Will Medicare Pay for Your Gym Membership?
Key takeaways:
Gym memberships are not covered under original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
Many Medicare Advantage and some Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plans offer coverage for gym membership, drop-in classes, and other fitness options.
If you have gym membership benefits through your Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, you will likely have access through programs such as SilverSneakers, RenewActive, and Silver&Fit.
Table of contents
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t cover gym membership, but you may have this benefit if you have a Medicare Advantage or Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plan.
If your plan offers this benefit, you’ll likely have access to fitness and wellness opportunities in person and online. Taking advantage of these activities can improve your health and overall quality of life by keeping you physically active.
Does original Medicare cover gym membership?
No, original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover gym membership. However, depending on your diagnosis, Medicare may cover services to help support fitness, mobility, recovery, and/or weight loss. Here are some examples of cases in which you may have this type of coverage:
If you have an illness or an injury that requires physical therapy, your plan will likely cover a portion of the costs.
If you have diabetes or kidney disease, you can receive covered individual and group nutritional education sessions.
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, Medicare Part B will cover obesity screenings and behavioral counseling. This gives you access to tools that can improve your diet, fitness, and weight management.
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Does Medicare Advantage cover gym membership?
Many Medicare Advantage plans offer fitness-focused benefits to help older adults stay active. Here are the three main programs:
SilverSneakers: If you qualify for SilverSneakers, you can enjoy a complimentary gym membership. This provides access to online workouts and drop-in classes at more than 15,000 participating fitness centers and gyms nationwide.
Silver&Fit: Through Silver&Fit, eligible Medicare Advantage enrollees can receive home fitness kits and access to free or low-cost memberships at more than 20,000 participating fitness centers across the country.
Renew Active: People enrolled in certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans have access to Renew Active, which provides free gym membership at a wide variety of locations in the U.S.
Now, we’ll dig into the details of each program.
SilverSneakers
For Medicare Advantage and Medigap enrollees, the SilverSneakers program provides access to more than 15,000 participating gyms, YMCAs, and community centers that offer a wide variety of fitness activities.
From yoga and Pilates to boot camp and water aerobics, the SilverSneakers catalog has fitness options for all skill levels and interests. In addition to in-person classes, you also have access to on-demand workout videos and interactive workshops through the SilverSneakers app and website.
Here’s how to sign up for the SilverSneakers program:
Use the SilverSneakers eligibility checker to see if you qualify for the program.
If you qualify, register to receive your ID number and a SilverSneakers card. Your ID number and card will give you access to local gyms that participate in the SilverSneakers program, as well as online content.
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Silver&Fit
Silver&Fit is available to enrollees of participating Medicare Advantage plans. The program offers:
Free or low-cost gym memberships at more than 20,000 fitness centers across the U.S. Premium classes, such as yoga, Pilates, rock climbing, or martial arts, for an additional fee
Home fitness kits that can be requested annually
With the home fitness kits, you can choose from a Fitbit or Garmin wearable tracker or a Pilates, strength, swimming, trekking/walking, or yoga kit.
To sign up for Silver&Fit:
Use the Silver&Fit eligibility checker to see if you qualify for the program.
If you qualify, register to receive your ID number and a Silver&Fit card that gives you access to participating gyms.
Renew Active
Renew Active is a UnitedHealthcare wellness program that is only available through certain Medicare Advantage plans sold by AARP. In addition to free gym membership, Renew Active offers premium benefits at fitness studios such as Pure Barre, Orangetheory Fitness, and Club Pilates.
You must be enrolled in a participating UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan sold by AARP to join Renew Active. To sign up for the program:
Visit the Renew Active website to check your eligibility and enroll.
Once your application is approved, choose a gym.
If you need help, call UnitedHealthcare at 1-800-950-9355.
Do Medicare supplement insurance plans (Medigap) cover gym membership?
If you have a Medigap plan to cover all or part of your original Medicare out-of-pocket costs, you may have gym membership benefits.
You will need to contact your insurer to find out if your plan offers this perk. You can usually do this by logging into your plan’s online portal, or by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.
How can I find a gym that accepts Medicare Advantage or other coverage for my membership?
Once you check your eligibility and sign up for a program, you can use the program’s locator tool to find a participating gym near you:
How to get a free gym membership if you don’t have an eligible Medicare plan
If you don’t have a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan that covers gym membership, you may be able to access other free and low-cost fitness options.
Employer and retiree health plan benefits
Many employer-sponsored and retiree health insurance plans include wellness benefits that give enrollees access to gym membership, exercise programs, health coaching, and educational classes. These perks are designed to help older adults stay active.
One program that coordinates wellness benefits for health insurance plans is called Active&Fit.
Fitness center discounts
Often, local gyms, YMCAs, and other fitness centers provide discounts for older adults. Some facilities may even offer financial assistance for people with limited income.
Community resources
Many community centers offer free or low-cost exercise classes, group activities like walking clubs, and even personal training services. You can visit Eldercare Locator to find resources in your area.
Online fitness classes
The AARP Virtual Community Center and Senior Planet from AARP offer a variety of free online fitness and wellness classes that you can join from home. This includes both live and on-demand options. You gain access to additional resources with an AARP membership.
You may also be able to find free or low-cost on-demand fitness classes on YouTube or via smartphone apps.
The bottom line
While original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover gym membership, other types of Medicare plans typically offer fitness perks. Many Medicare Advantage and some Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plans offer free or low-cost gym membership through programs such as SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, and Renew Active.
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References
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Gym memberships and fitness programs.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Medical nutritional therapy services.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Obesity behavioral therapy.
Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Retiree insurance and Medicare.
Silver&Fit. (n.d.). Home kits.
SilverSneakers. (n.d.). SilverSneakers classes.
UnitedHealthcare. (n.d.). Renew Active.
UnitedHealthcare. (n.d.). Renew Active by UnitedHealthcare.
