Starting in September, people with UnitedHealthcare insurance will be able to access Peloton's multidisciplinary classes for one year as part of their benefits.
The move is in part because of a shift from fitness clubs to at-home exercise, the company said.
The insurer's parent company, Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group, announced the partnership with Peloton Interactive this week.
About 4 million members of UnitedHealthcare will have access to the Peloton App and a 12-month subscription to the Peloton digital membership, which will give them access to a range of live and on-demand fitness classes. Members instead can opt for a four-month membership to Peloton's premium all-access membership.
"Expanding access to Peloton's industry-leading health and wellness community builds upon our commitment to developing digital health resources and consumer-centric benefits to help people live healthier lives," said Philip Kaufman, chief operating officer of UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual insurance, in a news release.
UnitedHealth Group in June released a "sustainability" report, which outlined goals including increasing digital and virtual platforms to improve care. It also included initiatives to improve accessibility to health care, to get more people insured and to encourage preventive care.
New York-based Peloton is best known for its connected fitness bikes, and the classes that connect to them. The company also has exercise and fitness classes that don't require expensive equipment.
This is the first partnership Peloton has made with a health care company, it said. However, the fitness company said it has launched Peloton Corporate Wellness and will try to make deals with other health care organizations.
