Apple and Aetna held secret meetings last week to bring Apple's health- and fitness-tracking device, Apple Watch, to Aetna customers, according to three sources who spoke with CNBC. It said last September it will make Apple Watch available to "select large employers and individual customers" during open enrollment season.
Those in attendance at the meetings on Thursday and Friday included executives from Aetna and Apple, and chief medical information officers from hospitals across the country.
"This is a logical step for Apple's broader distribution of their watch, and this type of partnership has been on their radar from the beginning", said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, an advisory firm that specializes in technology. While diabetics spend huge amounts of money to monitor their blood sugar several times a day, Apple has been working on a way for the Apple Watch to provide continuous blood sugar readings. Fitbit has made similar agreements with other big companies. Bloomberg initially reported that Aetna would be the first insurer to offer Apple Watch to its employees in 2016. In the second quarter of 2017, Apple stood in the number two spot, just behind Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi Corp, while Fitbit ranked third. Aetna closed at $155.67, up 2.31%.
Egypt condemns terrorist attack in Burkina Faso
Local authorities say other foreigners killed include two Kuwaitis and one person each from France, Nigeria, Lebanon and Turkey. Seven Burkina Faso citizens were killed and authorities said three other victims had not yet been identified.
Apple stock traded up 1.6% to $159.94 mid-afternoon Monday.
If this deal goes through, Aetna could roll out its plan as early as next year.
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