Comment by jsheard
3 days ago
Even if that's true for the actual pharmas, how are insurance companies like UHC innovating? They're just middlemen.
3 days ago
Even if that's true for the actual pharmas, how are insurance companies like UHC innovating? They're just middlemen.
They prevent unnecessary treatments! /s
I'm not sure about UHC specifically, but insurance companies do innovate. Some insurers have invested pretty heavily in biotech and wearables, and they're also a big driver behind telehealth/remote health monitoring tech. We can cynically say that they're just in it because they want to reduce costs – and that's probably true – but it'd be simplistic to say investing to reduce costs is purely selfish.
> they're also a big driver behind telehealth/remote health monitoring tech
Until COVID, insurers in my area wouldn't cover telehealth at all. They opposed it tooth and nail.
> biotech and wearables
Tracking and data harvesting, excellent!
Or encouraging healthier lifestyles by blending technology with behavioral health incentives.
Or both.