John Hancock and Vitality Prove Incentives and Apple Watch Usage Boost Physical Activity Rates by More than 30 Percent

BOSTON, Nov. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New global research¹ released today by Vitality, a leading behavior change platform, reveals that financial incentives combined with wearables encourage people to significantly increase their physical activity. It's a finding consistent with the John Hancock Vitality Apple Watch user experience, and further confirms the company's recent decision to help all customers live longer, healthier lives by including Vitality on every life insurance policy it sells. With the John Hancock Vitality program, customers have the option to earn rewards and potential premium savings through physical activity, better nutrition, mindfulness and preventative screenings. 

The RAND Europe study of over 400,000 people in the U.S., U.K. and South Africa, the world's largest behavior tech study based on verified data, concluded that those who wore an Apple Watch and participated in the Vitality Active Rewards benefit program averaged a 34 percent sustained increase in physical activity compared to participants without an Apple Watch. That's the equivalent of 4.8 extra days of activity per month.  

In the U.S., the RAND study results revealed significant improvements in levels of physical activity:

• The number of active days increased by almost 31 percent
• Participants who had the highest level of inactivity and body mass index levels improved more than other groups, increasing physical activity by 200 percent in the U.S 
• High-intensity activity days increased by 52 percent

In addition, the study found that positive associations between Vitality with the Apple Watch benefit and physical activity persists over time.

John Hancock Joins Global Pledge with Aggressive Goal

John Hancock and parent company Manulife fundamentally believe insurers should help customers live healthier and have signed a global pledge with Vitality to help make 100 million people 20 percent more active by 2025.

"The RAND research proves the experience of our customers to date will have long-term impact – people can successfully take small, everyday steps to improve their overall health and a life insurance company can help them in that journey," said Marianne Harrison, CEO of John Hancock. "We're fully committed to this premise, and our pledge today will further reinforce our bold commitment to give people the tools they need to live longer, healthier lives."

Harrison, along with Manulife President and CEO Roy Gori and Manulife Canada President and CEO Mike Doughty, acted as signators in the pledge. Manulife recently announced it will give millions of group benefits employees access to the Manulife Vitality platform, starting this spring.

Apple Watch Series 4 Now Available for John Hancock Life Insurance Customers

John Hancock is also announcing today that policyholders can receive the new Apple Watch Series 4 for as little as $25 through regular exercise. The newest version of the watch can detect hard falls and features an electrical heart rate sensor that can also take an electrocardiogram. 

"There is natural alignment between consumer health and longevity, and our goals as a life insurer. This type of shared value is good for everybody," added Brooks Tingle, president and CEO of John Hancock Insurance. "The Apple Watch has been an extremely popular and effective component of our program to date, helping our customers not only live healthier lives through better exercise and mindfulness habits – but also improve their financial wellness through the rewards our program offers, including lower premiums and discounts from some of their favorite national retailers."

In 2016, the company first introduced customers to the opportunity to earn an Apple Watch (for an initial $25 fee) to support their physical activity goals and earn points that reduce or eliminate their monthly payments for their watch over a two-year period. Last year, John Hancock expanded the offering to include the Apple Watch Series 3. Today's announcement furthers John Hancock's commitment to motivate customers to protect both their financial future and stay active and healthy.

For more information about John Hancock Vitality visit JohnHancockInsurance.com.

About John Hancock and Manulife 

John Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States, and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were over CAD$1.1 trillion (US$863 billion) as of September 30, 2018. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports approximately 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and college savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

About Vitality

Guided by a core purpose of making people healthier, Vitality is the leader in improving health to unlock outcomes that matter. By blending smart tech, data, incentives, and behavioral science, we inspire healthy changes in individuals and organizations. Vitality brings a global perspective through successful partnerships with the smartest insurers and most forward-thinking employers around the world. More than 8 million people in 18 countries engage in the Vitality program. For more information, please visit www.vitalitygroup.com.

Insurance policies and/or associated riders and features may not be available in all states.

Apple Watch program is not available in New York. You can order Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) or Series 4 (GPS) by electronically signing, at checkout, a Retail Installment Agreement with the Vitality Group, for the retail price of the watch. After an initial payment of $25 plus tax, over the next two years, monthly out of pocket payments are based on the number of workouts completed. Upgrade fees apply if you choose (GPS + Cellular) versions of Apple Watch Series 3 or Series 4, larger watch case sizes, certain bands and case materials. Apple is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion. Apple Watch is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

Rewards and discounts are subject to change and are not guaranteed to remain the same for the life of the policy.

John Hancock Vitality Program rewards and discounts are only available to the person insured under the eligible life insurance policy.

Vitality is the provider of the John Hancock Vitality Program in connection with policies issued by John Hancock

Insurance products are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02210 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595.

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¹ RAND Europe 2018, Financial incentives and physical activity, Evidence from the Vitality's Apple Watch benefit, Marco Hafner, Jack Pollard and Chris van Stolk, page vii.

SOURCE John Hancock