SilverSneakers Explained: Advantages, Insurance Scope, Rates, and Additional Information
As of August 1, 2025, eligible members of Medicare Advantage plans, such as Highmark, and Medigap plans like Whole Health Balance, will have access to the SilverSneakers fitness program at no additional cost. This comprehensive fitness program includes nationwide gym access, fitness classes, and online resources, offering a value equivalent to a gym membership costing around $40 to $70 per month.
While not all Medigap plans include fitness benefits, some do offer access to SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, or Renew Active programs. Some Medicare Advantage plans, such as Aetna, even provide reimbursements up to $240 per year for fitness equipment or gym fees, while others like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Tufts Health offer $100-$150 per year towards fitness activities or memberships.
For those interested in specific plans with SilverSneakers, it's recommended to check eligibility via SilverSneakers.com or contact the plan provider directly using the member ID, as offerings and costs may vary by insurer and location.
The average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans in 2025 is estimated to be $17, and members must also pay the Part B monthly premium, which is $185 or higher, depending on their income. Medicare Advantage plans have varying out-of-pocket costs, including monthly premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
Medigap plans, on the other hand, have only the monthly premium as a cost, which varies widely among plans and service areas. Medigap providers may offer discounts for nonsmokers, females, married couples, yearly payments, electronic funds transfer, having multiple policies, and more.
The SilverSneakers program does not cover services and products like massages or smoothies that gyms sometimes offer, but it provides unlimited access to a network of thousands of gyms, offering cardio equipment, amenities, strength equipment, and exercise classes. Social engagement plays an essential role in health and can reduce the risks of a decline in functional abilities and severe illness. Regular exercise and maintaining a social network can improve overall health and well-being.
Regular exercise, such as that offered by SilverSneakers, has multiple health benefits, including improved brain health, reduced risk of depression, anxiety, insomnia, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, falls, and functional limitations, and increased lifespan. A 2018 study found that older adults who participated in a fitness program, such as SilverSneakers, increased their physical activity and self-rated overall health.
People with Original Medicare are not eligible for SilverSneakers, as the plan does not have the extra benefits of Medicare Advantage. However, most Medicare Advantage plans offer fitness benefits, including SilverSneakers or similar programs. A search tool is available for finding Medicare Advantage plans that include SilverSneakers.
For more resources on Medicare, visit the Medicare hub. SilverSneakers is a benefit of some Medicare Advantage plans, offering additional benefits like dental or vision care. The program further increases sociability due to increased self-esteem, and some Medigap plans also include SilverSneakers as one of their benefits.
In addition, FLEX, an additional benefit of SilverSneakers, offers admittance to instructor-led activities in community parks and recreation centers, as well as an online library of fitness videos. People with Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans that include SilverSneakers do not pay for the program membership, but there are other costs involved, such as premiums, deductibles, and copayments.
- Some health organizations, like Aetna, offer reimbursements for fitness equipment or gym fees up to $240 per year in their Medicare Advantage plans, while others, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield or Tufts Health, provide up to $100-$150 per year towards fitness activities or memberships.
- The health-and-wellness program SilverSneakers, included in certain Medicare Advantage plans, provides unlimited access to a network of thousands of gyms, offering cardio equipment, amenities, strength equipment, and exercise classes, with the goal of improving overall health and well-being.
- In addition to fitness benefits, some health organizations like SilverSneakers, also offer further benefits such as social engagement, increased self-esteem, and programs like FLEX, with instructor-led activities in community parks and recreation centers, as well as an online library of fitness videos, to promote overall health and well-being.
