Medicare And Gyms: Silver Sneakers And Alternative Gym Programs
Every Senior knows that exercising is one of the healthiest activities to take on once becoming Medicare eligible. Joining a gym is a great way to work out but who will pay for it? With Silver Sneakers or a similar gym benefit, you may find that your Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan will.
We will go over how Silver Sneakers allows anyone with a participating Medigap or Medicare Advantage can access to gyms with little or no additional fees. We will show you how to enroll and review some lessor known free gym alternatives for those who are Medicare eligible.
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.
How Much Does Renew Active Cost
There is no additional monthly premium to participate in the Renew Active program. Many UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans that include the Renew Active benefit are available with a $0 premium.
The cost of a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Insurance plan with Renew Active will vary depending on location and the level of coverage selected. You can explore the UHC Medicare Advantage plans available where you live to find a plan that covers Renew Active.
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Can I Enroll In Silver Sneakers If I Have Original Medicare
Silver Sneakers is a benefit available only to seniors enrolled in participating Medicare Advantage plans.
If you are currently enrolled in Original Medicare and want a Silver Sneakers membership, you may want to wait for the Medicare Annual Election Period and see what Medicare Advantage plans are available in your area. Read more about enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan. Remember, you must continue to pay your regular Part B premium every month, even if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Not all Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits such as Silver Sneakers. Most Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare Part D coverage for prescription drugs.
Want to know which Medicare Advantage plans in your area offer Silver Sneakers memberships? You can find out right now. Just enter your zip code in the box on this page to display a list of local plans, and look at the benefits each of them offers.
New To Medicare?
Becoming eligible for Medicare can be daunting. But dont worry, were here to help you understand Medicare in 15 minutes or less.
How Much Does It Cost
The SilverSneakers program is a free extra benefit for many Medicare Advantage plans and some Medicare Supplement plans . These plans all have different prices, but fitness benefits will never be offered for a fee. The price of these plans can vary a lot depending on your location and other factors, so it is useful to compare them locally.
You can think of the cost of SilverSneakers and similar plans in two specific ways, aside from the price of the plans. First, Silver Sneakers can save you money on the services you use: gym memberships, classes, and so on. Also, SilverSneakers and other programs can help to reduce future medical expenses by improving your health and fitness levels. This can result in lower healthcare costs.
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Find Out If Youre Eligible For Silversneakers
What are the SilverSneakers eligibility requirements?
In order to be eligible for the SilverSneakers Fitness program, you must be:
- Living in the U.S.
- Enrolled in a private Medicare plan that offers the SilverSneakers benefit
To be eligible for SilverSneakers, you must join a participating Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan.
If you are already enrolled in one of those types of private insurance plans, you can visit SilverSneakers.com to see if your current plan offers the program.
Which Medicare Advantage Plans Have Silversneakers
While some companies are more notorious for offering fitness benefits, our agents can usually find solutions to any preference.
Many Advantage plans provide gym benefits to their members, although not every plan or service area offers this benefit.
Some of the major carriers that provide SilverSneakers are:
- Aetna
Our agents can help you to identify coverage and find affordable gym options.
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The Silver& fit Home Fitness Program
If you cant travel to a fitness center or if you prefer to work out in the privacy of your own home, you may be able to request a Silver& Fit Home Fitness Kit.
Members who receive can select two of the 17 home fitness program options each benefit year. Each includes an instructional booklet and a DVD or CD.
You get your first kit about 10 days after you enroll, and the second kit about 90 days after the first kit is shipped.
Home Fitness Kit choices include:
- Aquatics
- Walking
- Yoga
Ma Plans & Silver Sneakers
Medicare Advantage plans, otherwise known as Medicare Part C, will often cover a Silver Sneakers membership as an added benefit. Common MA plan providers include but are not limited to Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Anthem Blue Cross. If a patient is unsure about whether or not a membership is included in the MA plan benefits, they should contact their insurance provider or a licensed health insurance agency. If a patient is looking to enroll in a MA or Medigap plan that includes a Silver Sneakers benefit, they should use the governments Medicare Advantage plan comparison tool. Using the plan comparison tool can help enrollees uncover what benefits are included in each MA plan to decipher which one they want.
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Get A Plan With Gym Benefits
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Which Insurance Companies Cover Silver Sneakers
Health insurance companies vary depending on where beneficiaries live. However, common insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans include Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Anthem Blue Cross. To find out if a beneficiary has a Silver Sneakers membership included in their MA plan, they should speak with a licensed insurance provider. To locate and enroll in an MA plan that includes a Silver Sneakers membership, beneficiaries should use the Medicare Advantage plan comparison tool.
Note: Seeking out licensed insurance agent support is the best method to understand exactly what benefits are offered in many Medicare Advantage plans. Ones insurance company will be able to break down any and all components and aspects included in various affordable medicare plans.
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How We Reviewed Medicare Providers
Even Medicare health plans with a national presence can vary locally in their cost, quality, and customer satisfaction. To evaluate Medicare plans, we looked at health insurance industry ratings from the primary accrediting agency for health plans, the National Committee for Quality Assurance , and the Medicare Star Ratings from CMS, the regulatory agency that oversees Medicare. We included the National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index, and AM Bests financial stability ratings. We also considered information from the companies on their programs and strategies.
Competition: Silversneakers Vs Unitedhealthcare
If youre looking for a Medicare insurance plan, you cant choose SilverSneakers. But theres a good chance the plan you choose will give you access to SilverSneakers as a free extra benefit. For Medicare insurance coverage, consider UnitedHealthcare, the insurer with the largest share of Medicare Advantage members. UnitedHealthcare offers a range of Medicare Advantage and supplemental plans and scores well on the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Star Ratings quality measures. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are available in 66% of U.S. counties, and its Medicare Supplement Insurance plans are available in every state. There are many Medicare plans that will get you access to SilverSneakers benefits, but as the market leader, UnitedHealthcare is a good all-around option for its range of available plans and extra benefits.
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SilverSneakers is a popular fitness program designed for people 65 and older. Its available to millions of Medicare health plan members at no charge. The company has added online options, both live and on-demand, as in-person gym activity dipped during the pandemic. Its partners are most of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers in the country, and its coverage is nationwide. To stay fit and healthy, SilverSneakers is a great option for Medicare members.
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Here’s Why Medicare Plans With Silversneakers Are So Popular
If youre new to Medicare, you might be wondering, What is SilverSneakers®? Well, its a fitness program for seniors that comes with qualifying Medicare health plans and provides access to thousands of fitness locations across the country.
From weights and machines to group classes led by trained instructors, SilverSneakers has something for everyone at all levels of ability.
What’s so great about SilverSneakers?
Is Silver& fit The Same As Silversneakers
Silver& Fit is similar to and is sometimes mistaken for another Medicare fitness program called SilverSneakers.
Both companies offer group fitness classes and exercise opportunities to improve general fitness, strength, flexibility, and walking ability. Both also partner with Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans to provide their benefit. Eligibility for both programs is generally the same.
SilverSneakers offers benefits at more than 17,000 locations nationwide and offers seven types of classes including classic, circuit, cardio fit, boom programs, splash, stability, and yoga.
The main difference between the two programs are locations, types of classes, and home fitness availability.
Before committing to one or the other, its probably best to see which one gives you access to more locations in your immediate area. If you dont have a gym or fitness center in your immediate area, or you cant go to a gym for any reason, Silver& Fit offers home fitness kits so you can exercise at home.
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Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan Benefits Focus On Your Well
Most Medicare Advantage plans from Aetna offer a wide range of benefits in addition to SilverSneakers membership. These benefits are designed to help take care of your total health.
Many Aetna Medicare Advantage plans also include:
- Prescription drug coverage
- Dental, vision and hearing benefits
- Non-emergency transportation coverage for things like doctors office visits or trips to the pharmacy
- Home meal delivery services after a hospital stay
- Over-the-counter benefit that allows you to get certain items like vitamins and cold medicine at no additional cost
- Prescription home delivery for plans that include prescription drug coverage
- 24/7 nurse hotline
- No-added-cost annual flu shots
Plan availability and features can vary by service area. Be sure to ask a licensed insurance agent or check your plans Evidence of Coverage to see what benefits are offered with your plan.
Medicare Wellness And Silversneakers Programs
Home / FAQs / General Medicare / Medicare Wellness and SilverSneakers Programs
SilverSneakers is a program that helps keep seniors active and fit. You may have access to gym benefits now, and not know it.
The SilverSneakers program consists of gym memberships, group fitness classes, and access to well-trained instructors and reputable fitness centers. Many plans offer fitness benefits to their members.
Do you want access to a local gym or on-demand workouts? Are you Medicare-eligible? Below we will discuss the many possibilities, including cost, plans, and companies.
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Cant Get To The Gym No Problem
Silver Steps is a program for seniors and other members who live 15 miles or further from a gym. It is a personalized workout program that includes a kit with how-to DVDs, resistance belts, and an exercise video. So you wont be left out if you live in a rural area. Silver Sneakers also offers an online component to help with nutrition, streaming exercises, and a forum to talk to other members.
What Does It Include
You get access to over 15,000 gyms across the nation. Not only can you get into the gym, you are able to take classes that promote a healthy lifestyle. Also, many gyms offer programs and social opportunities for their members. As a note that you dont have to got a gym to take the classes. Many community centers and other places are available to you. And there are additional programs that allow you to save toward a family members college scholarship!
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What Insurance Plans Include The Silversneakers Fitness Program
SilverSneakers is a popular fitness program offered through select Medicare plans to adults ages 65 or older. Members get access to exercise classes and events held at their local gyms or fitness facilities.
Members can also participate from home using the programs on-demand video library.
The program is not covered by all parts of Medicare, and not every private insurance provider offers it as a benefit. In this guide, we will outline which providers include it in their coverage, what parts of Medicare cover it, program eligibility and more.
Several large health insurance companies provide SilverSneakers membership at no cost to enrollees.
Do All Medicare Plans Offer Silver Sneakers
You cannot add a Silver Sneakers benefit to your Medicare Advantage coverage a plan either comes with Silver Sneakers or it does not. Some Medicare Advantage plans provide reimbursement for gym memberships or fitness programs other than the Silver Sneakers program. Original Medicare never includes a Silver Sneakers membership.
While gym access or exercise classes are a nice benefit to have, they shouldnt be the only thing you consider when choosing between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage or when choosing a specific Advantage plan. We wrote more here about choosing the right Medicare coverage.
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How Do I Enroll In An Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan
To learn more about Aetna Medicare Advantage plans in your area that offer SilverSneakers membership, or to enroll in an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan, speak with a licensed insurance agent. You can reach one by calling 1-877-890-1409TTY Users: 711. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More than 26 million people are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.3
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services releases annual Star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans. For 2022, Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans earned an overall weighted average rating of 4.29 out of 5 stars. The majority of Aetna Medicare plan members are in a plan rated 4.5 stars or higher out of 5 stars.4
Members Of Mvps Medicare Advantage Plans Can Enjoy These Silversneakers Benefits:
- Classes and use of equipment and other programs at safe, friendly fitness centers
- Fun group exercise classes designed to increase strength, flexibility, and energy
- Fitness and social activities held outside the gym
- Health education seminars and other events that promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle
- SilverSneakers On-Demand online workout videos so you can try classes when and where you want
- SilverSneakers GO mobile app with workout programs, location finder, and more
- SilverSneakers Live: Choose from several virtual classes hosted live every day
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Which Medicare Plans Include Silversneakers
Fitness is an essential part of staying healthy. Staying fit as you age will help ensure you are healthier longer and live a vibrant life.
When retiring, we transition to a paycheck to live off social security. Cutting costs become necessary, and gym memberships are one of the first things to go.
Thankfully some options are low or no cost, which allows you to maintain your physical health. Medicare beneficiaries may have access to fitness benefits through their Medicare plan.
