Fitness trackers keep tabs on our sleep, calories, heart rate, and how many steps we take in a day. In fact, for many, fitness trackers have become an integral part of their lives. These tools also help people achieve their health and wellness goals and insurance companies have taken note. Now, many insurers and employers offer discounts for fitness tracker use.

An increasing number of insurance companies have incentivized the use of fitness trackers. Using these devices could result in you saving some money on insurance premiums. Of course, it all depends on your insurer and their requirements.

This article will introduce you to the various ways you can make the most of fitness trackers. Then, you can enjoy insurance savings and get healthier at the same time.

How To Get Discounts

One of the easiest ways to enjoy insurance savings is to enroll in a wellness program. You can do so in the following ways:

• Enroll with an insurer through your employer
• Enroll with an insurer through a third-party wellness company
• Enroll using a consumer-facing wellness company

If you have insurance through your company, ask your benefits manager about any wellness programs. You might already be eligible to receive insurance discounts for using a fitness tracker.

Many employer-sponsored insurance plans offer discounts to employees. They base these incentives on activity tracked by their fitness tracker. Some employer-sponsored plans even offer employees free or subsidized fitness trackers. Free perks encourage participation in their program, but you may not get your choice of device.

If you're self-employed, contact your insurer to determine if they offer incentives for using a fitness tracker. You may have to wait until the beginning of open enrollment to sign up for fitness tracker-based wellness programs.

Why Do Insurance Companies Offer Discounts?

Insurers decrease their risk and save money by helping their clients stay healthy. Many studies suggest that regularly using a fitness tracker increases a person's daily activity level. That daily activity then improves their health.

Employers also benefit when their employees are healthy. Healthy employees take less sick leave, are more productive, and are likely to stay with their employers longer. Like insurance companies, employers save money when their employees are healthy.

Where to Find Discounts on Insurance Premiums

Ready to make the most of fitness trackers insurance savings? From Fitbits to Apple Watches and Garmin devices, you can save money by tracking your fitness using a wearable device.

Here are the companies that will reward you for using a fitness tracker.

John Hancock

John Hancock's Vitality is the only life insurer on our list. It's a specialized program offering incentives for using a fitness tracker to improve your health. Signing up for John Hancock Vitality comes with many benefits. You even receive a free Amazon Halo or Fitbit device if you commit to their three-year program.

Besides free devices, you can receive large discounts. You can use these awards to buy an Apple Watch and an annual 15% savings on your insurance premium. Walking at least 15,000 steps a day will earn you 30 points daily that you can use for more rewards and savings.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield

One of the nation's biggest insurers is also getting in on fitness trackers for insurance savings. Blue Cross and Blue Shield has partnered with FitBit, too. It's not surprising that the insurer cares about policyholders' physical fitness. Through the Blue365 program, policyholders receive a 20% discount and free shipping on Fitbit devices.

As a Blue365 member, you're also eligible for weekly discounts from retailers and other vendors. Offerings include gym memberships, healthy eating options, and even stress management services. Standard offers like hearing aids, vision products, and dental products are also available.

Oscar

New York-based insurer Oscar pays its policyholders to stay fit. All policyholders have to do is download the Oscar app and begin tracking their steps. With this program, users can earn $1 a day in Amazon Gift Card rewards when they meet their step goal.

Oscar's app syncs with Google Health and Apple Health, allowing users to keep track of their health data. You can earn up to $240 per year in Amazon rewards with Oscar.

Cigna

Cigna's Healthy Rewards program offers policyholders various incentives for leading a healthy lifestyle. You can get discounts on eyecare and gym memberships, fitness trackers, and wellness products.

Cigna rewards points to policyholders when they use online apps or live coaching, too. These options help users to monitor their overall wellness. Tools cover weight, nutrition, fitness, sleep, blood pressure, and diabetes tracking. For every 1000 points you earn, Cigna pays a $50 incentive up to $500 per year.

Aetna

Attain is Aetna's app that rewards policyholders for taking care of their health. Using Attain to track your fitness, you'll earn points that you can use to redeem an Apple watch or gift card.

To achieve rewards, you must reach your daily activity target by engaging in activities such as running, swimming, and yoga. A visit to your doctor will also earn you points.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente's ChooseHealthy program offers policyholders discounts on wearables. Your options even include Fitbit and Garmin devices. They also offer discounted gym memberships plus exercise equipment and workout apparel.

United Healthcare

United Healthcare wants you to live a life in motion. The insurer's UnitedHealthcare Motion rewards policyholders for meeting their daily step goals. You can earn between $3 and $4 a day participating in UnitedHealthcare Motion and up to $1000 per year. United Healthcare allows you to use these rewards towards out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Humana

Humana's Go365 wellness and rewards programs allows members to earn gift cards to retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Shell, and others. All you have to do is connect your fitness tracker and meet your goals to start earning rewards.

Final Thoughts

Earning rewards, cash, and other incentives for exercising is a great way to stay motivated and meet your health goals. Insurance companies want you to stay healthy. Thus, many insurers are offering fitness tracker insurance savings.

It doesn't matter whether you have employer-sponsored health insurance or are self-employed. In either case, you can save money on insurance premiums by participating in special programs. Using fitness trackers for insurance savings could be the perfect motivation to reach your wellness goals and could even help when applying for life insurance.

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