Medicare Blog

what sliversneakers benifit for medicare

by Ms. Rafaela Hirthe PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

The simple answer is no, the SilverSneakers program is not covered by Medicare. Original Medicare consists of Part A and B of Medicare and covers hospital care and outpatient medical expenses. Silver Sneakers is an extra benefit that is offered by Medicare Advantage plans, as well as some supplement plans to add to Original Medicare benefits.

If you have a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, your health insurance may include a free fitness membership for adults 65+ called SilverSneakers. A SilverSneakers membership includes access to roughly 14,000 recreation centers, churches, senior communities, and other neighborhood locations across the nation.

Full Answer

What is SilverSneakers Medicare Advantage?

SilverSneakers is a benefit available as part of some Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans. Medicare Advantage plans offer the same coverage as original Medicare but often provide additional benefits, such as dental or vision care. Many Medicare Advantage plans also include SilverSneakers among their benefits.

Does Medicare Part C cover SilverSneakers membership?

Find a Part C plan that covers your SilverSneakers membership. SilverSneakers, a popular exercise program for older adults, offers memberships to qualifying seniors who are enrolled in participating Medicare Advantage plans.

How much does the SilverSneakers program cost?

What does the SilverSneakers program cost? With a qualifying health insurance plan, a SilverSneakers membership is free. However, any services not included in a basic membership may require additional fees such as personal training, tanning, or a massage. How do I join SilverSneakers?

What happens after I sign up for SilverSneakers?

After signing up, you’ll be provided with a SilverSneakers membership card with a member ID number. SilverSneakers members have access to any gym that participates in the program. You can use your membership card to enroll at your gym of choice. You’ll then have access to all SilverSneakers benefits free of charge.

Does Medicare Cover Silver Sneakers?

SilverSneakers is a health and fitness program that provides gym access and fitness classes for older adults. It's covered by some Medicare plans. A 2019 study of SilverSneakers participants found that individuals with more gym visits had higher self-reported physical and mental health scores.

What does a Silver Sneakers plan cover?

SilverSneakers is a fitness program designed for the 65+ crowd that provides access to gym memberships, weight training, aerobics, and group exercise classes. Many Medicare Advantage plans cover SilverSneakers.

What are Silver Sneakers benefits?

The SilverSneakers program provides health and fitness benefits for adults 65 and older. It includes live online fitness classes, on-demand videos, and access to thousands of gyms across the country.

Does Medicare pay for senior gym memberships?

You pay 100% for non-covered services, including gym memberships and fitness programs. Gym memberships or fitness programs may be part of the extra coverage offered by Medicare Advantage Plans, other Medicare health plans, or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans.

What exercise programs are covered by Medicare?

Original Medicare doesn't cover the cost of gym memberships or fitness programs. Most Medicare Advantage plans offer participation in national fitness programs like SilverSneakers or offer members an allowance for fitness program reimbursement. Medigap plans sometimes cover fitness benefits.

Does Medicare Part B Cover Silver Sneakers?

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not include the Silver Sneakers fitness program. The only way you can receive a Silver Sneakers membership is if you apply and enroll in either a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement plan that offers a Silver Sneakers membership along with the plan.

Is Silver Sneakers being discontinued?

Some of these include AARP Silver Sneakers (also known as United Healthcare), but they have discontinued this relationship in several states. Many Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance plans include this benefit at no extra cost.

What is Medicare silver?

Silver Sneakers is a private health and fitness membership program designed for seniors. It's available at no cost to those enrolled in a participating Medicare Advantage plan. There are over 16,000 participating Silver Sneaker gym facilities and 70 different types of health and fitness classes available nationwide.

Does Medicare pay for exercise equipment?

The short answer is, Yes, Medicare does pay for Durable Medical Equipment (DME)!

Does AARP offer free gym memberships?

It includes: A free gym membership. Access to our nationwide gym network of gyms and fitness locations—the largest of all Medicare fitness programs. View thousands of on-demand workout videos and live streaming fitness classes.

What treatments are not covered by Medicare?

Some of the items and services Medicare doesn't cover include:Long-Term Care. ... Most dental care.Eye exams related to prescribing glasses.Dentures.Cosmetic surgery.Acupuncture.Hearing aids and exams for fitting them.Routine foot care.

How do you become a Silver Sneakers member?

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.

How does Silversneakers help you?

Getting regular exercise and maintaining a social network have positive effects on physical and emotional health. Participating in a fitness program , such as SilverSneakers, can make it easier for a person to engage in these beneficial lifestyle practices.

How does Silversneakers affect health?

evaluated the effects of SilverSneakers on health. It also tested how the program affected a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living, such as dressing or bathing. The researchers found that program participants had better physical, emotional, and social health than those who did not access the program.

What is a silver sneaker?

SilverSneakers is a fitness program for older adults. It provides access to gyms, community exercise classes, and workout videos. To be eligible, a person must have a Medicare plan that includes SilverSneakers among its benefits. The main goal of SilverSneakers is to promote good health through physical activity.

How much does Medicare Advantage cost?

Medicare Advantage costs. One of the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare Advantage plans is the monthly premium, which ranges from $0 to more than $100 per month, depending on the particular plan. The plans also have deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance — all of which can vary.

How does a syringe help the body?

strengthens the bones and muscles. reduces the likelihood of a person developing obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. decreases the risk of falls and functional limitations. increases a person’s chance of living longer.

Does Medicare have Silversneakers?

Many Medicare Advantage plans also include SilverSneakers among their benefits. People with original Medicare are not eligible for SilverSneakers, as the plan does not have the extra benefits of Medicare Advantage.

Do Silversneakers have unlimited gyms?

Members of SilverSneakers have unlimited access to the nationwide network of gyms and classes, meaning that they may enjoy the program when traveling or use the facilities at more than one location in their hometown.

What is a Silversneakers membership?

What does the SilverSneakers program include? A SilverSneakers membership includes free access to any participating fitness center, meaning you can stop in at any of the thousands of SilverSneakers-participating locations for a workout.

How to contact Silversneakers?

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t include a SilverSneakers membership (or if you’d like to find a plan that does include one), you can contact a licensed agent at. 1-800-557-6059. 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 to find out if any Medicare Advantage plans in your area offer ...

What are the classes offered by Silversneakers?

Some of the fitness classes that are offered as part of the SilverSneakers program include: Classic. Designed to increase muscle strength and improve range of motion for everyday activities. Circuit. Low-impact circuit training that provides an all-around workout. Cardiofit.

What is Silver Sneakers 2021?

February 5, 2021. SilverSneakers is a fitness program designed for adults age 65 and over that is offered with some Medicare Advantage plans. Find out more about this free program. SilverSneakers is a fitness program for older adults that is offered in conjunction with gyms and fitness centers all over the U.S.

What is a Silversneaker?

SilverSneakers, a popular exercise program for older adults, offers memberships to qualifying seniors who are enrolled in participating Medicare Advantage plans. Before you choose your Medicare health plan, consider the SilverSneakers program and whether it’s something you’d like included in your plan’s benefits.

Why take advantage of Silver Sneakers?

Why take advantage of the program? SilverSneakers is designed to help older adults stay physically fit and socially active. Membership provides access to more than 16,000 participating locations nationwide, including gyms, wellness centers and YMCAs.

How old do you have to be to get Silversneakers?

In order to be eligible for the SilverSneakers Fitness program, you must be: 65 or older, or eligible for Medicare because of a disability. Living in the U.S. Enrolled in a private Medicare plan that offers the SilverSneakers benefit.

What is Silver Steps?

In addition, the Silver Steps program provides seniors who live in more rural areas access to personalized workout programs they can do from home and an online component to help keep members connected and motivated to stay healthy.

Does Medicare Advantage include Silversneakers?

Some of the health insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans offer at least one plan that includes SilverSneakers membership. Plan availability and specific plan benefits may vary depending on where you live and the type of plan you have.

Can you add Silversneakers to Medicare?

Your plan either offers SilverSneakers or it doesn’t — you can’t add it on separately. If you’re interested in joining a Medicare Advantage plan in your area that does include SilverSneakers, one of our licensed insurance agents can help you explore your options.

Blue Shield of California to Offer Award-Winning Fitness Program to Medicare Beneficiaries in San Bernardino

Blue Shield of California announced today that it will expand its contract with Healthways, Inc. to offer the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program to Blue Shield Medicare Advantage members in San Bernardino County.

Comment

Healthways SilverSneakers is a membership fitness program for seniors provided as a free benefit by many Medicare Advantage programs throughout the nation. It is not a benefit that is allowed in the traditional Medicare program.

How to check if you are covered by Silversneakers?

Contact your health insurance plan to find out if SilverSneakers is covered, or visit the SilverSneakers website to check your eligibility online. If you’re eligible, then you can fill out the SilverSneakers form online to get and print your membership ID card to bring to participating locations.

How old do you have to be to join Silversneakers?

How do I join SilverSneakers? SilverSneakers comes automatically with qualifying Medicare health insurance plans. Eligible Medicare beneficiaries 65 years of age and older just need to get a SilverSneakers membership card to show at participating fitness locations.

Is Silversneakers membership free?

With a qualifying health insurance plan, a SilverSneakers membership is free. However, any services not included in a basic membership may require additional fees such as personal training, tanning, or a massage.

Does Silversneakers cover health insurance?

SilverSneakers is only available to individuals with qualifying health insurance plans. However, if your insurance plan does not cover SilverSneakers, you can still join a gym! Contact the recreational centers and gyms in your area to learn about special pricing for seniors.

What insurance plan gives you Silversneakers?

If you’re looking for a Medicare insurance plan, you can’t choose SilverSneakers. But there’s 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. 3 UnitedHealthcare offers a range of Medicare Advantage and supplemental plans and scores well on the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Star Ratings (CMS) quality measures. 4 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are available in 66% of U.S. counties, and its Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance plans are available in every state. 5 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.

What is the NPS score of Silversneakers?

SilverSneakers reports a 94% customer satisfaction rate and a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 81. NPS is a standard measure of customer satisfaction used across industries. Typically, a nine or 10 out of 10 represents customers who are so satisfied they will promote the business. 2 SilverSneakers’ NPS score suggests customers are satisfied even if they aren’t likely to be evangelists for the company.

Can you sign up for Silversneakers?

SilverSneakers is a well-established fitness program for members of some of the nation’s largest Medicare insurance plans. You can’t sign up for SilverSneakers unless you’re a member of one of those participating health plans, but it’s free for eligible members.

Does Silversneakers offer Medicare?

SilverSneakers doesn’t offer Medicare insurance plans, but it partners with many Medicare plans who offer SilverSneakers as a free extra benefit for members. SilverSneakers offers on-demand and live online courses, a fitness app, and in-person fitness classes.

Just how important is exercise for seniors?

It’s no secret that as we age, our physical bodies can tend to become weaker, possibly affecting our health and quality of life. For this reason, medical and wellness experts across the globe continue to stress the importance of staying physically active and practicing healthy lifestyle habits, even after retirement.

What is the SilverSneakers program?

SilverSneakers is a fitness and wellness program that is offered at no additional cost to seniors 65 and older who are current beneficiaries of Medicare Advantage plans that include it. The program’s primary goal is to promote physical activity, fitness, and social connection with others through exercise classes and activity-focused events.

Are you interested in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes the SilverSneakers program? We can help!

The SilverSneakers program is just one possible benefit to getting on a more comprehensive Medicare plan. Often, Medicare Advantage plans can also provide you with additional healthcare coverage for needs like vision, hearing, and dental care.

What Benefits Are Provided?

SilverSneakers is a program that helps adults over the age of 65 stay physically active through a network of more than 17,000 gyms, community centers and fitness facilities in the United States.

Which Medicare Advantage Plans Offer This Benefit?

Medicare Advantage is available through private insurance companies. Typically, these health plans cover all of the services provided by Original Medicare and additional benefits such as dental, vision, hearing and wellness.

How to Confirm a Health Plan Offers a SilverSneakers Benefit

Because Medicare Advantage plans vary, those who want a SilverSneakers membership should confirm directly with the insurance company that the benefit is included before enrolling. The SilverSneakers website also provides a search tool to connect seniors to participating health plans.

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