John Hancock has unveiled a new wearable program called Aspire, the first of its kind life insurance designed specifically for Americans living with diabetes. The program is a unique collaboration between John Hancock and Verily, the healthcare division of Google parent company Alphabet, and will leverage the capabilities of Onduo, a virtual diabetes clinic.
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An estimated 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. Of the more than 30 million Americans living with diabetes, half either don't have enough life insurance or don't have any life insurance coverage at all. Many worry they won't qualify for a life insurance policy because they have diabetes, and if they can secure coverage they are worried it's too expensive, said a press release.
With John Hancock Aspire people living with diabetes get the protection of life insurance paired with a technology-enabled program that provides coaching, clinical support, education, and rewards designed to help manage and improve their health. All John Hancock Aspire customers will also have access to an enhanced version of John Hancock Vitality, which is designed to reward steps customers take toward living longer, healthier lives, like exercise and buying healthy food, and now offers opportunities specific to the diabetes journey. Members have the potential to save up to 25% on their premiums, the company said.
Qualifying John Hancock Aspire customers with type 2 diabetes will be eligible to access Onduo's virtual clinic and receive a blood glucose monitoring device which, when used in conjunction with the Onduo app, provide insights into the user's diabetes management.
“This dynamic partnership with John Hancock unlocks the full potential for the Onduo platform, empowering people living with Type 2 diabetes to co-produce their own health at home and in mobile environments and rewards them for doing so,” Verily CEO Andy Condrad said during an event in Manhattan to announce the new partnership. “Through this initiative, Verily and John Hancock are pushing the envelope on the role life insurance can play in both providing financial security and helping people live longer, healthier lives.”
