Mobile Health News reported this week.
"The study will evaluate the usability of (devices like Fitbit and Jawbone) and the effectiveness of the devices in changing users' behavior," the article noted.
In a statement to Mobile Health News, UnitedHealthcare's chief consumer officer, Tom Paul, described the research as one aspect of the company's commitment to paving the way toward a healthier future for its customers.
"We're grateful for the opportunity to help healthcare technology better meet the needs and wants of consumers 50 and older," he said.
Bruce Broussard, president and CEO of Humana, another health insurer, shared similar sentiments in a column for Forbes on Monday. In it, he explained how Humana would use "mobile devices with their real-time networking capabilities" to build healthier communities.
Noting the complexity of the current health care system, Broussard wrote, "It shouldn't be this way. Health should be easy. We're giving consumers the tools they need to see medical professionals virtually, to Skype with the doctor instead of wait in her office, to self-monitor vital signs, to connect with health-related communities and to choose physicians based on reliable data about outcomes and cost."
These initiatives echo many of the themes addressed in the Obama administration's Precision Medicine Initiative, which will work to help the health care system capitalize on technological advancements. If successful, the program will put a 21st century spin on the current system, allowing for online data collection and organization, as well as more personalized treatment plans.
According to Gallup polls, many Americans might welcome the change. In 2013, 52 percent of Americans said the system has "major problems" and 21 percent said it was in a "state of crisis," Gallup reported.
