Making health more accessible in 2019 and beyond

Making health more accessible in 2019 and beyond


At Fitbit, we know there are many common barriers that hold people back on their journey towards better health, and our mission has always been to break down these barriers so everyone in the world can be on - and stay on - a path to a healthier life. Every day, we come to work with the singular goal of ensuring our products and services can help make health accessible, fun and achievable. 

It’s not just about empowering users with a device that enables them to understand their health. It’s about giving them the tools they need to make long-term behavior changes, providing effective guidance and services that keep them engaged, and cultivating a community of supporters who are as invested in the progress of their peers as they are in their individual health journeys. 

That’s why today, we are excited to announce that for the first time in our company’s history, Fitbit is partnering with a Medicaid plan. Nearly one in five people in the U.S. are covered by Medicaid, and this partnership is the beginning of an important connection between Fitbit and a population that has not historically had access to innovative healthcare technology. 

Beginning on January 1, 2020, approximately 4,000 WellCare of Georgia Medicaid plan enrollees with Type 2 diabetes will be eligible to receive a Fitbit Inspire device, along with educational materials and activity challenges through Fitbit’s platform. This new program with WellCare will help members adopt healthy behaviors to better manage their diabetes.

Our entrance into Medicaid is one of several important steps we’re proud to have taken in 2019 to make health accessible to broader segments of the population in 2020 and beyond.

·       In 2020, Fitbit devices will also be included in Medicare Advantage plans offered by three insurers, making them even more accessible to seniors who are increasingly interested in adopting technology that can help them be proactive about their health as they age. For example, our devices will be an embedded benefit in 59 plans offered by UnitedHealthcare across 27 states – up from 42 plans in 2019. As Medicare Advantage plans increasingly dedicate their focus to keeping their members out of the hospital by driving adoption of healthy behaviors, Fitbit devices and the resources they offer have become an important part of that strategy. 

 ·      We also announced that we will be working with the BMS-Pfizer Alliance to accelerate detection and diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (Afib) to reduce the risk of life-threatening events, like stroke. As leaders in wearables and Afib, respectively, Fitbit and BMS-Pfizer Alliance will use our combined resources and expertise to identify, educate and support people at increased risk for Afib, including those 65 years and older. Our aim is to ensure that, beyond detection, there is a continuous and supported pathway that extends to diagnosis. 

·      We began working with Singapore’s Health Promotion Board to roll out Live Healthy SG,  Fitbit’s first major integration into a national public health program using wearables and our digital health platform. As part of the program, Fitbit will provide a free Fitbit Inspire HR® device to Singaporean residents who sign up for a one-year paid subscription of Fitbit Premium. The collaboration aims to drive behavior change, improve health outcomes and deliver insights to inform future health policies.

These collaborations, just a sampling of the connections we’ve forged with key healthcare stakeholders in 2019, lay the groundwork for Fitbit to carry out our mission: bring the Fitbit platform to as many people as possible in order to make health more accessible for everyone. Millions of people have already chosen us to help to lead them healthier lives, and in 2020 we look forward to helping even more people address their unique needs on their way to that same goal. 

Elaine Comyn

HubSpot Training. Go to Market Manager. Marketing Operations Manager. B2B Retention. Digital Marketer. CIPP/E.

4y

Terrifying.

Like
Reply

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Explore topics