Does Medigap Help Cover Gym Memberships?
Key takeaways:
Medigap plans cover out-of-pocket costs from original Medicare and usually don’t include special benefits. But gym memberships with programs like SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, and Renew Active are sometimes an exception.
The typical value of this benefit is nearly $38 a month — or more than $450 a year — but your value will vary depending on the gym(s) you choose.
Some programs like SilverSneakers offer gym memberships in multiple facilities if you would like to join more than one at a time. Ask before signing up.
If you have traditional Medicare, you may know it won’t pay for you to join a gym or attend a fitness program — even though it fully covers other preventive care.
But some Medicare supplement, or Medigap, insurance plans include gym memberships at participating fitness centers and YMCAs. The largest of these programs is SilverSneakers, a privately owned and managed program that offers an array of gym memberships and exercise programs on site and online across the country.
Access to SilverSneakers or comparable programs such as Silver&Fit and Renew Active is an attractive benefit, offering cost savings and motivation to stay healthy.
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How much money this benefit is worth depends on the gym(s) you choose. The average cost of a gym membership is about $38 a month.
What is a Medigap plan?
Medigap wraps around original Medicare coverage by paying the 20% cost that Medicare doesn’t cover for healthcare provider visits, medical equipment, infusion drugs, and other care covered under Part B, plus out-of-pocket costs for Part A.
There are 8 available regulated Medigap plans sold by private insurers that offer varying coverage. Depending on the plan you choose, Medigap pays covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copays from Medicare Part A and Part B.
Will a Medigap plan pay for a senior gym membership?
Some Medigap insurers include a gym membership typically for free. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, Medigap plans are standardized and generally don’t offer benefits like vision, hearing, or dental — but gym memberships are sometimes an exception. Part of the reason could be that people who exercise tend to be healthier and Medicare spends less to keep them that way, according to a study of Medicare data published in 2021.
When available, this benefit usually doesn’t cost anything extra, even as part of the lowest-cost Medigap plans such as Plan K. But Silver&Fit may have a nominal fee. It also offers a buy-up option for people who want to join higher-cost gyms and are willing to pay more for access to a premium fitness network.
If you have a particular gym in mind, check that they offer the program(s) you want before you pick a Medigap plan.
What does a gym membership include?
Medigap-provided gym memberships include the basics available at participating facilities, such as:
Cardio and strength training equipment
Swimming pool
Tennis courts
Walking tracks
Group exercise classes that may include yoga, chair yoga, walking groups, older adult-focused workouts, Zumba, Pilates, and Tai chi
The number and kind of live classes available per month varies, so be sure to ask about your preferred classes before you sign up.
Special services like personal training aren’t usually included. But Renew Active does cover limited personal training sessions.
If you are looking for a nearby facility that offers something special like a pool or pickleball courts, SilverSneakers offers a locator tool. People who live in two places — for example, Ohio in the summer and Florida in the winter — can have multiple gym memberships in both places. In all, there are more than 15,000 locations in all 50 states. SilverSneakers also offers many community and online classes. You can find a list and description on its website.
Silver&Fit has similar offerings. It includes some personal coaching by phone and the choice of one home fitness kit per year. Renew Active provides a Fitbit community and brain-health training.
Even if you aren’t able to be a SilverSneakers or Silver&Fit member, you might be interested in joining their Facebook groups. Both Silver&Fit and SilverSneakers offer Facebook groups that are open to everyone and often include announcements of classes and events that are also public. Most are free of charge.
Which Medigap plans cover the SilverSneakers program?
SilverSneakers reports that more than 18 million people, mostly 65 and older, are eligible for its program through Medicare Advantage, group retiree, and Medigap plans.
You can use its online tool to identify which insurers in your area offer SilverSneakers. This will give you a starting point. Just because an insurer offers SilverSneakers with some of its plans doesn’t guarantee it will offer it with all of them. Also, there is no guarantee that an insurer will keep offering SilverSneakers. It can cancel that benefit at any point.
If you already have a Medigap plan, SilverSneakers administrators will help you figure out if you are eligible for the program. Type your basic information into this tool. You’ll see immediately whether you are currently eligible. If you have an existing account, you can log in and get your membership number. This number will allow you to sign up for SilverSneakers at one or more participating gyms.
If you still have questions, you can reach SilverSneakers at 866-584-7389 or by email at support@silversneakers.com.
Silver&Fit is another large gym management program. It offers a tool so you can search by state for Medigap plans that offer its program, and a separate search tool to locate your favorite participating gym. You can find more information on the Silver&Fit website, or call customer service at 877-427-4788.
Renew Active is owned by United Healthcare, the largest provider of Medigap plans. Renew Active is offered exclusively to its customers, which includes all the policies sold through AARP. You can find a plan online or call 866-220-5727.
How do I choose the best Medigap plan for my senior fitness needs?
Fitness benefits can be attractive. If you are going to pay to join a gym, getting the membership with your Medigap plan at no additional charge is a good deal. But don’t pick a Medigap plan simply because it offers SilverSneakers. Make sure you compare all the factors of the 8 available standardized national plans.
Once you have signed up for a Medigap plan, it can be very difficult to switch. There are no guarantees that either your insurer or your favorite gym or exercise program will continue to offer the program.
I want to switch Medigap plans. Can I keep my SilverSneakers or other gym membership?
You must be insured by a Medigap plan that participates with SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, or Renew Active in order to enjoy a free or low-cost gym membership. If you consider switching Medigap plans, check to make sure that the plan you’re considering offers the fitness program you want.
If you are thinking about leaving one of the grandfathered Medigap plans like C, F, or J, which are generous, be especially careful. The new plan you’re considering may not offer a gym membership.
If you have questions
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free counseling on all aspects of Medicare and Medigap. A benefits counselor can help you pick a Medigap plan if you’re new to Medicare, or understand potential tradeoffs if you want to switch plans.
Another useful resource is the Medicare Rights Center, which can help you get what you want and are entitled to.
The bottom line
Some Medigap plans offer gym memberships at no extra charge. This can be a valuable benefit worth hundreds of dollars a year. Insurance companies work with programs like SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, and Renew Active to provide these memberships at gyms all over the country. Offerings also typically include live and recorded online exercise classes, and sometimes personal training or coaching. Check whether your current Medigap plan or one you are considering joining participates.
Why trust our experts?
References
Coughlan, D., et al. (2021) Leisure time physical activity throughout adulthood is associated with lower medicare costs: Evidence from the linked NIH-AARP diet and health study cohort. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.
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