Anthem has hired many experts in health technologies from Apple

Health insurance is not known for its user-friendliness. But Anthem, one of the largest insurers, is seeking to change that with a large number of recent recruitments within the company best known for its commitment to a user-friendly design: Apple.

In Silicon Valley, technology companies such as Apple and Alphabet are increasingly trying to integrate their technology into the health sector and are setting up specialized teams of medical experts. They are looking for a $ 3.5 trillion market that has taken time to adapt and change, believing that their expertise in user-friendly design can help improve the consumer experience. Traditional health care companies, such as insurers and hospitals, react by joining forces with tech giants, but also adapt their own offerings and praise their digital usability.

In recent months, Anthem has hired Apple Health, Warris Bokhari, as well as Toni Trujillo Vian (a 24-year-old Apple veteran) and senior researcher in machine learning Stefanos Giampanis, according to LinkedIn and two people close to the case.

The health insurer also used Ted Goldstein, former vice president of Apple from 2002 to 2007, to lead his AI and health data efforts about six months ago, as well as UX in the digital team.

Apple's hiring at Apple goes back a few years: Anthem's vice president of sales, Aneesh Kumar, who had been with the company for a few years, began his career in the 1990s as a product manager at Apple. Rajeev Ronanki, the company's director of digital technologies, previously worked for Deloitte consulting firm on projects related to health innovation.

It's not just Apple employees migrating to Anthem. Udi Manber is another renowned recruit from the world of technology. Previously, he led Google's research efforts and is now a technical advisor at Anthem.

While Anthem recruits talent from Apple and other technology companies, Apple is recruiting in the medical sector.

Distributed in its health teams, Apple has installed dozens of doctors to advise and guide product decisions. He is currently focusing on aggregating clinical information via Health Records, developing biosensors for Apple Watch, and health apps for topics such as reproductive health and sleep monitoring.

Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, previously said he believed that "society's greatest contribution to humanity" would be its health efforts. The health team currently reports to Apple's chief operating officer, Jeff Williams, who is personally interested in the industry.

At the same time, Anthem's CEO, Gail Boudreaux, emphasized the company's continued investment in digital offerings, including budgeting for its consumer technology and artificial intelligence teams.

The company is working on various technology projects, such as a partnership with the health start-up, Doc.ai, to detect allergy profiles, and Act Wise, a website on health plans. to better manage the medical benefits of their employees.

Anthem's competitor, UnitedHealth, also praised its commitment to digital technology. It has a "mainstream digital health platform" called Rally, and a team in this group focuses on providing rewards to people who are meeting their health goals. Aetna, another CVS-owned health insurer, is working with Apple to reward members who take important health milestones through their Apple Watch.

Anthem and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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