“The average American changes their healthcare plan every 2.7 years.”

An obvious incentive design flaw.

I was having tea with the founder of a preventative healthcare app. It helps people get flu shots on time, sync genetic info to improve diets, monitor Apple Watch data for irregular heartbeats, etc. It keeps upcoming should-do’s organized in one place

He thought they’d be able to go out and sell it to all the insurance companies to help drive down premiums for end consumers by lowering risk profiles.

Then he discovered the consumer is only on an insurance plan for an average of 2.7 years before rolling off.

One insurance executive told him bluntly, “Investing money today to improve somebody’s health years down the road isn’t in our best interest. If we improve your health 5 years from now, by then you’re no longer paying us.”