In a first of its kind, health insurer Aetna Inc. teaming up with Microsoft Corp. is offering clients medical record storage, allowing them to access the Internet-based vault, even if they change jobs or replace their health plan for another.  According to Wall Street Journal, beginning next month, all Aetna clients will be able to transfer information from their Aetna ‘personal health record’, an online repository of data, such as, claims, diagnoses, test results and prescriptions, to HealthVault.  Patients will be allowed to choose what they want to transfer between Aetna and Microsoft.

A recent trend, of late, several firms like Google Inc., have created web sites that allow people to store health information e.g. doctors, hospitals and pharmacy records at one place.  Not to be left behind, even IBM and Duke University have set up a web site, specifically for allowing people to pay medical bills, schedule doctor appointments and store medical records, amongst other things.

The customer retains total control over access of his /her health data, including information that can be seen.  No one, not even doctors or care providers, not even Microsoft officials can access the information, unless and until they have been permitted to do so by the patient.  A highly advantageous system, it not only gives clients continued access, but also helps improve communication with care and service providers.

Launched just about a year ago, Microsoft’s free HealthVault has about 40 firms that currently allow customers to store information on it, including hospitals and CVS Caremark’s Minute Clinic.  A cost effective measure for both the insurer and its customers, Health Vault is not only free, it will also help the insurer save tens of thousands of dollars it currently spends on answering benefit queries over the phone.  As soon as, the electronic personal health records of 6-million Aetna customers transfer online, there will be little need to pick up the phone.