LAS VEGAS—Oura, maker of the wearable Oura Ring, is broadening its ambitions with payers, seeing the potential to engage older seniors with digital health technology.
The company inked a unique partnership with Essence Healthcare, a provider of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, to provide some MA plan members with an Oura Ring device and its app at no cost. Essence is the first and only MA plan to partner with a smart ring device, according to the companies.
The St. Louis-based insurer said the partnership with Oura aligns with its broader strategy of integrating digital health tools to enhance wellness, prevent illness and improve the overall member experience.
"By equipping our members with Oura Ring, we’re giving them the tools to proactively manage their health and make more informed decisions every day," said Jordan Reigel, president of Essence Healthcare in a statement. "For two decades, Essence has been at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to improving the lives of seniors and Medicare beneficiaries. This partnership with Oura is another bold step in our mission to deliver cutting-edge healthcare solutions that grow with our members’ needs and set a new standard in personalized care."
Starting in 2025, certain Essence MA members will have the option to receive a complimentary Oura Ring and a subscription to the Oura app.
The Oura Ring's sensors collect data on vitals like heart rate, body temperature and movement to track metrics like sleep patterns and activity levels. As part of the membership with Essence Healthcare, participating members will be able to opt-in to integrate select data from their Oura Ring (including sleep data, resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate variability (HRV), and SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation) into their existing population health management system via an API integration.
Oura views the payer partnership as an opportunity to explore the integration of wearable technology within traditional healthcare, executives said in a blog post Tuesday.
Providing clinicians and members a shared view of Oura data over time will bring more precision to traditional healthcare settings, enabling patients and clinicians to make more informed decisions together. This partnership is a big step forward in expanding access to life-changing health data and insights," Oura executives wrote.
Studies show that wearable tech is becoming increasingly important for older adults, particularly in how it supports remote post-acute and rehabilitative care for those in rural or underserved areas.
“The over-65 community is often overlooked when it comes to wearable technology and tech solutions that can advance care,” said Jason Oberfest, Oura's vice president of healthcare, in a statement. “However, this particular community can benefit greatly from wearable technology. Oura Members over the age of 65 are among our most engaged, and we’re eager to serve this population more broadly. With tools like Oura Ring, people can better understand their health on an ongoing basis and participate in their care in new ways because they are armed with more information and context.”
Oura Members over the age of 65 are one of Oura's most engaged groups, Oberfest noted.
By leveraging the ability of Oura Ring to track health metrics such as sleep patterns, heart rate, and activity levels, Essence aims to give members real-time insights into their well-being so they can engage more actively in their healthcare.
The insurer serves 61,000 members and has notched three consecutive years of a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).