Apple is moving even deeper into the healthcare industry.
Beyond HealthKit, Research Kit and new apps for Apple Watch, the technology giant's Apple Pay feature may now change how individuals pay for their care.
InstaMed, a healthcare payment service provider, announced earlier this month that it will support Apple Pay. Businesses partnering with InstaMed will be able to receive payments via the mobile payment system integrated with the latest fleet of Apple devices, including the Apple Watch.
Individuals can now pay co-pays or deductibles at hospitals or physicians offices or through insurance companies' mobile apps who partner with InstaMed.
"Approximately 20 percent of consumers have unpaid healthcare bills as a result of confusion in the payments process,” said Chris Seib, CTO and co-founder of InstaMed. "To resolve consumer confusion and rising bad debt, the healthcare industry must deliver a simple, secure and private payment process with innovative technology, including Apple Pay. As mobile payments are expected to reach $142 billion by 2019, the healthcare industry must leverage solutions like Apple Pay to meet these consumer needs."
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