Apple Watch is better for you than Obamacare, Jeb Bush says
During a Thursday stop in Phoenix, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush --?widely expected to challenge for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016 --?reportedly said that he would do away with the Affordable Care Act in favor of health tracking on the Apple Watch.
It isn't immediately clear exactly what relationship Bush believes personal activity tracking bears to medical care, and transcripts of his remarks have not been released. The governor's comments were first noted by FOX 10's Steve Krafft.
In photos, Bush can be seen gesturing to his Apple Watch --?which appears to be a space black stainless steel model with black sport band --?during what was presumably a discussion of the Health app.
Buyers can use the Apple Watch to track their daily exercise and movements, such as walking or working out. The Health app provides personalized feedback designed to help wearers lead a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Conversely, The Affordable Care Act --?known colloquially as Obamacare --?is a regulatory overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system designed to make medical treatment more affordable and accessible. It includes provisions for expansion of Medicare and Medicaid, as well as new regulations on private insurers alongside numerous other changes.
Apple has used the Watch's fitness tracking capabilities as a major tentpole of its marketing effort, but has been careful to avoid making medical claims. Among other consequences, making specific claims could lead to scrutiny and likely regulatory action from the FDA.
It isn't immediately clear exactly what relationship Bush believes personal activity tracking bears to medical care, and transcripts of his remarks have not been released. The governor's comments were first noted by FOX 10's Steve Krafft.
In photos, Bush can be seen gesturing to his Apple Watch --?which appears to be a space black stainless steel model with black sport band --?during what was presumably a discussion of the Health app.
Buyers can use the Apple Watch to track their daily exercise and movements, such as walking or working out. The Health app provides personalized feedback designed to help wearers lead a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Conversely, The Affordable Care Act --?known colloquially as Obamacare --?is a regulatory overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system designed to make medical treatment more affordable and accessible. It includes provisions for expansion of Medicare and Medicaid, as well as new regulations on private insurers alongside numerous other changes.
Apple has used the Watch's fitness tracking capabilities as a major tentpole of its marketing effort, but has been careful to avoid making medical claims. Among other consequences, making specific claims could lead to scrutiny and likely regulatory action from the FDA.
Comments
and we all know that this guy is an idiot right? Remember his comment on Net Neutral?
Jeb Bush is a tool!! A watch is better than a health care? He's really comparing Apple with Orange. What a dumb ass.
Not even Apple with Orange, but Apple with Agriculture Subsidy Program...WTF.
He's got the pedigree.
Maybe apple is greasing the GOP to make sure they can bring back those billions and Jeb come cheap on cost a watch.
His point is correct. Any way you look at it, the current healthcare system is unsustainable for an aging population. Data-driven personalized telemedicine, and prevention are the ways we have to go, or else we'll be like Japan.
Nobody gets upset that the telephone operator, office typist, and travel agent have been replaced by technology. Medicine has to undergo the exact same transformation.
To give the guy the benefit of the doubt he's conflating retail medical care (tracking my own activity will give me immediate health benefits) versus wholesale (Obamacare's efforts and improving outcomes, making preventive care more accessible and eliminating pre-existing condition bans etc. will improve overall population health: but won't directly impact my sitting on my butt at my desk all day long...).
On the subtle side the Researchkit communication available to my doctors should that be needed would really open up a new and wonderful line of data communication for my health management: again, retail.
Nice to see the knee jerk political people getting their jabs in already. I'm sure there's more to come. Replacing the ACA with Apple watches is silly, and if that's what he said, I'm sure it was hyperbole. But that doesn't stop people from voicing ridiculous opinions based on their emotions. FWIW, Jeb Bush seems like one of the few popular politicians that aren't on the crazy fringes of their party, and because of this I'm glad he's running.
Back on topic: This is great publicity for the Apple Watch, and impressive that there's a politician who was enough of an Apple fan to be able to get the watch so early. Also, I assume he's making a point about the Apple Watch being a sensible way for health care to be improved and more effective, which is a great observation.
Why do people hate the Affordable Care Act?
Answer: They are rich, own a large business that did not offer health insurance before, have a financial stake in a healthcare provider. Or... you just support whatever Fox news tells you to.
If you are a senior, middle class, a poor person or a female the Affordable Care Act is a very good thing for you. In fact for many people who had private insurance before the Act was passed, have much better healthcare now compared to what they had before, because the minimum care standards are higher, plus, there are many more healthcare options and better protection of your rights such as guaranteed coverage for existing conditions.
There are also many cost cutting measures provided by the Act which has slowed the rate of medical costs.
No Bush fan, but the point is health care vs. medical care. Only YOU can take care of your health. Massive medical costs come from people who don't give a damn about their health (smoking-related diseases, obesity, drug and alcohol abuse, sedentary lifestyle, 0 exercise). Buying everyone an Apple Watch would be much cheaper than paying for everyone's medical needs (impossible anyway) Socialized medicine is an illusion, unless the U.S. is essentially subsidizing 99% of your defense budget, allowing for temporary socialism in western and northern Europe. Its unsustainable in the long term.
I agree: I'm often pointing out that while our procedures do cost more than in many other places what undoubtedly builds a floor in medical care cost reduction is the challenge that we ARE just that sick a nation: there's studies that have been referenced showing something like 80% of medical expenditures are for the treatment of chronic, largely lifestyle related diseases... search for
Big Food vs. Big Insurance
By Michael Pollan
The New York Times, September 10, 2009
He's got references to the studies in his article.
"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three-quarters of health care spending now goes to treat “preventable chronic diseases.” Not all of these diseases are linked to diet — there’s smoking, for instance — but many, if not most, of them are.
We’re spending $147 billion to treat obesity, $116 billion to treat diabetes, and hundreds of billions more to treat cardiovascular disease and the many types of cancer that have been linked to the so-called Western diet. One recent study estimated that 30 percent of the increase in health care spending over the past 20 years could be attributed to the soaring rate of obesity, a condition that now accounts for nearly a tenth of all spending on health care."
Cheaper meds, cutting doctors pay and eliminating nurses won't get us there.
If he was against the bill that was passed, I fail to see how that’s idiocy.
It’s unaffordable, there’s no care, and it was an illegal act.
You’re completely and utterly delusional.
Said literally no one in any of those categories, ever. Try again.
He is right ! (Scoopertino) :
Got to add my 2 cents. It was nice when I was able to get back with BCBS (self paying) after years of being refused due to a pre existing condition.
BTW, kongerror, Japan has a wonderful health system. Neighborhood doctors, free treatment, why do you think their life expectancy is so long?
Hahahaha, you made my day.
The most pathetic thing is to see people defending such a retarded politician; just because he said something nice about the AW.
"illegal act"
How so? The Supreme Court has disagreed on the one facet that got to them for instance, the 'personal responsibility mandate' as the Heritage Foundation and Mitt Romney termed it....
?As to mandating a fee supported, federally collected fee (for federally build and managed healthcare in the first case)? That was established as Constitutional when the people who wrote the Constitution established such a system for merchant sailors in the 1790's: If John Adams etc. didn't know what was in their own document who would?
It's passage was certainly legal, and protracted. The issue with Hobby Lobby more a statutory interpretation issue than "legal" in how the ACA bills implementation lined up with RFRA.
?Oh and at less than 5% of total national health expenditures and that it's saving healthcare money, it certainly was affordable (as the conservative CBO score proved), and it has provided millions access to healthcare. Still waiting for those Death Panels eh?