Combine Medical Alerts, Cashless Payment with VITAband
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CREDIT: VITAband |
When you go on a jog, or to the beach, or on a hike, taking your wallet and ID can be a problem – after all, you can't (usually) swim with it, and who wants to risk dropping a wallet while running the New York Marathon?
The VITABand is one solution. It's a simple bracelet that is keyed to a remote web site that holds your vital information, such as your name, address, and whatever medical conditions you might have. The system even accepts insurance information.
The idea is that if you are on a run or hike and fall unconscious, a first responder can get the information by looking at a special code number printed on the VITABand and calling a phone number. How much information one uploads to VITABand is up to the user. One nice thing about this system is that unlike a typical ID bracelet it doesn't print your personal information right on it; so only a first responder would get it – losing the bracelet doesn't expose you.
On top of that, though, the VITABand has another useful option: contactless payment. The VITABand can be set up with a prepaid payment card from Visa. You sign up for the card through VITABand and can use the VITABand web site to load funds. The card slides into the VITABand, and is mailed separately. It works at any store that uses Visa's PayWave system, so it isn't universal, but as more retail outlets take it that will change. The big selling point here is that you needn't worry about carrying any cash.
There are recurring costs. The band itself is $19.95, and the annual subscription is $14.95 per year. That means an initial layout of $34.90 and $14.95 per year thereafter. There are also limits on the prepaid card: you cant take out more than $500 in a day, and the maximum balance is $500. (The card isn't connected to your debit or credit card, it's separate, rather like a PayPal account: prepaid).
Even in the gym this is helpful: if the beverage machine takes PayWave there's no need to carry change.
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