Perhaps all those folks who sit around and play Farmville on Facebook might like this but watch out for the catch.  As you can see from the quote below, insurers are imagehiring strategists from financial service companies so why create a game if there’s not some money to be gained along the line, so now we have “game algorithms” to make it “fun” and “profitable”.  Well one thing they have studied well and that is the fact that we use computers largely to entertain first and educate second, unlike some other countries do.  This article goes on to say that the game can help sell gadgets and help prevent costly hospitalizations.  Hook up your devices the video says and send data <grin>. image

ALGORITHMIC MARKETING AND DATA MINING HAS ARRIVED!

“Some insurers have tapped strategists from financial services companies and other industries more accustomed to marketing to consumers.”

Remember this from last year with astro turfing on Facebook?  The virtual rewards have a familiar ring of some sort and being I don’t know what is exactly behind the website it’s hard to tell, but everyone is wanting to feed on the weakness of US citizens and sticking that lure of entertainment out there.

Have You Been Suckered In by FaceBook to Play Games To Support Employer and Insurance Company Reform Initiatives?

This brings me around to a post I made a couple months ago:

Why Is Almost Everyone In Healthcare Marketing Their “Ass” Off

What concerns me too is that marketing is de-valuing some good causes and products out there too.  We get hounded by consumer products, retail stores and now drug stores and healthcare services.  If we keep up at the current rate I feel that it’s going to have a downward trend and drive people nuts to where some of the good ideas and products won’t be able to work.  Seniors are getting it and I will use my 87 year old mom and her examples as she’s target for all of this.

Diabetes Police Telephone Solicitation Patrol–4 Calls Today In 2 Hours Mom Asking If There Was A Diabetic in the House

On the other side of the coin we all may know that pharmacists are on Pay for Performance from United Healthcare so now we get help with an aggression we have not seen there before either.  Some are jumping over the counter to help you whether you want it or not. 

Compliance Police Out In Force for Seniors–Health Plans and Drug Stores Making Phone Calls-Business Models & Caller Behavior Sucks -A Result of Pay for Performance Efforts?

There are a few other marketing items listed here from other insurers that are a bit more professional, like monitoring Twitter to answer questions and there’s nothing wrong with that, but the game thing, hook up devices and send data?  Who gets this data for the prizes of earning rewards?  I’ll stick with World of Warcraft for those few times I desire to delve into a game or so and besides I would rather use my PHR from HealthVault to send data as at least that way I know who has it and where it goes without worrying about someone else marketing me.  BD 

FamScape, a fitness-oriented game being tested online and through a few Best Buy Co. (BBY) electronics stores, comes from an unlikely source, Humana Inc. (HUM), one of the larger U.S. health insurers.

Another major health insurer, Cigna Corp. (CI), has a group of in-house customer-service representatives who monitor Twitter and blogs for mention of the company, with the task of quickly responding to any customer complaint.

And several insurers have developed smartphone applications, including an Aetna Inc. (AET) tool for looking up claims status, a UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) program allowing users to post their fitness progress on Facebook, and a WellPoint Inc. (WLP) app that aims to help its California members shop for healthful groceries.

Health Insurers Aim To Build Consumer Trust With Games, Services - WSJ.com

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