1 Freed M, et al. (Nov. 15, 2023). Medicare Advantage 2024 Spotlight: First Look. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-2024-spotlight-first-look.
Coverage
Does Medicare Cover Gym Memberships?
- January 12, 2024
- Reviewed by John Krahnert
Medicare Advantage plans can cover benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover, but fitness benefits such as gym memberships may not be covered by Medicare Advantage plans available where you live. Learn more about Medicare Advantage plans and how to find out what benefits are offered near you.
While Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) doesn’t include fitness benefits such as gym memberships, Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Medicare Part C) can offer fitness benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
Keep in mind, however, that Medicare Advantage plans with fitness benefits may not be available where you live.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 98% of Medicare Advantage plans include fitness benefits in 2024.1
Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover everything Original Medicare covers, and they can offer other benefits that aren’t covered by Part A and Part B. It’s important to note these benefits aren’t available with all plans, and some or all of the plans in your area may not offer a fitness benefit.
Request a free plan quote online or call to speak with a licensed insurance agent to find out if plans where you live cover fitness benefits such as gym memberships.
We represent carriers such as Humana, UnitedHealthcare®, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna Healthcare, Wellcare, or Kaiser Permanente.
How do I get a free gym membership with Medicare?
Medicare doesn’t offer free gym memberships. If Medicare Advantage plans in your area offer fitness benefits, the costs associated with those benefits may vary.
Medicare Advantage plans are provided by private insurance companies. They are required to cover the same benefits as Original Medicare, but they are free to also offer some additional benefits.
Contact your Medicare Advantage plan carrier directly to find out if your plan covers fitness benefits and, if it does, what costs are included.
Does Medicare cover SilverSneakers?
SilverSneakers is a fitness program that helps adults aged 65 and older get active with participating gyms and fitness centers and with online classes.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan that covers SilverSneakers membership, you can visit participating gyms and fitness centers to enjoy a number of programs and amenities, which can include one or more of the following:
- Fitness classes
- Yoga
- Workout equipment
- Water workouts
Depending on the plan, Medicare Advantage plans that include fitness benefits can offer gym memberships through programs that aren’t affiliated with SilverSneakers. Compare benefit details for plans available where you live to learn more.
Learn More About Medicare
Join our email series to receive your free Medicare guide and the latest information about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
By clicking "Sign me up!” you are agreeing to receive emails from MedicareAdvantage.com.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans
Medicare Advantage plans can offer benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
Medicare Advantage plan availability and the benefits they offer can vary from one location to another. A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the plans that are available where you live and help determine your eligibility to enroll.
About the author
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
