How To Get Free Fitbit From Your Health Insurance Provider – Fitness trackers such as Fitbit aren’t as expensive as other tech devices like tablets and smartphones, however they are not exactly cheap. It is definitely possible to snag a fitness tracker for free. There are many insurance companies that have fitness and wellness programs that provide you with a complimentary tracker and help you to earn a free or discounted Fitbit.
Even though not all insurance providers provide the same fitness tracking discounts or deals, some can help you with a free device. It is definitely worth checking into your provider’s promotions to see what you qualify for. In this comprehensive guide we will help you learn how to obtain a free fitbit from your health insurance provider.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Eligibility often includes participation in wellness programs, having specific health conditions, and completing health assessments.
- Necessary documents include proof of eligibility, health assessments, proof of personal identity, insurance plan information, and doctor’s recommendations.
- Government programs like Medicaid and Medicare Advantage offer free or discounted Fitbits under certain conditions.
- Private health insurance providers such as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Aetna have specific programs that provide Fitbits at reduced rates or for free.
- Additional ways to get free or discounted Fitbits include promotions from the National Institute of Health and wireless providers like AT&T.
Overview Of Fitbit And Its Features
Fitbit is a fitness tracking device that has been around since 2007 and is renowned in the health tracker space. This brand provides fitness trackers as well as smart watches with variety of features such as the following:
- Activity Tracking: You can track the steps taken and number of active minutes
- Temperature Checks: You can keep track of the changing temperature during illness or track of ovulation
- Heart Rate Monitoring: You can check current and resting heart rate and set up notifications for abnormal heart activity.
- Hands Free Purchasing: Fitbit allows people to use their smart watch to pay for items at places that accept contactless payment.
- Stress Management Tools: Fitbit has many apps to measure the stress response to changes in your body and provides mood as well as stress management tools.
- Sleep Monitoring: You can learn about the sleep cycles, blood oxygen level and breathing rate to understand your overall quality of sleep or any other potential health problem.
- Communication: You can pair with your Fitbit smartphone to reject or accept calls, read appointment notification or use quick reply text messages.
Fitbit was acquired by Google in 2021 so if you are browsing for devices on fitbit.com then you can see different Google Pixel Watch models as well. The devices are compatible with Android, iPhone and Google Pixel smartphones. The devices have a variety of features based on the model. You can unlock many features with the Fitbit premium subscription for only $9.99 every month.
Head to our next guide to learn about the availability of free vouchers for free eye tests.
What Are The Eligibility Criteria To Get Free Fitbit From Your Health Insurance Provider?
The eligibility criteria to get free Fitbit through health specific health insurance providers as well as the plan that you are enrolled in. The general eligibility criteria include the following.
- Participate In Wellness Programs: A few insurers provide incentives for participating in health and wellness programs that promote healthy living and physical activity. On meeting a few activity goals or even completing a health assessment you can qualify for discounted or free Fitbit.
- Health Conditions: In a few cases individuals with particular health conditions that can be monitored or managed better with physical activity tracking are eligible to get assistance.
- Health Assessment: On completing health assessment or getting screened you can qualify for wellness benefits including a free or discounted Fitbit.
- Plan Coverage: A few health plans include discounts or benefits for fitness devices such as Fitbit as a part of the preventive care initiative.
- Enrollment Period: A few insurance providers offer incentives or special permits during the special enrollment period or renewal. In order to determine the accurate eligibility criteria you must check with your insurance provider or review the plan documents. They can help you learn specific details about whether a fitness tracking device like Fitbit is covered or not.
Read about: How to qualify for a free fitbit through Medicaid in our next guide.
What Are The Documentations Required To Get Free Fitbit From Your Health Insurance Provider?
In order to qualify for free Fitbit through health insurance you need to have the following documents in hand.
- Proof of Eligibility: Depending on the plan requirements of your health insurance provider you need to provide proof of your eligibility like having certain health conditions or participation in wellness programs.
- Health Assessment Benefits: A few insurance providers may require you to complete health assessments or fill up a questionnaire to determine the eligibility for wellness benefits.
- Proof of Personal Identity: This includes providing date of birth, contact information or address.
- Insurance Plan Information: You need to provide details about your health insurance coverage like policy number, member ID or plan type.
- Doctor’s Recommendation or Prescription: In a few cases you need to provide a recommendation or prescription from your healthcare provider especially if the Fitbit is necessary as a part of your treatment plan for managing specific health conditions.
- Enrollment Confirmation: Whether the free Fitbit device is tied to enrollment in wellness programs or through special promotion you need to offer confirmation of your participation or enrollment.
- Authorization Of Claim: Health insurance providers may require you to fill out few application forms and offer authorization to receive a Fitbit device as a covered benefit.
What Are The Available Ways To Get Free Fitbit From Health Insurance Providers?
Following is the list of private health insurance providers that have health and insurance programs in place to provide members discounts on Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watches like fitness trackers.
Government Healthcare Programs
Medicaid
It is possible to get a free Fitbit through Medicaid since the Fitbit has partnered with the Medicaid program recently in Georgia to help people access mHealth. Starting from 1st this collaboration has allowed recipients to get devices once they complete the annual diabetic retinal exam.
The partnership with WellCare is assigned to make the device accessible to all the recipients enrolled in Medicaid plans. Patients with type 2 diabetes on WellCare of Georgia’s Medicaid plan can get wearable as a part of the plan starting in 2020.
Medicare Advantage
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan then you can get a free or discounted fitness tracker or get reimbursement when you buy one.
For instance, Humana Medicare Advantage members with over the counter benefits can buy a Fitbit from Centerville pharmacy online with the help of an allowance on their Human Spending Account (HSA) card to save dollars. A few more Medicare partners who provide access to free health trackers include the following.
- WellCare offers one free Fitbit device to members having a promo port from their insurer
- Silver&Fit members can get one Wellness kit every year for instance a fitness strategy that provides a choice of a Fitbit or Garmin tracker.
Private Health Insurance Providers
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue shield is one of the largest health insurance providers in the United States of America that has partnered with Fitbit for providing special rates on devices for its members.
BCBS provides program named Blue365 through which it offers the following discounts:
- Up to 20% discount on Garmin device
- Up to 20% discount on Fitbit and Google devices
- Up to 50% discount on Fitbit, Polar and Garmin heart rate monitors.
Being a part of Blue365 Health and Wellness program the initiative offers policyholders discount up to 22% on the Fitbit device. Members are also eligible to get 12 months of Fitbit premium completely free.
Blue365 provides access to Fitbit devices and subsidized rates or in bulk for group insurance policies through employers. It’s important to note that the Blue365 initiative provides special discounts or rates on many other lifestyle and fitness products for promoting health and wellness among users.
United Healthcare
One of the major health insurance providers in America that runs the Fitbit or Apple Watch promotion is United Healthcare. UnitedHealthcare Motion members get an opportunity to earn Fitbit or Apple Watch. The United Healthcare Rewards Program enables members to earn up to $1000 every year by completing simple healthy activities.
For instance you can earn nearly $5.25 every week for walking 5000 steps per day or $25 for completing health service. The funds are loaded on the prepaid debit cards or into the health savings account that you can use for purchasing a fitness device. You just need to activate UHC Rewards through the United Healthcare app or visit the official website and call the number on your UHC insurance ID card.
Medicare Via Devoted Health
One of the first private Medicare providers that launched the Medicare Advantage Plan for Apple Watch is Devoted Health. Even though customers cannot get a Fitbit or Apple Watch entirely free from this insurance provider, Devoted Health will reimburse nearly $150 to its customers for the device.
This is a massive discount and helps you to offset the cost of the fitness tracker. Wellness Bucks from Devoted Health is a subsidy program that applies to best fitness trackers, smart watches or wearable devices. Users can reimburse gym membership as well or fitness classes up to $150.
Humana
Humana Go365 program allows users to earn credits while they work out. They can exchange the credits for rewards like Garmin or Fitbit fitness devices. It is however not clear how many rewards or credits you need to earn to get a Garmin or Fitbit device without access to the program and whether the trackers are available at discounted rate or for free. If you have access to Humana’s Go365 Program then you need to find it out yourself.
Aetna
One of the largest health insurance providers’ Aetna provided one of the most appealing programs through which users can obtain a free Fitbit or Apple Watch. This is known as Attain by Aetna Program. The promotion encourages customers to request a free Fitbit or Apple Watch and they will get the device shipped to them.
Users can also earn their Fitbit device or Apple Watch by meeting the weekly or daily activity goals that will certainly be of the watch’s value. They even track your goals and keep a track of the dollars that you have earned. If you are already owning a Fitbit or Apple Watch then you can use the app for earning gift cards for your activity. Some of the options include CVS, Best Buy and Amazon gift cards.
John Hancock
John Hancock is another insurance provider that provides a specialized life insurance program named John Hancock. It enables users to obtain a free Amazon Halo device or Apple Watch for as low as $25 including tax with a three-year commitment to this program. Amazon Halo service is powered by the mobile application that assesses the habits and patterns of the wearer.
From the service, the fitness tracker will measure your heart rate, activity and sleep metrics to promote healthier habits via the Halo app. Users can also sync their Halo profile with the vitality account for earning vitality points through a wide array of healthy actions. A few more perks available for vitality users are Amazon gift cards or prime membership that they can get by using the device.
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente offers a Healthy Program through which it offers amazing discounts on activity trackers like Garmin and Fitbit. Individuals can obtain discounted rates on workout apparel as well from top brands like 2Xu, Skechers, BOSU, Plus Exercise Equipment from TRX, PRO Compression and many more.
Kaiser Permanente specifies that the program is not available to Medicaid recipients. You can obtain fitness trackers like Fitbit or Garmin at discounted rates from this health insurance provider. You can get help visiting Kaiser Permanente online, choosing your region and opting for the health and wellness category or contact the number on your case with a permanent insurance ID card.
Cigna Healthcare
If you’re enrolled with Cigna then you can save up to 25% off on Active&Fit subscriptions. As per Active&Fit FAQ section standard plans start from $29 per month and you end up saving up to $21.7 each month. The subscription comes with promo codes towards a free Apple Watch or Fitbit device. If you’re planning to take active benefits subscription then it can be an amazing team for you.
The Healthy Rewards Program sponsored by Cigna provides amazing discounts to its members on Fitbit as well as Garmin activity trackers as well as smartwatches. Healthy Rewards offers amazing promotions, offers and discounts on weight management programs, lasik vision correction, fitness club membership, home delivery meal services and alternative medicine like chiropractors, acupuncturist and massage therapist. You can log into mycigna.com and check the Wellness category or contact 800-870-3470 or the number that is present on your Cigna healthcare insurance ID card.
Additional Ways To Get Free/ Cheap Fitbit
- Free Fitbit From The Government: The National Institute of Health funds the All Of Us Research Program through which it offers qualified participants an opportunity to earn a free Fitbit. Once you agree to use the Fitbit the study will get data from the device for gathering more information about your health and lifestyle.
- Pay Over Time: You can make monthly payments using the interest free buy now pay later option that is available through Amazon or selecting PayPal in 4 at the checkout with participating stores.
- Being a New Wireless Customer: When you switch to a new wireless provider you get a free fitness tracker or smartwatch, which is part of the incentive program. For instance AT&T as of may 2024 provided free Pixel Watch 2 on purchase of the Google pixel 8a phone.
Do you want to know whether adopted kids get free healthcare or not? Learn more insights in our next guide.
Conclusion
To sum up it is possible to obtain a free or discounted Fitbit through a health insurance provider by following several key steps. This includes being well informed about the available fitness programs offered by insurers and understanding the eligibility criteria and the claim process. It is important to maintain awareness of the benefits that come with Fitbit device and access health tracking advantages. Leveraging the health and wellness benefits can lead to amazing benefits and savings including obtaining free Fitbit through your health insurance plan. In order to maximize the health benefits it is important to understand the specifics of the insurance policy and the wellness program that it provides.
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