Tracking your health data through devices like Fitbits can be more than just a tool for personal wellness; it can also have significant financial benefits. S. Jay Olshansky, a public health professor and chief scientist at Lapetus Solutions, highlights the rise of a "health-data economy," where your daily activities, such as the number of steps you take, can be of great interest to various firms, including medical, actuarial, and retail manufacturers.
Here's why it's valuable to track your data and consider working with a Health Broker to monetize it:
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Valuable Insights for Healthcare Providers: Continuous health data provides doctors with a comprehensive view of your health over time, far beyond what can be seen during an annual check-up. This can lead to better health risk assessments and personalized healthcare plans.
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Commercial Interest: Your health data can provide crucial insights for companies. For instance, sleep patterns can inform mattress designs, and exercise habits can influence sports products. Your participation in sharing this data can drive innovation and product development.
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Monetary Value: There is a financial incentive for sharing your health data. Companies may be willing to pay for access to this information because it helps them understand consumer behavior and manage risks more effectively.
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Improving Health and Financial Metrics: By sharing your data, you could potentially improve your health and financial standing. For example, the BLISS score, proposed by Lapetus, would combine health data with financial metrics to give a more complete picture of an individual's risk profile, potentially affecting credit scores and insurance premiums.
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Encouraging Healthier Lifestyles: Some insurance companies are already compensating individuals for sharing their health data as a way to promote healthier living habits.
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Data Ownership and Privacy: While privacy is a concern, Olshansky emphasizes that individuals should own their health data and have the right to decide whether to share it, ensuring control over personal information.
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Retirement Planning: Linking health data with financial status can be crucial for retirement planning, helping to estimate longevity and financial needs in later life.
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Incentivizing Consistent Use: If people were compensated for their data, they might be more motivated to use fitness trackers consistently, leading to better health outcomes and more robust data for personal and commercial use.
In summary, by tracking your health data and partnering with a Health Broker, you can not only take charge of your health but also potentially earn from the valuable insights your data provides. This symbiotic relationship between personal wellness and economic gain underscores the transformative potential of wearable health technology.