– Validic and Humana form partnership to launch a health incentive program to support Medicaid and Medicare communities with device connectivity.
– As part of this engagement, Humana and Validic plan to expand the devices and data points available in Humana’s Go365 wellness and rewards program to address additional health barriers, such as nutrition, smoking cessation, mental health and more.
Humana Inc., a health insurer company and well-being company and Validic, the market leader in platforms and solutions for personal health data, announced today their collaboration to bolster device connectivity and the use of data in Humana’s Go365® wellness and rewards program. The partnership offers Humana’s members the opportunity to connect hundreds of wearables, health apps, and in-home medical devices to their program.
BYOD-Driven Approach Offering Equitable & Diverse Options for Engagement
A true bring-your-own-device (BYOD) approach ensures members are able to more deeply engage in the program using their own device or a smartphone app of their choice. The partnership aims to create an equitable system supporting individual health. Offering equitable and diverse options for engagement is crucial, considering 96 percent of the U.S. population today has a smartphone and 35% of wearable owners today have a device that is not manufactured by one of the top five wearable vendors. This BYOD approach enables more members to participate and engage in Humana’s wellness program, regardless of technology preference, tech-savvy, or ability to afford a high-end device.
As part of this engagement, Humana and Validic plan to expand the devices and data points available in Go365 to address additional health barriers, such as nutrition, smoking cessation, mental health and more. These data are critically important for all helping improve outcomes among all populations, but especially impactful within underserved communities.
“We are proud to provide programs that support people in their journey to better health,” said Jeff Reid, senior vice president of Humana Wellness Solutions. “In broadening the accessibility of Go365 – both in terms of connectivity and membership – we enable more people, including those with differing socioeconomic backgrounds or health challenges, to achieve better health in a premier wellness program.”
Moving the Needle on Cost and Outcomes
The partnership aims to fundamentally change lifestyle behaviors to reduce the risk of chronic conditions. By broadening offerings to reach underserved populations using an education-heavy, personalized approach, Humana and Validic are working to move the needle on health costs and outcomes – notably and specifically within Medicaid and Medicare populations.
Underlying Impact
For Medicare beneficiaries, cardiovascular disease is associated with an excess out-of-pocket spending of $317 per year, followed by diabetes ($237), hypertension ($150), and cancer ($144). For individuals on a fixed income or with tight spending restrictions, these costs are difficult to support. In terms of public insurance, treatment of chronic disease constitutes an even larger proportion of spending – 96 cents per dollar for Medicare and 83 cents per dollar for Medicaid.
“This collaboration is about focusing resources on populations that require more attention, and giving support to individuals that need a continuous partner in their health. The work between Humana and Validic is about empowering people with the tools and freedom to live better and healthier lives.” said Validic CEO Drew Schiller.
