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An activity tracker, often known as a fitness tracker, is a device or mobile app that monitors and records your daily physical activity. Many also track caloric intake, pulse rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep quality.
Common forms of wearable trackers include watches, wristbands, and pendants. One of the most popular brands in this space is Fitbit.
If you want to get one, you may be wondering: “Does Medicare cover Fitbit?” In this article, we answer the question in clear, plain English. You will also find the average Fitbit costs and other helpful info.
Does Medicare Cover Fitbit?
The short answer is no. In most cases, Medicare will not cover the cost of a Fitbit. However, there may be some situations where you can get these costs covered. Below we’ll take a closer look at this to see when you might be able to get Medicare to pay for your Fitbit.
Original Medicare
Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) does not provide coverage for Fitbit. So that means you will have to pay 100 percent for your Fitbit.
Though Fitbit may seem like they fall under Durable Medical Equipment or more commonly known as DME, Medicare Part B does not provide coverage for Fitbit. Medicare Part B provides coverage for DME.
Medicare Advantage Plans
However, some Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) provide coverage for Fitbit.
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does but will also provide coverage for things that Original Medicare doesn’t. What a Part C plan covers will vary from plan to plan, as will the costs.
Many Medicare Part C plans provide coverage for Fitbit. This includes plans from UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Senior Care Action Network. Fitbit has also been included in wellness kits that support senior health that has been distributed to Medicare recipients by some health insurance plans.
For example, for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part C members, you are eligible for a single Fitbit watch every 2 years. Additionally, you will also have access to Fitbit® Community for Renew Active.™.
The Fitbit® Community for Renew Active™ is a fitness program for both your body and mind wherein you can access thousands of workout videos and connect with other members. This program has no additional costs.
Do Health Insurance Plans Cover Fitbit?
The short answer to that is yes, certain health insurance plans provide coverage for Fitbit.
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue 365 program offers members discounts of up to 20% on Fitbit devices and a free 12-month Fitbit Premium membership.
The Healthy Rewards program from Cigna provides discounts on Garmin and FitBit devices.
By participating in health-related activities and challenges, Humana’s Go365 program allows you to earn incentives like a Fitbit or Garmin watch by participating in health-related activities and challenges.
United Healthcare’s Motion app allows users to achieve goals and earn a Fitbit. Alternately, UHC Medicare Advantage members are entitled to a free Fitbit device every two years, as explained earlier.
How Much Is Fitbit?
Fitbit smartwatches range from $150 to $300, depending on the model. Meanwhile, the Fitbit trackers cost from $100 to $150.
Note: Medicare coverage changes all the time. And your specific coverage may vary from plan to plan for Medicare Advantage. Always be sure to double-check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what your plan covers and what it does not.
Additional Info on Medicare Coverage
This article is part of our series on “What does Medicare cover?”
Also, you can check out other articles in this series, including: Does Medicare cover Autologous Stem Cell Transplant?
