Press Release

PreferredOne Partners with Wellbeats to Bring On-Demand, Virtual Fitness to Employer-Sponsored Health Plans

Issued by Wellbeats

Apr. 9, 2019

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 8, 2019) - PreferredOne is breaking the mold when it comes to health plan fitness benefits by partnering with Wellbeats to bring on-demand, virtual fitness to employer groups. PreferredOne will offer Wellbeats to fully insured groups upon renewal beginning in July. Self-insured groups will also have the option to add Wellbeats to their plan design.

"Wellbeats is a fitness alternative to gym and health club discounts, which don't always fit with employee schedules or budgets," said Dan Stewart, vice president of sales at PreferredOne. "It's an option that anybody can use, anytime, anyplace. That flexibility appeals to our clients and it also appealed to PreferredOne--so much so that we now offer Wellbeats to our own employees."

St. Louis Park-based Wellbeats delivers more than 400 on-demand fitness classes. Available online or through an Android or iOS app, the classes cover a range of fitness styles and interests - from a new running/walking class taught by Olympian Carrie Tollefson to exercises people can do at their desks to full-speed, calorie-burning cardio strength, and endurance workouts. The app also offers relaxation, recovery and nutrition-focused content.

"Wellbeats is fitness that fits people at all ages and stages of life," said Jason Von Bank, president and CEO of Wellbeats. "Virtual fitness allows employers to provide a personalized experience for an entire workforce and it eliminates many of the barriers that exist with gym memberships. Plus, the app can be used by spouses and covered dependents, which contributes to engagement."

According to Von Bank, Wellbeats integrates easily into a company's wellness or benefits portal, making it simple to track participation in workplace well-being programs and align rewards with completion of goals. While keeping employees engaged in fitness programs is a common challenge for employers, Von Bank said Wellbeats users log an average of 212 activity minutes each month individually and 2.5 million as a whole.

About Wellbeats
Based in St. Louis Park, MN, Wellbeats is a leading provider of on-demand fitness classes for use in workplaces of all sizes, on college or university campuses, multi-family housing, the U.S. military, and fitness and health clubs. Wellbeats makes fitness easy, accessible and affordable for everyone. To learn more, visit www.wellbeats.com or check out the company's fitness classes during a Facebook Live session.

About PreferredOne
PreferredOne, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fairview Health Services, leads the market with products and services that conserve employer health plan dollars while helping more than 350,000 members achieve their best health. Comprehensive local and national provider networks together with an emphasis on health care cost and quality maximize the value of employee health benefits. Visit PreferredOne.com to learn more.

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