For months, whispers circulated about “Apple Health+,” a potential new service promising a revolutionary approach to personal wellness. Recent reports suggested the project had been abandoned, a casualty of shifting priorities within the tech giant. But a surprising discovery within the latest iOS beta hints the story isn’t over.
Hidden within the code of iOS 26.4, developers unearthed references to “Health Coaching” and “Health Plans.” These aren’t visible to everyday users yet, but the terminology directly echoes earlier reports detailing Apple’s work on an AI-powered health subscription. The implications are significant.
Last fall, detailed accounts emerged of a paid “Health+” service, centered around an AI health coach. This coach would leverage the wealth of data collected by the Health app and Apple Watch to deliver personalized recommendations, tailoring wellness plans to individual needs. It was a bold vision.
However, the narrative shifted. Reports surfaced indicating Apple had scaled back its ambitions, potentially dismantling the core components of Health+ and integrating fragments into the existing Health app. The future of the project appeared uncertain, even bleak.
So, why are these remnants of “Health Coaching” and “Health Plans” still present in the iOS 26.4 code? Two possibilities emerge. The simplest explanation is that these are simply leftover code fragments, echoes of an experiment that never fully materialized. Apple frequently explores new features internally, and abandoned projects often leave traces in early software builds.
But a more compelling scenario suggests Apple hasn’t entirely abandoned the idea. It’s plausible the project was simply delayed, put on hold while the company focuses on more immediate priorities, like the development of a new Siri. The continued presence of these references within a current beta indicates ongoing development, at least at a foundational level.
An internal iOS 26 build, previously examined, already contained hints of a revamped Health app. This suggests the feature may have been postponed, perhaps slated for release in iOS 26.5 or even the more distant iOS 27. The possibility of a future launch remains very real.
Regardless of the ultimate fate of “Health+,” the discovery within iOS 26.4 is significant. It confirms the AI Health Coach project wasn’t merely speculation; it existed, in some form, within Apple’s development pipeline. Rumors gain weight when corroborated by the company’s own code.
Considering Apple’s increasing focus on on-device AI and the broader “Apple Intelligence” features arriving with iOS 26, a health-focused AI assistant feels strategically aligned. Apple’s access to deeply personal health data, particularly when combined with the capabilities of the Apple Watch, represents a powerful advantage.
Whether “Health Coaching” will evolve into a paid subscription, a seamlessly integrated feature, or something entirely new remains to be seen. But the evidence suggests Apple’s ambition to revolutionize personal wellness through AI is far from extinguished.
