Will My Insurance Cover A Gym Membership
As a result, many insurers cover gym memberships in one way or another. Some work with specific gyms to give you a discount or even a free membership, while others will offer your a set amount in reimbursement. If you have Medicaid, gym membership may be covered depending on which state you live in.
Why Take Advantage Of Silver Sneakers
The Silver Sneakers program has both physical and emotional effects. You can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, lessen the side effects of diabetes, and have more energy just by walking 30 minutes a day. Working out can improve mental health by lowering depression and loneliness while meeting new people.
According to Pychs Central, researchers at the University of Chicago have found: the impact of loneliness on premature death is nearly as strong as the impact of disadvantaged socioeconomic status, which they found increases the chances of dying early by 19%
What Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Silver Sneakers
Even though its common knowledge that physical activity is important for good health, for many people, staying active in their senior years, especially after retirement, is not always an easy feat. If you find yourself in the same situation, joining a fitness organization like Silver Sneakers may be just what you need to get moving.
Even though Original Medicare coverage does not include fitness programs like Silver Sneakers for Medicare beneficiaries, many Medicare Advantage plans do cover this wellness program. If being active is a priority for you, and Silver Sneakers sounds like a great option, make sure to find a Medicare Advantage plan that includes free coverage.
What is Silver Sneakers?
Silver Sneakers is the name of an organization that provides gym and fitness class memberships to people who are 65 and older and are eligible for Medicare coverage. Silver Sneakers programs are available in over 13,000 locations in the United States. They offer free fitness programs in gyms, pools, and even outdoors.
As a member of Silver Sneakers, you have access to a gyms cardio equipment, pool, weights, and fitness classes lead by certified instructors. If you prefer being outside, there are programs that arrange member meetings at parks or recreation centers. Some of the outdoor activities include tai chi, yoga, or walking.
Related articles:
Recommended Reading: Does Aetna Have Silver Sneakers Program
What Is Silver Sneakers & Why Should I Be Interested
More than 60 health plans nationwide have partnered with Silver Sneakers to include this valuable benefit. Some of these include AARP Silver Sneakers , but they have discontinued this relationship in several states.
Many Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance plans include this benefit at no extra cost.
Silversneakers Is For Members Of All Fitness Levels
SilverSneakers is a no cost fitness benefit for seniors that offers access to more than 16,000 fitness locations across the country. Take advantage of on-site fitness experts to help you meet personal health and fitness goals. Many locations offer amenities such as exercise equipment, pools, saunas, and exercise classes for all fitness levels.
You May Like: Cute Sneakers With Arch Support
What Is The Silver Sneakers Program
The Silver Sneakers program consists on a free or discounted gym membership for participating plan members. It is not available for direct purchase as your plan must offer it as an add-on benefit. Silver Sneakers works at private gyms such as Golds Gym or the YMCA. Gym participation in Silver Sneakers vary by county.
Alternative options to Silver Sneakers.
Medicare Coverage Options Are Plentiful But Enrollment Choices Generate Lots Of Faqs
Navigating Medicare can be overwhelming. Especially this time of year, during the annual open enrollment period. If youre considering a Medicare plan, you probably have a lot of questions. Ive worked with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraskas Medicare plans for several years. Here are some frequently asked questions. Q: What should I know
Dont Miss: Best Luxury Sneakers For Men
Also Check: High Top Basketball Sneakers Mens
About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 35 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Indexsm. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit BCBS.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on , check out our videos on and follow us on .
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of 35 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield companies.
Recommended Reading: Where To Buy The Best Sneakers
Where Does Anthem Sell Medicare Advantage Plans With Silversneakers
Anthem and its subsidiary Medicare plan providers offer plans in a number of different states.
If you live an area where Anthem or one of the Anthem family brands provide Medicare plans, you may be able to enroll in an Anthem Medicare Advantage plan that includes a SilverSneakers membership. If Anthem does not sell Medicare Advantage plans where you live or the available plan does not include SilverSneakers, you may be able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan offered by a different carrier that includes SilverSneakers.
Remember, you may only enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that is sold in the area in which you live. You must also be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B to enroll in Medicare Advantage.
Once enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with SilverSneakers, you must then register on the SilverSneakers website to receive an ID card and membership number.
Recommended Reading: Website To Buy Sneakers Cheap
Silversneakers: Helping Seniors Stay Healthy Happy And Independent
Date:
SilverSneakers is the fitness benefit available to your BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage patients that offers more than physical exercise. Participants are less likely to be hospitalized1, and 91 percent of active SilverSneakers members report feeling healthier2. Research shows a reduced risk of depression after the first year of active participation3, and SilverSneakers members have more healthy days4.
SilverSneakers nurtures not only a healthier body, but a healthier mind and spirit too. The program encourages social connection through shared experiences in group classes5 as well through events and other activities6. Lunches, pot lucks, walking groups and local field trips help foster friendships and social interactions.
Your BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage patients can use equipment and other amenities such as pools at any of the 16,000+ SilverSneakers participating locations6 nationwide. Locally, that includes not only national chains like LA Fitness and YMCAs, but also the Jewish Community Center , Tonawanda Aquatic Center and BAC for Women. Many locations offer SilverSneakers group fitness classes5 designed to meet patients where they are from beginner to advanced. SilverSneakers classes are led by instructors trained specifically in senior fitness.
To learn more about the program, visit SilverSneakers.com. If you would like SilverSneakers brochures or posters for your office, please contact your BlueCross BlueShield account representative.
Renew Active Vs Silver Sneakers
Contents
Does it sometimes seem like Medicare and Insurance companies are trying to make things as complicated as they possibly can? Just when you think you have Medicare Advantage down, something else comes up! For example: Renew Active vs Silver Sneakers.
Not so very long ago, there was one main senior fitness program when you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan: SilverSneakers®. Then, in January 2019, one carrier dropped SilverSneakers and replaced it with Renew Active. Many people were concerned when this first happened. However, it now seems like Renew Active is a reasonable replacement.
Read Also: Does Cigna Have A Medicare Supplement Plan
Don’t Miss: Mens Black Leather High Top Sneakers
Medicare Supplements With Silver Sneakers Membership
As a rule of thumb, more Medicare Advantage plans offer Silver Sneakers than doMedicare supplement policies. Membership availability will depend on the State where you live. Its more common to see larger insurance Medicare supplement providers offering this benefit. Many smaller companies will not.
Popular insurance companies like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, United Healthcare , and Medical Mutual of Ohio offer this program in many states. This benefit does not cost extra. It is included as part of your overall monthly premiums.
Taking it a step further, Silver Sneakers is one of the very few benefits that Medicare supplement insurance companies are allowed to include at no additional cost. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, supplemental policies cannot include many ancillary benefits. Gym memberships are one of the few free service available.
What Medicare Supplement Plans Include Silversneakers
Most Medicare Supplements do not offer SilverSneakers®, but as of 2021, some plans are starting to include this free fitness membership program.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, and Montana has a product called Plan G Plus, which includes SilverSneakers® benefits along with other perks like $0 dental, vision, and hearing exams.
Any innovative benefits offered with Medigap plans must be approved by the state, so not all states have access to Plan G Plus.
You May Like: Best Sneakers To Wear With Jeans
Read Also: White Sneakers To Wear With Suit
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Silversneakers
- Some Blue Cross Blue Shield cover SilverSneakers membership as an extra benefit. Learn more about the SilverSneakers fitness program and the other benefits that may be available with a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is part of the Anthem family of brands that offer insurance plans under several different company names throughout the U.S. Many Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans may offer a SilverSneakers membership as an added benefit.
Though plan availability and benefits may vary, you can compare Medicare plans available where you live and find out which plans cover SilverSneakers as well as other benefits you want, such as dental, hearing, vision, prescription drugs and more.
Blue Cross To Offer Silver Sneakers In Oh Co Il And Me
Ohio, Colorado, Illinois and Maine Medigap now offers Silver Sneakers
Note from Nov 2020. This is an older article. Blue Cross no longer offers these benefits in many states including some of those listed below. Check our Silver Sneaker lookup to learn more.
Effective Jan 1, 2017: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has added Silver Sneakers to their Medicare Supplement Plans in Ohio, Colorado, Illinois and Maine.
Silver Sneakers is a program that offers free or low cost gym memberships at more than 13,000 facilities for eligible enrollees in participating plans. You must be Medicare eligible to enroll in a plan.
Please Note: This is not an exhaustive list of states that offer Silver Sneakers and benefits are subject to change. To check which plans in your area that cover Silver Sneakers, use our silver sneakers search tool or give us a call at 800-930-7956
To learn more about Anthem BCBSs Medicare Supplement plans, call one of our Senior65 licensed independent insurance agents at the number above.
Related Articles:
Read Also: Mens Gucci Sneakers Saks Fifth Avenue
Empire Blue Cross Continues Commitment To New Yorkers With Silversneakers Benefit
ALBANY Empire Blue Cross will continue offering access to SilverSneakers®, as one of the many benefits included in its 2018 Medicare Advantage plans. This is part of Empires ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of its current members and those Empire hopes to have the privilege of serving in the future. SilverSneakers offered by Tivity Health is a fitness program tailored to older adults and is celebrating 25 years of partnering with consumers to help them achieve better health.
Empires members have expressed time and again that their involvement in SilverSneakers has made a significant impact on their health and well-being.
Fitness has always been an important part of my life so I started going to SilverSneakers programs when I gained access to them through my Empire Medicare Advantage plans and now I go almost every weekday, said Della Gehl, an Empire member and active SilverSneakers participant from New York, NY. SilverSneakers is the best thing that has happened to me since my retirement and my adult kids tell me this all the time. The program made my recovery from a surgery much easier and has helped me lead a healthy life. On top of the physical health, Ive made many friends from the people Ive met at the gym.
Empire offers SilverSneakers as well as many other health plan benefits to members enrolled in the following plans:
- Empire MediBlue Plus
About Empire BlueCross
Can I Use My Bcbs In Another State
If all you are doing is visiting another state then BCBS is national but if we are taking about moving ANYONE can get ANY plan from ANY company. You wont be able to keep your plan in your current state once your billing address changes but one call to the new states BCBS will do all the process for you.
Don’t Miss: Size 14.5 Mens Sneakers
Locations From Coast To Coast
You can choose from more than 10,000 participating fitness locations nationwide.
There are no restrictions on which locations you can use and how often you choose to go.
Privileges include the same amenities, programs and services available to those with a basic membership and additional services may be available for purchase.
Find a participating location near you here.
You can also enroll by phone by calling , Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 8 p.m., Eastern Time.
Do Medicare Supplements Offer The Silversneakers Program
For those who are eligible for Medicare or are 65+, the SilverSneakers® health and fitness program might be a free perk included with your Medicare plan.
Are you eligible for SilverSneakers®? Learn more about the SilverSneakers® program, which Medicare plans it comes with, and more.
â If youâre 65+ and are enrolled in Medicare, there are plans that offer free gym memberships as a part of your health insurance. Its never been easier to get motivated and stay in shape! Learn more
Also Check: Best White Sneakers Men 2020
Medicare Providers That Cover Silversneakers
Several large health insurance companies provide SilverSneakers membership at no cost to enrollees. This makes sense, as insurance providers have a financial interest in the long-term health of their customers and exercising has proven to have tremendous benefits. For this reason as well, many companies even incentivize this behavior by offering free perks to members, like gym membership or fitness classes.
Many private insurers include SilverSneakers in their Medicare Advantage plans. Some Medicare Supplement plans may cover it as well. However, this availability varies depending on the state you live in and the plan you subscribe to.
Coverage isnt offered in all 50 states. You can check your states availability on the SilverSneakers website.
For your reference, below is a rundown of the SilverSneakers offerings at four of the top Medicare carriers:
| PROVIDER | |
|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans | Coverage may not be available for all plans or in all states. |
You might notice that one major provider isnt included on this list: UnitedHealthcare. UnitedHealthcare recently began rolling back its SilverSneakers coverage, replacing it with its own fitness program called Renew Active. Renew Active is available to most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage customers, but SilverSneakers is still included on plans that havent yet added Renew Active.
Connect Your Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers are a popular and easy way for you to monitor your fitness activities. They can help you monitor everything from the number of steps you take each day to calories burned and hours slept. And MyBlue® makes it even easier to track your progress.
Connect your wearable activity tracker or favorite mobile fitness app to your Health Tools account and find your health goals in one centralized, secure place. Once set up, your associated data will be automatically updated in the Online Health Coach and your Personal Health Record.
You May Like: Veja V 10 Leather Sneakers
How Do You Enroll In Silversneakers
If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes SilverSneakers as a benefit, you simply then have to register with SilverSneakers on the SilverSneakers website to receive your ID card and membership number that will grant you access to SilverSneakers locations and programs.
Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C, is an alternative way to receive Original Medicare benefits while also receiving coverage for things not found in Original Medicare. These extra benefits can often include things like dental care, vision care or prescription drugs. SilverSneakers is a common and popular included benefit within these plans.
What Does Silversneakers Include
If you are part of this program, then you will get unlimited access to all of the gyms that accept SilverSneakers membership for free. Also, some gyms may offer special fitness classes for people on Medicare, which you will be able to use with your membership card. Silver Sneakers also has a program, known as FLEX, which offers classes and events outside of the gym, such as swimming, hiking, and yoga.
If you are part of the plan, you can use it for any eligible services at any time that works for you. For example, you can use your membership for pool access if you dont want to go to the gym. One great benefit of SilverSneakers is that many of the fitness classes are specifically for your health needs. Such as pool exercise classes which are easy on the joints! This program is one way to make sure that you will always find the help you need.
thumb
If you are looking for a Medicare with Silver Sneakers or other gym benefits, call us at so we can review options with you.
Recommended Reading: Does Medicare Part A Cover Silver Sneakers
