Does Medicare cover Silver Sneakers?

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Medicare Silver Sneakers

SilverSneakers® is a comprehensive program for seniors to participate in physical activities. It is probably the best-known fitness program. SilverSneakers® membership includes access to every participating gym and fitness center in the network at more than 16,000 locations. Does Medicare cover Silver Sneakers?

What is included in SilverSneakers?

  • Access to fitness equipment
  • Specially-designed, signature exercise classes for all fitness levels**
  • Pools, tennis courts and walking tracks**
  • 16,000+ fitness and community locations nationwide (you can enroll at multiple locations)
  • Social events in your community
  • Online resources with nutrition and fitness tips

**Classes and amenities vary by location. Classes not offered at all locations.

Medicare Silver Sneakers – Original Medicare

Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, do NOT cover basis fitness services.  Therefore, SilverSneakers® is not covered by Original Medicare. To get Medicare Silver Sneakers coverage, you need to enroll in one of Medicare health plans through one of the private insurance vendors.

Medicare Silver Sneakers – Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans

Many Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, often include membership in one of the fitness programs. Such programs are designed for all levels and abilities, and generally provided by your health plan at no additional cost. There are multiple fitness programs available; some are from independent vendors, such as SilverSneakers®, others are subsidiaries of insurance vendors.

Some of Medicare Supplement plans also include fitness programs, such as Medicare Silver Sneakers.  However, the number of such vendors is quite limited.

Does your Health Plan participate in SilverSneakers?

Table 1 below shows insurance vendors in multiple states, and whether they participate in Medicare Silver Sneakers. We limit ourselves with 8 states where LibertyMedicare does business. There are three categories of entries in the table: Medicare Advantage ONLY (*), Medicare Supplement ONLY (**), and both, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (***).

# VENDOR / STATE DE IL MD NJ NY OH PA VA
1 Aetna X  X X X X X X X
2 Amerigroup X
3 Anthem XXX XXX XXX
4 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois X
5 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York
 X
6 Blue Shield of Northeastern New York X
7 Care First XX XX
8 Clover X X
9 Emblem Health X
10 HealthFirst X
11 Highmark X
12 Humana XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX
13 Independence Blue Cross X
14 Medical Mutual X
15 UPMC X X
16 UnitedHealthcare X XXX XXX
17 Wellcare X X

Table 1.  Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans participating in SilverSneakers

You may find whether your plan participates in SilverSneakers® for other states by visiting the SilverSneakers eligibility page.

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Contact Us

We will be glad to review your Medicare Health Plan Fitness Membership options. For help finding the best for YOU Medicare Plan, please contact Liberty Medicare or call us at 877-657-7477.

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