Does Medicare Cover Gym Memberships?
No, Medicare does not cover gym memberships and other fitness programs. Since Medicare does not cover these expenses, you will be 100% responsible for paying for your gym membership costs.
Medicare Part B covers some services that may appear to be related to fitness, but these services are related to the medical conditions that patients currently have. Therefore, if a medical condition warrants it, Medicare may pay for the following:
- Durable medical equipment
- Chiropractic care
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Speech therapy
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
In order for Medicare to pay for rehabilitation or physical therapy, your physician would have to provide you with a diagnosis. Without this diagnosis, you will be required to pay the entire cost of your fitness program or gym membership.
Although Medicare doesn’t pay for gym memberships, some Medicare Advantage plans do. If this is a benefit that is extremely important to you, you may be able to join a Medicare Advantage plan that is offering this type of coverage.
What Is Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage is an option for you if you have Original Medicare or are eligible to sign up for it. Medicare Advantage is part of the Medicare program, and if you need to have coverage for your gym membership, Medicare Advantage may be more advantageous for you than Original Medicare.
Private insurance companies sell Medicare Advantage plans, but they are required to follow the rules that Medicare set up for this program. So, you will be covered by the federal health insurance program that Medicare runs. If you need to have coverage for your gym membership, you will need to search for a Medicare Advantage plan that covers gym memberships.
How Do You Join a Medicare Advantage Plan?
You must have Original Medicare before you can join a Medicare Advantage plan. You may switch from Original Medicare and enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during the open enrollment period. This begins on October 15, and it ends on December 7.
The SilverSneakers Program
SilverSneakers is a fitness program that was designed for people 65 years and older. Original Medicare does not pay for this program, but some Medicare Advantage plans do cover these costs. Along with gym memberships, the SilverSneaker program covers the following:
The SilverSneakers app
This app is called “SilverSneakers GO,” and it provides health information and nutrition suggestions. It also helps track your fitness goals.
Online Resources
You can attend live classes that take place online with this program. You also receive workout videos, on-demand classes, nutrition information and other fitness resources.
SilverSneakers Flex Classes
These are classes that take place somewhere other than in a gym. For example, some options are programs that occur in the park, community center classes and walking programs.
Tailored Fitness Classes
These classes are tailored for adults 65 and older. They also tailor them toward people of various fitness levels. Examples are weight training, circuit training, tai chi, yoga, water exercises and chair exercises.
Expansive Availability
This program allows you to use more than 17,000 fitness centers that participate in this program all over the country.
Several Medicare Advantage plans offer the SilverSneakers program without charging anything for it.
Other Medicare Advantage Fitness Options
Medicare Advantage plans may also offer the following fitness programs:
Blue Cross Blue Shield
You may be able to qualify for $150 with your Medicare Advantage plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield every year to pay for gym memberships.
United Healthcare
United Healthcare offers a program called “Renew Active.” You also receive an online brain health program.
Silver&Fit
This program offers you 14,000 locations across the United States where you can take part in fitness services. You can also participate online if you prefer.
What Is Medigap?
Insurance companies offer Medicare Supplement Insurance plans that cover the gaps that Medicare leaves for you to pay. These plans are known as “Medigap” plans, and you purchase them from private insurance companies. These plans can be especially advantageous because they may offer coverage that Original Medicare does not offer. One of these benefits is coverage for fitness programs.
In order to purchase a Medigap plan, you must have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medigap plans also require you to pay a premium, but if you pay the premium for the entire year, this guarantees that your insurance company will renew your Medigap plan.
Insurance companies sell standardized Medigap plans, so each insurance company sells Medigap plans that have the same benefits. The only notable difference between these plans will be how much you are charged for the plan. Therefore, you must compare prices for the plans you are considering purchasing before you choose one. You can select the Medigap plan that has coverage for the fitness program of your choice.
You can only purchase a Medigap plan if you have Original Medicare, so if you have Medicare Advantage, that is the only plan you will need. This may be advantageous to you because you will only have one insurance plan. If you want to have a Medigap plan, you may be able to switch back to Original Medicare so that you can purchase one.
Additional Options
Medicare Advantage and Medigap also offer the following options:
Secret Gym Program
The secret gym program provides you with several personal trainers and a network of fitness centers. You only need to enroll in a plan that offers this coverage option.
Mutually Well
The mutually well program contains a network of over 10,000 fitness locations and gyms all across the country. These locations offer fitness classes, racquet courts, basketball courts and swimming pools. This program also offers you discounted services for chiropractors, massages and acupuncture. It even gives you a plan to follow that helps you balance exercise, rest and nutrition. You will have a premium to pay for your Medigap plan, and you will also need to pay a $25 fee for the Mutually Well program.
You may consult several insurance companies to find out whether a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap plan would be better for you to obtain coverage for your gym membership.
