Following the newly-sealed deal between Apple and Aetna, the health insurance company is giving away free Apple Watch to its fulltime employees and, sooner or later, its consumers.
Apple Watch production is expected to increase as the Cupertino-giant tied an agreement with Aetna. Aetna will be subsidizing the cost of Apple Watch for all its employees to be connected to the app the health insurance has just developed.
Aetna's app that will help its consumers keep track of their medicine intake schedule, seek help from a doctor or ask for necessary drug.
In a press statement last Tuesday, Sept. 27, Aetna stressed that the app will also help its members take a full grasp of their benefits, adding that the health app will use Apple's Wallet to pay bills.
The health insurance company is releasing the app early next year. When released, the device will also be available to select clients for free.
Aetna will be issuing Apple Watch first to its estimated 50,000 full-time employees for free. For contracted employees, Aetna said it is up for their agencies whether or not to get the device.
In a joint statement of the companies, they said these "new initiatives will be a powerful force toward creating better customer experiences in health care."
Apple Watch Production To Reach All-Time High
Aetna covers over 23 million people in the U.S. When Apple Watch lands on each of its client, Apple is expected to reach an all-time high production of the watch.
On top of that, this deal could boost sales of the Apple's wearable device in many ways. If this deal will comes out to be a success, other health insurance companies might also be taking the same paths.
Apple To Remain An iPhone Company
Clearly though, as New York-based BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis said, this boost in Apple Watches will not tilt the company away, thus will remain an iPhone company.
In the second quarter of 2016, Apple was able to produce approximately 1.6 million watches. This is still 25 times lower than iPhone production which is estimated at 40 million.
In South Africa, a health insurance company has already done this strategy, offering Apple Watch to clients to encourage fitness.
