Fitbit Insurance: Coverage and Costs

If you rely on a Fitbit to track your workouts, sleep, or health conditions, losing or damaging it could throw off your whole routine. That’s where Fitbit insurance comes in.

This coverage protects your fitness tracker from accidental damage, malfunctions outside the original warranty, and sometimes loss or theft.

Since wearables can be pricey, insurance can help you quickly replace your device to stay on track with your health goals, fitness rewards, or wellness programs through your employer or insurance company.

Let’s look closer at how Fitbit insurance works, who it’s best for, and how to choose the right plan.

How Fitbit insurance works

Fitbit insurance generally covers your device in case of drops, spills, cracked screens, and electrical or mechanical malfunctions. Some insurers even cover loss or theft.

This type of coverage is common for activity trackers, since they’re often worn daily and exposed to potential damage.

New Fitbits come with a limited warranty through Google for the first year, or two years in the European Economic Area (EEA), while refurbished devices get 90 days. This warranty only covers manufacturing issues under normal use. It won’t help with drops or spills.1

If you want to protect against those scenarios, you can purchase additional coverage. Google offers Preferred Care through Asurion for select Fitbit models, but third parties could provide broader coverage with longer terms.

While you might not be able to bundle Fitbit insurance into your healthcare plan or group insurance policies, some health insurers offer free or discounted activity-monitoring devices.

What Fitbit insurance covers

While coverage will vary depending on the company and plan, Fitbit insurance generally protects against:

• Accidental damage, such as drops or cracks

• Mechanical or electrical breakdowns

• Water damage

• Loss or theft, in some cases

Here are a couple of scenarios in which having a protection plan could cover unexpected issues:

• You bought your Fitbit more than one year ago and wear it regularly. One day, it won’t turn on, so you file a claim and receive a replacement.

• You’re on a morning run when your Fitbit slips off and falls onto the pavement. The screen cracks, so you contact the insurance company, and it pays for the repairs.

Although Fitbit insurance offers extra protection, it doesn’t cover everything. These are some common exclusions:

• Abuse or misuse

• Certain natural disasters

• Cosmetic damage

• Damage caused by a third party, such as a dog or car

• Defects already covered under the original warranty

• Intentional damage

• Unauthorized repairs

How a replacement Fitbit works

Here’s the typical insurance claims process for getting a replacement Fitbit:

Your replacement is covered for the remainder of your original policy term or 30 days, whichever is longer.

Where to buy Fitbit insurance

New Fitbits come with a one-year warranty (or two years in the EEA), but you can purchase separate insurance coverage for extra protection.

• Preferred Care: Fitbit’s official option, offered by Google through Asurion, covers certain accidents and mechanical breakdowns.

• Asurion: Offers two-year, three-year, or monthly plans that cover malfunctions and accidental damage. The company is well-known for device insurance.

• Allstate Protection Plans: Also known as Squaretrade, these policies can cover mechanical errors and accidents, with some offering up to four years of protection.

• Retailers: Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy usually offer add-on protection, often through Asurion, Allstate, or Geek Squad.

• Insurance partnerships or employers: Some insurance companies and employers include free Fitbits (or discounts) as part of fitness incentives or employee benefits for better healthcare outcomes.

While none of the plans above cover loss or theft, some third-party plans in the Fitbit insurance industry may include it.

Fitbit insurance cost

The cost of Fitbit insurance depends on the insurance company, device model, and coverage length.

Monthly plans may range from $4 (Geek Squad) to $25 (Asurion Home+), while fixed plans can run between $8 and $90.

Beyond premiums, watch for service fees and deductibles. For example, Asurion charges $49 to $99 per claim, while Preferred Care fees are lower, at $19 to $29. Allstate Protection Plan, on the other hand, has no hidden fees or deductibles.

Can you get a free Fitbit from your health insurance company?

Some health insurance companies offer a free or discounted Fitbit through wellness programs or fitness rewards initiatives. For example:

• UnitedHealthcare (UHC): UHC Rewards is a wellness bucks benefit program that lets eligible members earn up to $1,000 annually for healthy activities. You can add rewards to a prepaid debit card to use toward a Fitbit.2

• Aetna: You might not have to pay full price for a Fitbit through Aetna’s vitality program. Its health plans may include discounts for fitness tracking devices, as well as medical supplies, prescriptions, and gym memberships.3

• Employer-sponsored initiatives: Many companies offer a fitness tracker discount or a free device as part of their employer wellness programs to increase employee activity levels and prevent health conditions.

• John Hancock: You could receive a free Fitbit through John Hancock, a life insurance company. Sharing your fitness tracker data could reduce your premiums, but read any agreements before enrolling to understand how the company protects your privacy.4

While these programs aren’t insurance coverage, they reward fitness activity and may improve specific health outcomes.

Is Fitbit insurance worth it?

Fitbit insurance could be worth it if you live an active lifestyle, exercise outdoors regularly, or rely on it for health tracking. But if you don’t use your Fitbit often and tend to keep devices in good condition, you might want to skip insurance.

A protection plan may be a good idea if you:

• Use your Fitbit every day and want protection if something happens to it

• Exercise outdoors where drops, water damage, or accidents are more likely

• Rely on your wearable to monitor health conditions or fitness goals

• Tend to break or lose gadgets easily

• Participate in rewards programs offered by health plans or insurance companies

Alternatives to Fitbit insurance

If insurance doesn’t seem worth it, here are some other ways to protect your fitness tracker:

• Paying out of pocket: If your risk of damage is low, you might save more by covering repairs or replacements yourself.

• Using a credit card with purchase protection: Some credit cards offer automatic coverage for newly purchased items that are lost or accidentally damaged.

• Relying on the standard warranty: All new Fitbits come with a manufacturer’s warranty covering factory defects but not accidental damage or loss.

Fitbit insurance FAQs