Is Silver& Fit The Same As Silversneakers
SilverSneakers is perhaps the most widely used fitness program included in many Medicare insurance plans, but its not the only one.
Silver& Fit is a program like SilverSneakers that is included in Medicare plans by some carriers. While the programs are sure to have their subtle differences, they are very similar in what they offer.
Veterans Benefits And Silversneakers
Veterans Affairs may offer the program in specific locations, but its best to check with your local VA office to obtain an up-to-date list of local gyms that offer classes.
You can use the Advantage plan to cover dental, vision, and fitness. Or, find a supplement that has an option to add Active and Fit benefits.
What Does A Silversneakers Membership Include
- LOCAL GYM MEMBERSHIPS: Silver Sneakers has an extensive list of gyms that participate in their program that offers free gym memberships to seniors. Their website boasts having more gym facilities than there are Starbucks locations in the U.S. .
- If you are a part of a Medicare Advantage program that uses Silver Sneakers, then you can access the gyms in their network at no cost. You can use as many of these facilities as you like while you are a part of your MA plan.
- ONLINE FITNESS CLASSES: If you prefer to workout at home, or do not have a physical location close to you, SilverSneakers offers online fitness classes.
- APP: They also have an app to help you track your fitness goals and schedule your fitness plans. The app can also help you locate participating locations.
Don’t Miss: Who Can Get Silver Sneakers
How Do I Get Silver Sneakers
If you arent sure, just ask your agent while considering your options. Sometimes we cannot disclose all perks offered by an insurance company so as not to inadvertently steer clients one way or the other.
Of course, Silver Sneakers is one of the biggest perks and some of our clients will choose a carrier based on this benefit alone. Its important to crunch the numbers, however. If you frequently use the gym and a membership will save you $60 a month, then it might be an easy decision. But if you dont use the gym often you might benefit from a lower cost Medicare plan that does not offer this benefit. We can help compare your best options.
Here are a few FAQs that will help you:
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.
Read Also: Waterproof High Top Sneakers Mens
Will Unitedhealthcare Offer Any Fitness Benefit In 2020
Yes. Starting in 2020, UHC will offer new fitness benefits* with some plans. As plans can vary in every zip code, ask your licensed agent whether or not this benefit can apply to you!
Medicare beneficiaries with certain UHC Medigap plans may feature a fitness benefit that includes gym membership discounts and phone access to wellness coaches along with other health resources.
Medicare Advantage policyholders may be able to join a program called Renew Active, which will replace SilverSneakers® in January 2020. The Renew Active benefit may include access to fitness centers, classes, and group activities along with tools to exercise your brain health.
*Always check with your doctor before starting any fitness program to make sure the program suits your individual needs.
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.
You May Like: Zip Up High Top Sneakers
A Sample Of Silversneakers Fitness Classes
The SilverSneakers Medicare program offers over 70 types of fitness classes for all fitness levels, and each one is taught by a certified instructor. You can choose a class to help you meet a specific fitness goalfrom mobility to building muscle.
Here is a sample of what you might find:
SilverSneakers Classic
This is where it all started. With SilverSneakers Classic, the class adapts to your fitness level, using a chair for support if you need it and exercises can be modified to your ability as well. Overall, SilverSneakers Classic is a good way to help increase range of motion and muscle strength to make daily activities easier and improve overall well-being.
SilverSneakers Circuit
The SilverSneakers Circuit class is a choreographed routine set to music that incorporates movement with standing exercises that use rubber tubing and dumbbells. The class can be adapted to suit your fitness level, and chairs are available for support during the exercises.
SilverSneakers Cardiofit
A more rigorous workout than SilverSneakers Classic or Circuit, SilverSneakers Cardiofit is an aerobics-type class to build core strength, upper body strength, and cardio health. However, all of the exercises are low-impact.
SilverSneakers Yoga
SilverSneakers EnerChi
SilverSneakers Splash
SilverSneakers Stability
Does My Insurance Cover My Gym Membership
So, covering gym memberships pays off for insurance companies over time. Many major insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30 percent on monthly fees on select gyms. Employers often offer discounts on gym memberships, as well some offer $250 per year reimbursements. So check with your benefits department.
You May Like: Does Silver Sneakers Come With Medicare
Best 30 Fitness Centers With Silver Sneakers In Venice Fl
Posted: LA Fitness. Health Clubs Personal Fitness Trainers Physical Fitness Consultants & Lifestyle Family Fitness. Health Clubs 26 YEARS. IN BUSINESS. 496-4122. 1667 US Venice Fitness And Rehab. Health Clubs Gymnasiums. Website. 786-9914. 2123 Curves. Health Clubs Exercise & Physical Fitness Programs Gymnasiums. Website. South Venice Fitness Center. Health Clubs Gymnasiums 9 YEARS. IN BUSINESS. Planet Fitness. Health Clubs Personal Fitness Trainers Exercise & Physical Fitness Authentic Fusion. Yoga Instruction Health & Fitness Program Consultants Physical Fitness Your Total Body. Personal Fitness Trainers. 468-7091. 115 Airport Ave E Apt 26. CrossFit. Personal Fitness Trainers. Website. 587-6982. View all 9 Locations. 255 PhysioWorks Inc. Medical Centers Physical Therapy Clinics Physical Therapists. Website. See full list on yellowpages.com
Whats Better About Silver Sneakers
To start, if you are someone who likes to do workouts at home, and likes to stream different workouts online, Silver Sneakers has more to offer you in this area. Their online on-demand workout section boasts hundreds of online workouts available.
Also, Silver Sneakers seems to have the larger network of physical fitness facilities at this time.
Finally, multiple Medicare insurance company plans use SilverSneakers. This means your coverage might not change if you change Medicare plans.
Read Also: Adidas Originals Super Sleek Sneakers
Seniors Can Still Bulk Up On Muscle By Pressing Iron
If seniors can meet medical standards, they’ll find SilverSneakers available from other insurance operators. In 2019, Tivity Health is offering the program through more than 65 health plans covering more than 15 million older adults and introducing a new digital platform that emphasizes its social benefits: SilverSneakers Connect.
“There are people we’ve learned who are alone but don’t want to go to the gym,” and the new platform can help them connect with each other as well as activities in their communities, said Donato Tramuto, Tivity Health’s CEO. Recent research suggests that SilverSneakers may help reduce isolation and loneliness in seniors who go to classes and form new relationships, he noted.
Whether UnitedHealthcare’s health plans will be less appealing because of the shift away from SilverSneakers is yet to be determined. Several years ago, Humana, another giant insurer, also began reducing the number of plans that offered SilverSneakers, but it faced a backlash from members and sales representatives. “The membership perceives as a valuable benefit despite the fact that not everyone uses it,” said George Renaudin, Humana’s senior vice president of Medicare.
Humana subsequently reversed course and is now making SilverSneakers broadly available to about 3.5 million Medicare Advantage and Medigap policyholders.
KHN’s coverage related to aging and improving care of older adults is supported in part by The John A. Hartford Foundation.
How To Qualify For Silversneakers
Unfortunately, Original Medicare plans dont cover a SilverSneakers membership. SilverSneakers is considered a gym membership or fitness program, and the Medicare website explicitly says it wont cover those.
However, there is the chance that a Medicare Advantage plan will cover it. A supplemental plan could also cover the SneakerSilvers program. The SilverSneakers website says the program is covered by one in four Medicare programs, though the organization doesnt specify if this is 25 percent of Medicare Advantage plans or 25 percent of all Medicare plans.
You can check if your Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers SilverSneakers on the programs website. You can visit that same link if youre in the market for a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan and want to find one that include SilverSneakers in its coverage.
Don’t Miss: Best Sneakers For Hiit Training
Contact The Silverhelp Desk
866-584-7389
*Eligibility may vary. Contact your healthcare provider or local medicare office for further information.
NOTE: We are not affiliated with SilverSneakers, and you should NOT contact us with any sensitive information that is of a personal nature. We are merely a resource that provides information.
What Is Renew Active
Renew Active is similar to SilverSneakers but also incorporates brain health into the activities offered.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare plan members with a Renew Active benefit can use the Find a Fitness Location search tool to find a gym or fitness center in their area thats part of the Renew Active program. Members also have the option of working out from home using Fitbit Premium with thousands of online workout videos.
A wide range of national chain gyms, local gyms and community organizations like senior centers are part of the Renew Active program. Some locations may feature additional amenities such as pools or saunas that members can use as part of their Renew Active benefits.
Renew Active participants receive a 1-on-1 session with a personal trainer to set fitness-related goals and form a personalized fitness plan. Members will meet with the trainer on an annual basis to track their progress and review their goals.
Activities may include:
- Zumba
Locations with a pool may incorporate water aerobics, swimming and other pool activities.
UnitedHealthcare also partners with AARP for the Staying Sharp program, which helps members exercise their brain.
Participants start by taking a brain-health assessment and receiving personalized recommendations based on the results. Recommendations can include puzzles, games, activities, recipes and articles made available to members all designed to boost brain health.
You May Like: Mens Backless Slip On Sneakers
Does Medicare Supplement Plan G Cover Gym Memberships
Posted: To date, United Healthcare, Humana, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, Gateway, Coventry, and WellCare all participate in a senior-specific gym membership program called Silver Sneakers in most states. United Healthcare is scaling back their coverage in certain states due to non-use, but its still available in some places.
How They Are Different: Renew Active Vs Silver Sneakers
- The first difference we see at this time is Silver Sneakers seems to be in more facilities.
- SilverSneakers boasts over 16,000 locations.
- At the start of 2019, Renew Active mentioned over 7,000. However, it seems like their program has grown since that mention.
- Check the location searches for both programs to make sure your gym preference is covered.
- The second difference is that Renew Active has an online brain training application included, and Silver Sneakers does not .
- The BrainHQ app seems to retail at $8-$14 a month if you wanted to buy it separately, so that does suggest added value.
- We have not tried this app, and could not find a lot of research or reviews on the platform at the moment. Please leave a comment if you find something useful!
- In our Renew Active vs Silver Sneakers comparison, the third difference we see is that Silver Sneakers has an good list of online classes.
Read Also: How To Lace Gucci Sneakers
United Healthcare And Silver Sneakers
After learning about Silver Sneakers, you are probably impressed with the program. You can imagine yourself in a gym getting fit or adhering to a nutritional plan, and feeling 30 again. But theres more to the story
As of October 2019, United Healthcare announced that it will no longer offer SilverSneakers as a benefit. Anyone who was not enrolled in United Healthcares plans by January 2021 will not be able to access SilverSneakers as a benefit.
This drop in support is not a falling-out between the companies. NPR even did a story on the breakup.
But you still might be shocked, considering the benefits and robustness of Silver Sneakers. United Healthcare found that despite offering SilverSneakers, 90% of those who have the benefit never set foot in a SilverSneakers gym. Many Medicare recipients may have not been aware of the benefit, thus not using it. Those who reap the benefits of this program will, however, be supported.
United Healthcare is not alone in ending their relationship with Silver Sneakers.
The Tennessee YMCA and BlueCross BlueShield have ended their relationship with Silver Sneakers in all their locations.
Tivity Health announced that if you are already enrolled in United Healthcares plans and receive SilverSneakers as a benefit, then it will remain available to you through December 31, 2022.
Where Is Silversneakers Offered
SilverSneakers has more than 15,000 locations at participating gyms, community centers, and fitness centers around the country. This includes some of the countrys largest chains, like LA Fitness, the YMCA, and Planet Fitness.
In order to find the SilverSneakers classes that are available in your community, visit the SilverSneakers website, enter your zip code on the map, and discover all your fitness opportunities.
If you have any questions regarding the SilverSneakers program, how to enroll in it and have it covered by Medicare, and where you can attend a class, visit the SilverSneakers website or contact your Medicare Advantage provider.
MORE ADVICE
Read Also: Golden Goose Womens Sneakers Sizing
Find A Fitness Location Near You
Posted: Aug 16, 2021 · The largest gym network of all Medicare fitness programs is based upon comparison of competitors website data as of March, 2021. Over 20,000 gym locations is based upon internal company data website data as of March 2021. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property.
What States Is Blue Cross Blue Shield In
The 36 independent and locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield companies deliver health insurance coverage to one in three Americans across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In addition, the BCBS Federal Employee Program® insures over five million federal employees, retirees and their families.
You May Like: Silver Sneakers Vs Silver And Fit
Silver Sneakers Being Droped By Aarp Recommended I
Posted: Sep 19, 2021 · I guess like all who have the “silver sneakers” card will become another worthless trash item. United Health Care will discontinue your membership starting 1/1/18. I am glad I went and purchased my own gym since but it is my guess that many others do not have the money or the room for it like I do. …
Does Medicare Cover The Silver Sneakers Program
Posted: Jul 25, 2018 · A Major Update to Silver Sneakers. As of 2019, United Healthcare dropped the Silver Sneakers benefits from their Medicare supplements in a number of states. This could mean additional states will follow. This is why we always suggest that you never choose your Medicare plan SOLELY because it offers a gym benefit.
You May Like: His And Hers Matching Sneakers
Do Medicare Supplement Plans Cover Silversneakers
Medicare Supplement plans are designed to help pay out-of-pocket costs with Part A and Part B . If something isnt covered by Original Medicare, it usually isnt covered by a Medicare Supplement plan. Medicare rules prohibit Medigap plans from offering extra benefits, but gym memberships such as SilverSneakers are the rare exception to the rule.
In some states, the major Medicare Supplement insurers such as Humana, BlueCross Blue Shield, AARP include SilverSneakers membership with some Medigap plans. These instances are few and far between though, as most Medigap plans do not include SilverSneakers, especially those offered by smaller insurance companies.
How Do I Know If Im Eligible
Eligibility is specific to your insurance plan. To verify that your individual coverage qualifies, please call the phone number on the back of your health insurance card to receive your Fitness ID or Confirmation Code for the program. Once the eligibility has been verified, obtain your Fitness ID or Confirmation Code as this will be required to enroll in membership.
You May Like: Vince Blair Slip On Sneakers Black
Tricare For Life Benefits Overview
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
TRICARE For Life is a medical benefit program designed to pay for medical expenses for active duty military personnel and their families, and also for retired military personnel and their families. Although it appears to be an insurance program, it is actually a benefit program. It is a benefit offered to persons serving in the military as they pay no premiums for the coverage.
Dont Miss: Silver Sneakers Gyms San Antonio
