SilverSneakers is a health and fitness program available for Medicare beneficiaries under some Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. To participate, you need to be eligible for Medicare and enrolled in a participating plan.
SilverSneakers is intended for adults over 65. The program offers access to thousands of participating gyms around the United States.
In addition, the program offers various online resources and a supportive community to help you stay on track with your fitness goals. Read on for more information on how to determine your eligibility for SilverSneakers.
Since Medicare is federally funded insurance only for people ages 65 years or older and younger adults with chronic conditions or disabilities, you need to be of qualifying age or health to enroll in Medicare and get the membership.
While Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t cover SilverSneakers, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans do include it in their coverage. These are typically private insurance plans required to offer the same coverage as Original Medicare that can also offer additional perks such as SilverSneakers.
In addition, if you’re enrolled in Medigap, you may be able to use this coverage to pay for SilverSneakers even if you’re in Original Medicare. In this case, you need to qualify for Medigap as you would qualify for any of the Medicare parts.
Why am I not eligible for SilverSneakers?
You may not be eligible for SilverSneakers if you’re not eligible for Medicare, you’re not enrolled in a participating Medicare Advantage plan, or you’re enrolled in Original Medicare without a participating Medigap plan.
However, in this case, you can still enroll in any of the participating gyms without enrolling in the SilverSneakers program. Many of these gyms have other special prices for older adults.
Learn more about Medicare and SilverSneakers.
Your Medicare Advantage plan may cover your SilverSneakers membership, but you may still need to enroll to participate.
You can begin by checking whether you’re eligible based on your age and type of Medicare plan on SilverSneakers.com. Once you confirm your eligibility, you can register online.
If your Medicare Advantage plan offers SilverSneakers, your membership in the fitness program should be free. That said, depending on your plan, you may need to pay a premium and reach your deductible for full coverage.
Note that not every gym offers the same roster of classes and other benefits, and some offerings may or may not be included in the SilverSneakers program. You’ll have to pay out of pocket for anything that isn’t included.
To find out which Medicare Advantage plan offers SilverSneakers in your area, you can filter by state on the SilverSneakers website.
For example, in Illinois, participating Advantage plans are offered by Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Clear Spring Health, Community Care Alliance, Devoted Health Plans, and others. The plans in every state will differ.
Note that if you’re enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare AARP Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll notice that the SilverSneakers program is no longer offered. That’s because the plan now offers an alternative program called Renew Active.
SilverSneakers is an exercise program for people over the age of 65 years. To be eligible for free membership, you need to be of qualifying age and enrolled in a participating Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan.
The program includes access to thousands of gyms, as well as online fitness resources like workout videos and nutrition tips, along with a supportive community.