How to Get a Free Fitbit or Apple Watch From Your Insurance Company
Fitness trackers like the Apple Watch and Fitbits are generally not as expensive as smartphones and tablets, but not exactly cheap either. You certainly don’t miss the opportunity to catch one for free. And as it turns out, many insurance companies include fitness programs that either come with a free tracker, let you earn a free tracker, or offer device discounts.
HowToGeek dug into fitness rewards for some of the biggest insurance companies to see which ones offer special deals or freebies for Apple Watch and Fitbits. Now, not all insurance companies offer the same fitness tracking deals – some let you get a Fitbit or Apple Watch “for free” (with conditions, of course), while others just give discounts on the devices. However, it’s worth looking into your provider’s promotions to see what you’re eligible for.
But that Fitbit or Apple Watch isn’t really “free.”
However, it’s also worth reading the fine print. In many cases, your insurance company will have access to the activity and health data you generate while driving with the fitness tracker, as well as the data you provide in the insurance company’s app or connected health app on your phone.
Here is an example of United Healthcare’s privacy policy . A careful reading reveals that the company is willing to take all the data it can from you, including health, activity, camera usage, local storage, phone dialer where you touch the screen, sleep data, nutrition data, and other data points. While all privacy policies vary, other insurance programs have similar language.
While not great, it doesn’t just apply to a fitness tracker deal either: these privacy policies usually also apply if you’re just using the provider’s health app. If you’re already using their programs, you’re not passing on a lot of new information by choosing a free fitness tracker. To prevent these companies from accessing your data, you will have to completely stop using their apps, so you will have to decide if the apps and free services are worth the privacy trade-off.
Apart from these caveats, here are the devices and offers offered by various vendors.
United Healthcare – Free Fitness Tracker
Speaking of United Healthcare, if you have insurance, you are eligible for the “Motion” app for iPhone and Android , which comes with a free fitness tracker. While United Healthcare doesn’t list on its site which trackers are eligible, HowToGeek does say that you can qualify for a free Fitbit or Apple Watch after you earn enough credits for your workouts. Perhaps the original free tracker is another third-party option, with Fitbit or Apple Watch coming in the future.
Aetna – almost free Apple Watch
Aetna customers have access to Aetna’s Attain, the app is available for iPhone and Android , but requires an Apple Watch to use. That’s why Aetna allows users to get a basically free Apple Watch (you’re responsible for the activation fee and sales tax).
However, you can’t sign up on the app, take a watch and relax. Aetna requires you to “pay” for the watch with points earned from workouts and other fitness activities within the next 24 months. If you are a person who is generally active, this probably won’t be a problem. But if this is your first time into fitness, this can be a serious commitment. If you decide that training isn’t for you, but you still need the watch, you’ll have to pay the rest of the difference.
Cigna – Free Apple Watch or Fitbit with an Active&Fit subscription.
If you have Cigna, you can save 25% on your Active&Fit subscription. According to the Active&Fit FAQ , the standard plans cost $29/month, so you end up paying $21.75/month. It might not sound as enticing as the other offerings here, but as HowToGeek points out, this subscription comes with a promo code for a free Fitbit or Apple Watch. If you think you’ll be using an Active&Fit subscription, this might be a good deal for you.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield – 22% Off Fitbit
The Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield ” Blue365 ” program has many offers, but a free fitness tracker is not one of them. However, the company takes 22% off when you buy a new Fitbit and offers a 12-month subscription to Fitbit Premium. Free (Tied to a Fitbit purchase). If you already have a Fitbit, you can get an annual membership for $56, which is $24 less than the regular price.
Since you don’t have to connect this discounted Fitbit to the app, you can securely get this discount without signing your details. This is a win in my book.
Humana – Loan to Fitbit or Garmin
Humana’s program, Go365 , allows you to earn credits while you work out, which you can redeem for rewards like Fitbit or Garmin. However, without access to the program, it’s not clear how many credits you need to earn these fitness trackers, or if these trackers are “free” or just discounted. If you have access to Go365, dig around to find out.