What Insurance Plans Include SilverSneakers Coverage?

Overview

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 program’s 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.

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 (or Medigap) plans may cover it as well. However, this availability varies depending on the state you live in and the plan you subscribe to.

Coverage isn’t offered in all 50 states. You can check your state’s availability on the SilverSneakers website.

For your reference, below is a rundown of the SilverSneakers offerings at four of the top Medicare carriers:

You might notice that one major provider isn’t 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 haven’t yet added Renew Active.

SilverSneakers Eligibility and Coverage Areas

Any Medicare-eligible individual age 65 years or older is eligible for SilverSneakers. However, to actually get this coverage, you have to be officially enrolled in Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement plan that offers membership to the program.

It is important to note that some insurance carriers only offer SilverSneakers to customers in certain states and/or zip codes, so be sure and check your provider’s coverage area to find out whether or not you’ll get access to SilverSneakers.

What Parts of Medicare Cover SilverSneakers?

The SilverSneakers program is not included under all parts of the Medicare umbrella. Namely, Original Medicare (which includes both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) does not offer the program as a benefit.

However, Medicare Advantage (or Medicare Part C) plans might provide coverage depending on the provider you use. SilverSneakers is included as a bundled benefit in most Medicare Advantage plans, which also offer extra perks like vision, hearing, and dental coverage.

Medicare Supplement plans may also provide SilverSneakers membership as a benefit. These plans are designed to fill the gaps for services that aren’t covered under Original Medicare. But again, it will depend on your provider’s particular benefits package.

What are the Benefits of SilverSneakers?

SilverSneakers hosts group fitness classes in 17,000 gyms and community facilities across the United States. Additionally, its FLEX program covers 80 different activities outside of the gym environment, from outdoor walking to yoga to strength training — all of which are activities promoted by public health organizations to benefit older adults.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends that healthy adults age 65 or older get 150 minutes per week of moderate to intense aerobic activity and two days per week of muscle-strengthening activities. Fitness programs like SilverSneakers encourage this regimen with an added social incentive in which members engage with a community of peers for support and encouragement on their fitness journey.

According to an annual member survey, 88% of SilverSneakers participants said participating in the program boosted their quality of life, while 64% saw improvement in hypertension symptoms, and 62% experienced arthritis relief.

For members seeking to participate from home, SilverSneakers’ on-demand video library offers the same experience in a virtual setting. Online content includes fitness classes, step-by-step workouts, and other educational videos.

Using the program’s Android and iOS app, SilverSneakers GO, users can customize their health plan, communicate with peers, find participating fitness facilities, and even track their progress.

Once you sign up, you’ll receive a card with a number for your membership, granting you access to all the digital and in-person offerings SilverSneakers has to offer.