SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitbit (NYSE:FIT), the global leader in the connected health and fitness market, today announced the addition of Fitbit Charge 2™, the top selling fitness tracker in the U.S.1, into the recently expanded UnitedHealthcare Motion™ wellness program, powered by Qualcomm Life, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM). Offered to employers by UnitedHealthcare (NYSE: UNH), UnitedHealthcare Motion is an employer-sponsored wearable device wellness program that will soon enable people using Fitbit Charge 2 to track against the program’s activity metrics easily and conveniently – right on-wrist.
“This integration is a first of its kind for Fitbit and brings together market leaders in healthcare and technology to drive better health outcomes and cost savings for both consumers and employers,” said James Park, co-founder and CEO, Fitbit. “It’s a demonstration of Fitbit’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions that combine the power of technology with insights to help people take a more proactive role in their health and offer motivation to reach their goals.”
Fitbit Charge 2 Provides a Powerful Consumer Experience for Health Plan Program Participants
UnitedHealthcare Motion uses a set of activity goals called F.I.T., which stands for frequency, intensity and tenacity. The customized Fitbit Charge 2 will soon enable UnitedHealthcare Motion program participants to earn up to $4 per day in credits by achieving one or more of the following F.I.T. goals:
- Frequency: Complete 300 steps in five minutes an hour apart, at least six times per day;
- Intensity: Complete 3,000 steps in 30 minutes, at least once per day; and
- Tenacity: Complete at least 10,000 steps per day.
In addition to being able to track their daily progress at a glance against daily F.I.T. goals, program participants who use Fitbit Charge 2 benefit from a sleek look with interchangeable bands, automatic activity and sleep tracking, continuous heart rate tracking with PurePulse™ technology, a personalized view of their cardio fitness, personalized guided breathing, smart notifications including call, text and calendar alerts, and a long battery life.
Motion program participants who select Fitbit Charge 2 will also have access to the full Fitbit ecosystem, which empowers people with information, offers a fun and engaging experience, and provides insights and guidance for users to get the most out of their trackers – all to help them reach their health, fitness and wellness goals. Participants also benefit from the large global Fitbit social community that provides motivation, inspiration and support from friends and family.
UnitedHealthcare Clients and Members Can Earn Financial Incentives with Fitbit Charge 2
First launched in March of 2016, UnitedHealthcare Motion rewards participating employees and eligible dependents for being active.
The recently announced program expansion will enable UnitedHealthcare Motion program participants to use a Fitbit Charge 2 to earn up to $1,500 in Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) credits per year. Program enrollees have so far earned millions of dollars in financial incentives, while employers can obtain premium savings based on participants’ combined results.
A 2013 study showed that people who walk less than 2,000 steps per day may have annual medical costs of over $10,000; conversely, those who walk 8,000 or more steps per day may decrease those costs to as low as $3,0002.
“Studies estimate that if a company can increase its active employee percentage from one-third to two-thirds, the total healthcare costs could be reduced significantly,” said Dr. Richard Migliori, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealth Group. “By providing people with leading technology that is convenient and intuitive, we can enable more people to access UnitedHealthcare Motion and help them pursue their health goals.”
Fitbit Charge 2 Integration into 2net Signals Fitbit’s Continued Integration into Healthcare
The integration of Fitbit Charge 2 into Qualcomm Life’s 2net Platform is the next step in Fitbit’s journey as a health and fitness company.
“As Qualcomm Life continues to expand the reach of our connected health ecosystem, we are thrilled to integrate Fitbit technology to our 2net Platform,” said James Mault, M.D., F.A.C.S., vice president and chief medical officer of Qualcomm Life. “By making Fitbit Charge 2 available for UnitedHealthcare Motion participants, we are enabling people to pick the right device for their personal health journey.”
Over the last seven years, Fitbit Group Health has enabled population health providers to scale the subsidization and distribution of Fitbit trackers within corporate wellness programs, engage employees and members with Fitbit’s corporate wellness experience, and measure the impact of Fitbit-powered programs. Today, over 2.6 million Fitbit users connect their data into population health and health management platforms comprising Fitbit's own corporate wellness solution, health plan platforms, management solutions and more.
The custom UnitedHealthcare Motion feature will be available in early 2017 on all Fitbit Charge 2 devices and can be activated for eligible program participants.
For more information on Fitbit Charge 2 with the Motion feature, visit www.fitbit.com/group-health, or visit the Fitbit booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in the Fitness & Technology Marketplace at Tech West January 5 – 8, Booth #44006. For more information about UnitedHealthcare Motion, visit https://www.uhc.com/ces/innovations/unitedhealthcare-in-motion.
About Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT)
Fitbit helps people lead healthier, more active lives by empowering them with data, inspiration and guidance to reach their goals. As the leader in the connected health and fitness category, Fitbit designs products and experiences that track everyday health and fitness. Fitbit’s diverse line of award-winning products includes Fitbit Surge®, Fitbit Blaze™, Fitbit Charge 2™, Fitbit Charge HR™, Alta™, Fitbit Charge™, Fitbit Flex 2™, Fitbit Flex®, Fitbit One® and Fitbit Zip® activity trackers, as well as the Aria® Wi-Fi Smart Scale. Fitbit products are carried in 54,000 retail stores and in 65 countries around the globe. Fitbit Group Health uses the power of the Fitbit activity trackers, software, and services to deliver innovative solutions for corporate wellness, weight management, insurance and clinical research.
Fitbit and the Fitbit logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fitbit, Inc. in the US and other countries. Additional Fitbit trademarks can be found at www.fitbit.com/legal/trademark-list. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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2net is a product of Qualcomm Life, Inc. 2net is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries.
1 The NPD Group, Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Health & Fitness Trackers, Smart Watches, September – October 2016, Based on units and dollars
2 Savvy Sherpa. Dishman, R. et al. 2013. Physical Activity Epidemiology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
