The world of wellness wearables and gadgets continues to expand in delightful (albeit data-intrusive) ways. Case in point: as I write this, I’m getting a foot massage to soothe my aching, marathon-training feet with a device called the Chirp Sole Vibe ($140), while my Oura Ring ($349+) dutifully tracks my physiological stress. And these two are just a small sample of what’s involved in my life—and the broader wellness community’s—right now. But the WHOOP Activity Tracker ($359+) is especially timely, thanks to some major news in health care.
As announced today, WHOOP is expanding from wearables to a new program called WHOOP Connected Care, and for some people, it’s completely free. Here’s what to know about eligibility, what’s included and how to sign up.
Who Qualifies for a Free WHOOP?
To qualify, you need to be enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B, not Medicare Advantage), have a qualifying condition such as high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol or another metabolic risk factor, own a compatible smartphone and live in a supported service area (the program launches today in 14 states, with a full nationwide rollout expected within the month).
One detail worth flagging: if you already own a WHOOP, you can’t transfer your existing account into the program—you’d start fresh with new data.
What You Get With WHOOP Connected Care
If you qualify, Connected Care isn’t one of WHOOP’s standard consumer tiers (One, Peak or Life); it’s its own package: a 12-month WHOOP membership, a WHOOP 5.0 device, an FDA-cleared Omron blood pressure monitor and cuff and ongoing support, for free. You can check your eligibility directly through WHOOP to see if you qualify.
For anyone unfamiliar with what a WHOOP actually does: it tracks your sleep, recovery and strain around the clock. (That’s WHOOP-speak for how hard your body’s working and how ready it is to keep working, based on heart rate variability and resting heart rate.) It also comes with an FDA-cleared ECG, blood pressure insights and a longevity feature called Healthspan, plus, if you’re willing to pay for it, bloodwork through WHOOP Advanced Labs. WHOOP says daily wearers log 90 extra minutes of exercise a week and pick up two more hours of sleep. Self-reported, sure. Still not nothing.
If you’ve been WHOOP-curious but not quite willing to pay the price, this could be your opening. If it doesn’t apply to you, pass it along to someone it might help.
