Wearable tech takes aim at healthcare costs

Washington

STROLL around the office or neighbourhood six times a day, and earn US$1.50 towards your health insurance. Step up activity a bit more and bring the total to US$1,400 annually.

The catch: You need to wear a special activity tracker that monitors steps taken, "intensity" levels and other physical indicators.

That's the offer in a new insurance product marketed by UnitedHealthcare, the second-largest US health insurer, one of many programmes aimed at boosting physical fitness and reducing health insurance costs for employers and employees.

"One of the greatest challenges we have is how to incentivise and motivate individuals to be accountable for their own heath and well-being," said Steve Beecy of UnitedHealthcare. He called the Trio Tracker device, introduced with technology partner Qua…