Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits, such as gym memberships. One type of membership offered is the SilverSneakers program.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Medicare Advantage plans offer the same coverage as Original Medicare. They also often include prescription drug coverage (Part D), as well as additional benefits that Original Medicare does not offer, such as gym memberships, vision, and dental.
Glossary of Medicare terms
We may use a few terms in this article that can be helpful to understand when selecting the best insurance plan:
- Out-of-pocket costs: An out-of-pocket cost is the amount a person must pay for medical care when Medicare does not pay the total cost or offer coverage. These costs can include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and premiums.
- Deductible: This is an annual amount a person must spend out of pocket within a certain period before an insurer starts to fund their treatments.
- Coinsurance: This is the percentage of treatment costs that a person must self-fund. For Medicare Part B, this is 20%.
- Copayment: This is a fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription drugs.
Any individual with a qualifying insurance plan is eligible for SilverSneakers. Qualifying insurance plans include many Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans.
Medigap is supplemental insurance that individuals with Original Medicare can choose to purchase to help cover some of their out-of-pocket costs. These plans are provided by private insurance companies.
Medigap plans may offer gym memberships as part of their added benefits.
Individuals can check with their Medicare Advantage plan provider whether they offer SilverSneakers as a benefit. People can also check their eligibility on the SilverSneakers website.
Read about Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage.
SilverSneakers is a free fitness membership for adults 65 years old and older.
SilverSneakers includes 14,000 facilities across the United States, including:
- recreation centers
- churches
- senior communities
- gyms
Individuals who are a part of the SilverSneakers program have access to:
- exercises classes, such as:
- Zumba
- yoga
- tai chi
- water aerobics
- fitness equipment
- social events
They also have access to various amenities, including:
- swimming pools
- tennis courts
- walking tracks
The classes, equipment, and amenities that are available depend on the person’s location and the Silver Sneaker facilities near them.
Learn more about SilverSneakers.
Original Medicare does not cover fitness programs or gym memberships.
However, for those with qualifying insurance plans, such as Medicare Advantage or Medigap, the SilverSneakers program is free. Additional benefits that are not included in basic memberships may require out-of-pocket costs. This may include massages, personal training, and tanning.
To begin using this benefit, individuals can go to the SilverSneakers website and fill out a form to receive their SilverSneakers membership card.
Medicare resources
For more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.
Individuals with qualifying Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans have access to SilverSneakers.
This is a fitness program for people 65 years old and older. It offers free access to gyms, exercise classes, fitness equipment, and more.
People can check their eligibility with their Medicare Advantage plan or through the SilverSneakers website. They can also fill out the form on the SilverSneakers website to receive their membership card.