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0 pointsryanjshaw2y ago0 comments

This is already a thing, but it works the other way around. Here in South Africa, the largest private short-term health insurer gives you up to 75% cash back for 'healthy food choices' [1] i.e. they effectively reduce your premiums if you signal that you make healthier choices than other people in the fund.

The law in South Africa says that short-term health insurers can't charge different people different premiums, so this is an 'add-on cashback scheme'.

They integrate with 2 big supermarket chains: when you pay with a credit card issued by the insurer's banking partner, your discounts are automatically processed on a line-by-line product level. They also integrate with a fast food chain in the same way, Nandos, and give you a discount for selecting the 'healthier' food choices on the menu.

[1] https://www.discovery.co.za/vitality/help-healthyfood-health...

0 pointsryanjshaw2y ago0 comments

The law in South Africa says that short-term health insurers can't charge different people different premiums, so this is an 'add-on cashback scheme'.

[1] https://www.discovery.co.za/vitality/help-healthyfood-health...

0 comments

6 comments · 4 top-level

kilotaras2y ago· 1 in thread

> This is already a thing, but it works the other way around.

Sorry for being pedantic, but charging "bad customers" $XXX and charging everyone $XXX more, whilst giving everyone but "bad customer" $XXX back, are equivalent.

krab2y ago

Only if everyone participates. You'll generally have a third group of "unknown behavior customers". Then it makes a difference what the default price is.

Ylpertnodi2y ago· 1 in thread

Buy healthy with card. Fags, booze and McD's in cash. Or, a different card.

Traubenfuchs2y ago

The point is that many countries and systems across the world are softly moving away from cash or pushing against it. A possible next step is requiring digital payment for "sinful" products like cigarettes and alcohol.

robertlagrant2y ago

Vitality has spread from SA! I was over there for a few years and used them there, but now I'm back in the UK and have their life insurance.

ufodktztd2y ago

yes, it's a thing in places with zero consumer protection and abusive business.

absolutely nobody wants to be like us, sa or au (with brexited uk following close). those are dystopian.

also credit cards will very much NOT share your information. we have decades of privacy laws on them. that's why you have to "join" those programs. it's very much NOT the norm. and decent countries have laws against this "70% fake discount"

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