CONNEQT Pulse Review: Is This Blood Pressure Monitor Right for You?

How we tested the CONNEQT Pulse blood pressure monitor

To put this device through its paces, we tested it in our lab, assessing features including battery life, ease of use and maximum data storage. 

We also added a home testing component by recruiting testers ages 50 and older who use blood pressure monitors at home to give us their unbiased feedback. They took at least three readings on this device in a single day, with each measurement taken 15 minutes apart. The home testers then compared these measurements to their typical blood pressure readings to gauge the device’s accuracy. 

Our home testers also answered questions like: Was this device easy to set up and use? How comfortable were the cuffs? Were the readings accurate? For more details, see our testing methodology page for blood pressure monitors.

How to get accurate readings from a blood pressure monitor

To get the most accurate readings from this device, or any blood pressure monitor, there are a few best practices to consider. 

In general, to use a blood pressure monitor properly, users should follow the instructions that come with the device and specific directives from a health care provider. 

Inaccurate readings often occur due to common and easily avoidable user errors, says Craig Basman, MD,  a cardiologist with Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey. He cautions that using a blood pressure monitor incorrectly can lead to issues that affect your overall health. “These errors are significant enough to lead to misdiagnosis, unnecessary prescriptions or the failure to treat dangerously high blood pressure,” he says. 

Basman adds that the most common user error is incorrect cuff sizing. This error can mistakenly result in a higher blood pressure reading if the cuff is too small, or a lower reading if the cuff is too large. For instance, the CONNEQT Pulse device includes two cuff sizes: small (which fits arms that measure 8.6 to 12.6 inches) and large (which fits arms that measure 12.6 to 16.5 inches). 

Merle Myerson, MD, our medical reviewer and a cardiologist in Cooperstown, New York, also says the inflatable portion of the cuff should be able to fit around 75 percent to 100 percent of the distance around your arm. 

In general, if you buy a blood pressure device but are unsure whether you’re using the correct cuff size, consider taking it to your next appointment with your health care provider and asking them to help ensure you’re wearing the correct size.

In general, follow these steps at home to get an accurate reading with a blood pressure monitor.

• Rest. Before taking a reading, rest for five minutes and avoid activities like walking or talking. Also, avoid smoking, drinking caffeine and exercising 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure.
• Place the cuff against your bare skin. This placement allows you to get the most accurate reading, so you may want to check your blood pressure while wearing short sleeves or a tank top. Once you have a cuff that fits, wrap the cuff around your arm so that the bottom is right above the bend of your elbow. Taking your blood pressure while wearing long sleeves may seem tempting. But clothing that covers your measuring arm can constrict blood flow and lead to inaccurate readings.
• Sit up straight. When taking your blood pressure, keep both feet flat on the floor and your back straight, and place your measuring arm on a flat surface level with your heart. If needed, you can use a pillow to prop up your arm. “Simple missteps like poor posture or talking during a measurement can skew results by 10 to 20 mmHg,” says Basman.
• Take readings at a consistent time. To get the most accurate picture of your blood pressure baseline, it’s best to take your readings around the same time each day. 

The American Heart Association recommends having a health care professional check that the home monitor is being used correctly and comparing it with office equipment periodically.  

Does Medicare cover the CONNEQT Pulse?

Original Medicare, which includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), doesn’t typically cover blood pressure monitors. But some Medicare Advantage plans — also known as Medicare Part C — offer expanded coverage or wellness benefits that include home blood pressure monitors, says Rana Afifi, MD, a vascular surgeon and associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. However, terms vary among plans and can change from year to year. So, if you’re wondering if you have coverage under a Medicare Advantage plan, you can call your insurance provider to check your benefits. 

By the way, Medicare Part B may cover a specific type of doctor-prescribed device called an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM). This device is designed to be worn all day and collects readings on a set schedule to track blood pressure patterns. The CONNEQT Pulse is sold over the counter and is not an ABPM, so it doesn’t qualify for this Medicare Part B coverage.

Does Medicaid cover the CONNEQT Pulse?

If you’re enrolled in Medicaid, your coverage depends on where you live. As of 2026, there are 42 state Medicaid plans that cover blood pressure monitors, and more than half of these states will reimburse physicians for the time spent calibrating the device and showing patients how to use them. You can check your Medicaid program to see what it covers.

Does insurance cover the CONNEQT Pulse? 

Private insurance may cover the CONNEQT Pulse, depending on your state and specific plan. Typically, private insurance plans only cover monitors and other durable medical equipment (DME) if you have a prescription. 

If your private insurance does not cover the purchase of this device, you may be able to secure insurance coverage through disease management programs, remote patient monitoring initiatives or chronic care management, says Afifi, the vascular surgeon in Houston. But these programs and initiatives are provider- and region-specific. For example, Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Federal Employee Program offers a hypertension management program that provides eligible members with a free blood pressure monitor along with other tools and guides. 

The bottom line here: You can contact your insurance provider to see if your plan covers a blood pressure monitor and, if so, under which conditions. 

Does insurance cover the CONNEQT Pulse? 

Private insurance may cover the CONNEQT Pulse, depending on your state and specific plan. Typically, private insurance plans only cover monitors and other durable medical equipment (DME) if you have a prescription. 

If your private insurance does not cover the purchase of this device, you may be able to secure insurance coverage through disease management programs, remote patient monitoring initiatives or chronic care management, says Afifi, the vascular surgeon in Houston. But these programs and initiatives are provider- and region-specific. For example, Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Federal Employee Program offers a hypertension management program that provides eligible members with a free blood pressure monitor along with other tools and guides. 

The bottom line here: You can contact your insurance provider to see if your plan covers a blood pressure monitor and, if so, under which conditions. 

Ways to pay for the CONNEQT Pulse

Price can be a top consideration when buying a blood pressure monitor. For instance, when we surveyed 300 adults ages 50 and older who use home health monitoring devices (like blood pressure monitors) about what was most important to them when buying these devices, respondents said their top priorities were accuracy (56 percent), user-friendliness (25 percent) and affordability (11 percent).

However, the CONNEQT Pulse retails for $289, which makes it the most expensive blood pressure monitor we’ve tested by far. The cost of the optional Care+ subscription that provides on-demand assessments and cardiology reports is $25 per month, or $199 per year if billed annually. 

If you’re interested in the CONNEQT Pulse, but want to make it a little more wallet-friendly, consider using your health reimbursement account (HRA), flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), if you have one. These tax-advantaged accounts are designed to help you pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by insurance. Just check your account’s terms to confirm whether it covers the device as a medical expense and whether they require documentation for reimbursement. 

Validation and FDA marketing authorization for blood pressure devices

The most critical factor in choosing a blood pressure monitor is ensuring it’s third-party validated, says Basman, the cardiologist in New Jersey. “Many commercially available monitors have not been properly tested for accuracy,” he adds. The CONNEQT Pulse is both authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has passed testing by validatebp.org

For a blood pressure monitor to be authorized by the FDA, it must receive a 510(k) Premarket Notification. That means the manufacturer submitted the device to the FDA, and the administration deemed it safe and effective. Being validated on validatebp.org means the device passed the review criteria from the AMA, which was developed with input from health care organizations, clinicians, BP device manufacturers and the FDA.

To check whether the FDA authorizes a blood pressure monitor, enter the device’s name into the FDA’s 510(k) database. Also see validatebp.org for devices that were voluntarily submitted by the manufacturer for testing. 

Is the CONNEQT Pulse right for you? 

The answer depends on your personal preferences and concerns, including whether you’d prefer a basic or advanced device, your budget and your medical status. 

As a reminder, the CONNEQT Pulse is a heart and arterial health monitor that offers advanced cardiovascular metrics such as artery stiffness, blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart. Our tests found that this device performs well for its intended use. Tester Ken also said he would recommend the device for older adults who want better insight into their overall blood pressure and health. But he didn’t think this device would be the right fit for everyone. “Those overwhelmed by a lot of information may get confused,” he said.

This device may also not be a good fit if you’re hoping to share it with someone else. That’s because the CONNEQT Pulse can only track the data for one person. 

In addition, your medical status may play a role because the device’s user manual says it “should not be used for patients with erratic, accelerated or mechanically controlled irregular heart rhythms, including patients with arrhythmias.” So, given this additional information, if you have questions about whether this device is a good fit for you, consider talking with your health care provider. 

FAQs

Is the CONNEQT blood pressure monitor accurate?

Yes, the CONNEQT Pulse is considered accurate based on our testing. Our medical reviewer noted it has been extensively assessed for “brachial blood pressure,” which is the measurement of blood pressure at the brachial artery in the arm. It’s authorized by the FDA and on validatebp.org to ensure its accuracy. In our assessments, tester Ken said that the readings he got from the CONNEQT Pulse were consistent with the results he most often receives, and he gave this device an impressive rating for accuracy.

Does the CONNEQT blood pressure monitor have an app?

The CONNEQT Pulse does have an app that stores and tracks your blood pressure readings. If you want to pay for the app’s optional Care+ subscription ($25 per month, or $199 per year if billed annually), you can get a monthly cardiology report to send to your health care provider and run unlimited heart health assessments that can help confirm facets of your heart health over time. Basman, the cardiologist in Hackensack, New Jersey, says this feature could benefit older adults who have family members involved in their care or who would like to share their readings with their health care providers. However, these readings are not protected under HIPAA, which means there are no enhanced privacy protections on the information. 

Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.