Apple Offers Free Genetic Testing to Cupertino Employees

Through Apple's AC Wellness services that offer health benefits to Cupertino employees, Apple has begun providing its staff with free genetic testing, reports CNBC.

AC Wellness operates on-site health clinics on and near Apple's Cupertino campuses, and through a partnership with Color Genomics, employees are able to get genetic screenings for diseases.

colorgenetictesting
Genetic testing is expected to help employees uncover health problems that could turn into risks later in time, allowing patients to take preventative steps. Color's test is able to look for gene mutations associated with cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The test created by Color is not sold directly to consumers and is instead ordered by clinicians at AC Wellness, with a follow up appointment required to discuss the health results.

Top Rated Comments

rpmurray Avatar
57 months ago
This is a good way for Apple to weed out those employees that may become a significant health care cost.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
||\|| Avatar
57 months ago
Genetic testing done through an employer?

Ha, ha - no.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PC_tech Avatar
57 months ago

Only on MacRumors would Apple hate be such that trying to prevent illness/disease is seen as a bad thing. Yes what a terrible thing that a company would put in place programs to try and prevent employees from incurring significant health care costs in the first place.

Full disclosure: the insurance company I work for has Apple as one of its self insured customers. We have a dedicated team that supports Apple 24/7.
It’s not hate just because you don’t agree with it :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yaxomoxay Avatar
57 months ago
GATTACA in progress
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Darth Tulhu Avatar
57 months ago

Only on MacRumors would Apple hate be such that trying to prevent illness/disease is seen as a bad thing. Yes what a terrible thing that a company would put in place programs to try and prevent employees from incurring significant health care costs in the first place.

Full disclosure: the insurance company I work for has Apple as one of its self insured customers. We have a dedicated team that supports Apple 24/7.
Perhaps it's not Apple hate, though.

Humans and worse yet, corporations, have a horrible track record of wielding such power to the ends of which they SAY they're going to use it for.

I would be concerned over this regardless of which company implements it, particularly in a scenario where the individual cannot opt out.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
||\|| Avatar
57 months ago

Only on MacRumors would Apple hate be such that trying to prevent illness/disease is seen as a bad thing. Yes what a terrible thing that a company would put in place programs to try and prevent employees from incurring significant health care costs in the first place.

Full disclosure: the insurance company I work for has Apple as one of its self insured customers. We have a dedicated team that supports Apple 24/7.
If this was Apple's real concern, they'd offer reimbursement to the service of an employee's choosing.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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