Cant Get To The Gym No Problem
Silver Steps is a program for seniors and other members who live 15 miles or further from a gym. It is a personalized workout program that includes a kit with how-to DVDs, resistance belts, and an exercise video. So you wont be left out if you live in a rural area. Silver Sneakers also offers an online component to help with nutrition, streaming exercises, and a forum to talk to other members.
What Health Insurance Pays For Silver Sneakers
As a Blue Cross Blue Shield member, your health plan may already include SilverSneakers program membership as an added benefit. That means free gym access to multiple SilverSneakers fitness locations and exercise classes led by certified instructors who know how to help seniors stay fit. All at no extra cost to you.
How Can I Find A Medicare Plan With Silver Sneakers
If you are eligible for Medicare, you may select to enroll in an advantage or supplement plan which includes Silver Sneakers benefits, if it is available in your geographic area. The program is currently included in many Medicare advantage, Medicare supplement and group retiree plans nationwide. You may use the SilverSneakers Health Plan Locator to find out which plans currently offer Silver Sneakers benefits. Perhaps you will even find out that you have the SilverSneakers benefit already included in your current Medicare health plan? If not, you may be able switch to a plan in your area that offers this fun way of staying healthy for seniors.
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When You Can Enroll In Medicare Supplement Plans
You can enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan at any time during the year as long as you meet the requirements for Original Medicare .
Note: Dont wait too long to enroll in Original Medicare because once youre out of your IEP you may require underwriting, because insurance carriers arent required to honor your Guaranteed Issue Rights.
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Find Out If Youre Eligible For Silversneakers
What are the SilverSneakers eligibility requirements?
In order to be eligible for the SilverSneakers Fitness program, you must be:
- Living in the U.S.
- Enrolled in a private Medicare plan that offers the SilverSneakers benefit
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.
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Does Original Medicare Cover A Medicare Gym Membership
Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B. Part A covers some of your hospital expenses. Part B is for medical costs, like doctor visits and some equipment. Original Medicare does not cover all costs, however. It does not include coverage for prescription medications. It also does not offer a Medicare gym membership as one of its benefits.
Is There A Silversneakers Near You
SilverSneakers gives individuals access to over 15,000 fitness locations nationwide, as well as live fitness classes designed for various levels and a library of online video workouts. To find a gym or class near you, you can use the online location tool or download the SilverSneakers GO app for iOS or Android.
Additionally, you can visit any SilverSneakers member location in the network.
Even if you arent a SilverSneakers member, classes are also available on its for everyone. You can do them live or watch them later at your convenience. Classes focus on things like core strength, cardio and endurance, and better balance.
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Which Gyms Are Included
There are over 14,000 gyms that accept the SilverSneakers program. Silversneakers.com, such as Snap Fitness, 24-hour fitness, AnytimeFitness, Planet Fitness, and the YMCA.
The official website for Silver Sneakers can help you find a gym near you. Though many gyms participate in the Silver Sneakers program, you can find some parts of the country where it is less active. Make sure to compare your options before you sign up.
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Contact Us For Quotes Coverage & Enrollment
Hyers and Associates is an independent insurance agency specializing in Supplements, Advantage plans and Part D coverage. We help our clients compare and contrast all of their options. Well tell you which plans offer Silver Sneakers and discuss whether or not this value-added benefit puts one plan on top of another. Contact us today!
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What Is Silver Sneakers All About And Is It Covered In Full By Medicare
SilverSneakers is not a benefit provided under Original Medicare. SilverSneakers is a company that some Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement insurance companies use to provide a supplemental fitness benefit to their members.
SilverSneakers is a health and fitness program designed for adults 65+. If your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan offers SilverSneakers benefits, they can include the following:
- Go to thousands of gyms, community centers, and other participating fitness locations across the nation.
- Take fun exercise classes designed for seniors of all fitness levels and led by trained instructors.
- Access an on-demand video library of classes and workouts.
- Find a friendly, supportive community in person and online.
Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement insurance companies may also offer supplemental fitness benefits through other companies than SilverSneakers.
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. The Medicare website provides an online tool to help seniors compare different Medicare Advantage plans and their benefits and costs.
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What Insurance Plans Cover Silversneakers
There are over 60 Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans that offer a SilverSneakers membership at no additional cost to you. These insurance providers differ from state to state however, a few include:
- Aetna
- SCAN Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente
To learn which insurance plans cover SilverSneakers membership in your state, visit the Participating Health Plans page on the SilverSneakers website.
What If My Plan Doesnt Include Silversneakers
Its in everyones best interests for insurance plans to offer fitness benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, exercise protects against heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and can even help prevent some forms of cancer. It also improves mental health and contributes to a better quality of life. For these reasons, its not surprising that a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showed almost one-half of all U.S. workplaces include fitness benefits in their health plans.
SilverSneakers is a subsidiary of Tivity Health, the company behind Nutrisystem, Prime Fitness, and Wisely Well brands. Although its the largest company offering Medicare fitness programs, it competes against programs such as Active & Fit Direct and Silver & Fit.
Insurers that want to offer fitness benefits choose the program that makes the most sense for their members. Some insurance companies develop their own fitness networks. For instance, UnitedHealthcare recently scaled back its participation in SilverSneakers in favor of Renew Active, a new fitness program created exclusively for UHC Medicare Advantage members.
If your Medicare plan doesnt offer SilverSneakers, it may offer one of the other fitness programs. You may even get fitness benefits with your life insurance policy: For example, John Hancocks Vitality Program rewards policyholders who participate in an active lifestyle.
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What Does Membership Include And Exclude
Membership offers classes designed for seniors, from chair-supported yoga to high-intensity interval workouts.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests adults get 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week, plus two days of muscle-strengthening activity.4 You can meet that with a few SilverSneakers classes.
You can work out at any SilverSneakers-affiliated facility in the U.S.
You can also access over 120 online guided workouts at SilverSneakers.com. These videos include:
- Cardio.
- Fall prevention.
- SilverSneakers EnerChi.
You can install a mobile fitness app called SilverSneakers Go that lets you find locations, schedule activities, and track your progress. The app also offers access to a video library of guided workouts. For walking programs, you can give the app permission to track your route and save your activity to your activity log.
You get a basic membership at any participating location in the SilverSneakers network. But you are not limited to using one site. Facilities, amenities, and classes vary by location. In general, membership provides access to:
- Fewer hospital admissions.
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 providers coverage area to find out whether or not youll get access to SilverSneakers.
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Which Medicare Plans Have Silver Sneakers In 2022
SilverSneakers is a fitness program that is specifically targeted to seniors in order to help them stay fit and healthy.
In participating fitness and wellness centers, gyms and YMCAs and currently also online, you will find specially trained instructors to teach SilverSneakers classes. Of course, the availability of SilverSneakers classes varies by insurance plan and your location, and is subject to change, but if one is available to you, you may be able to join group exercise classes, the classic program with a variety of exercises, fitness and workout programs for cardiovascular and muscular strength, aerobics, yoga, as well as relaxation and stretching classes for stress reduction. All programs are designed to be easy-to-follow, low-impact on movement, safe, heart-healthy and gentle on the joints. Many classes offer chair support in order to increase flexibility, balance and range of movement.
Which Medicare Supplement Plans Include Sneakers
Currently in Georgia there are only three marketers that include a Sneakers membership when you buy their Medigap coverage. That would be Anthem/Blue Cross, Humana and United Healthcare through AARP.
Bob Vineyard and Georgia Medicare Plans has two of the three available for our clients.
We are more of a purist when it comes to insurance. Generally, the carriers and marketers that use gimmicks such as add-on services or family discounts usually incorporate those things to make amends for the lack of value in their plans.
An age 67 female living in Macon Georgia would pay the following if they picked the popular plan F sold by the Sneakers marketers
- Anthem/Blue Cross $154
- United Healthcare $182
In contrast, the BEST current rate for plan F is $130.
Why pay an extra $300 per year for your Medigap coverage JUST to get a free Silver Sneakers membership?
Even more, we almost NEVER recommend plan F for our clients. Most will find plan G to be a much better value and can save an extra $300+ per year or more vs. plan F.
If you are looking for a solid Medigap plan that saves you money and delivers value, shop and compare our rates now. Buy your own gym membership with the savings.
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Getting The Most Out Of Your Medicare Insurance
Too often Medicare insurance policies are purchased and stashed away. Whether you purchase a Supplement or Advantage plan, its important to know about extra benefits. Medicare Advantage plans are allowed to offer ancillary benefits like dental, vision and hearing. Conversely, Supplements, by rule, cannot usually offer as many added benefits.
When Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Or Medicare Supplement Plan
The Annual Enrollment Period is from October 15 December 7, which is the time of year many Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in new plans or make changes to existing ones.
Some members qualify for a Special Enrollment Period . Depending on your eligibility, you may have a lifelong SEP, which allows you to make one change per quarter for the first three quarters of the year instead of only during AEP. Some people may only be eligible for a temporary SEP due to a life change, like moving to a new service area.
If you have just become eligible for Medicare for the first time, you can enroll in Medicare Advantage during your Initial Enrollment Period .
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How Do I Choose A Plan That Includes Silversneakers
Keep in mind you should always choose your health plan based on the medical benefits it offers, not simply because the plan includes SilverSneakers. While a free gym membership is a valuable benefit, medical costs can add up quickly and can become a much larger burden if you dont have the right insurance plan for your medical needs.
When comparing Medicare plans, consider the following four factors:
Coverage
Consider prescription coverage, vision, dental, hearing aids or other amenities you may need.
Costs
Consider monthly premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance and annual out-of-pocket limits.
Networks
Determine whether your current or preferred providers are included in the local network of the plan you choose.
Quality
Medicare Star Ratings can help you identify plans that offer the highest quality care and which plans members report greatest satisfaction with their plan.
Once youve identified a few health plans that meet your medical and budgetary requirements based on the above criteria, you can determine which of those plans offer the added benefit of the SilverSneakers program.
Staying physically active is important for maintaining your health as you age, and SilverSneakers is a great way to get moving. After all, its fun, free and convenient. Thats a win for everyone.
Courtney Schmidt is a medical communications professional and clinical pharmacist with pediatric and adult hospital experience.
Does Medicare Supplement Plan G Cover Gym Memberships
Staying in shape is important at any age, but its especially important when you start to age. One easy way to accomplish this is to go to the gym. But this can get expensive, especially if you dont use it a lot. Does Original Medicare or Medigap coverage include gym memberships? Well reveal the answer below.
Does Original Medicare Cover Gym Memberships?
Unfortunately, gym memberships are not on the list of covered expenses under Original Medicare. It wont cover fitness program fees or gym memberships. This means you pay 100% of the costs associated with it if you plan to get a gym or fitness program membership. However, you may be able to get help with some of the costs if you have a specific Medicare Supplement policy.
How Medicare May Cover Gym Memberships
Plan G may cover certain gym memberships, but Plan G plans have been scaling back on covering gym memberships due to lack of use.
However, people who have enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans can have access to gym membership coverage under a specific program. To date, United Healthcare, Humana, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, Gateway, Coventry, and WellCare all participate in a senior-specific gym membership program called Silver Sneakers in most states. United Healthcare is scaling back their coverage in certain states due to non-use, but its still available in some places.
The SilverSneakers Program
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Where To Find A Silversneakers Program
The SilverSneakers website suggests there are programs near most Americans. You can check at the SilverSneakers website or on the programs app for locations near you.
The SilverSneakers smartphone app allows you to access fitness programs, track and schedule workouts, and find participating SilverSneaker locations near you or where you plan to travel.
If your plan covers SilverSneakers, you can download a digital membership card on the app. It works on both iOS and Android phones and tablets and gives you access to your membership card at any time.
Find Silver Sneakers Gym Locations Near Me
Posted: Jul 22, 2021 · Silver Sneakers AARP Plans Silver Sneakers Humana United Healthcare Silver Sneakers Wellcare And many more. Contact your Medicare Advantage Plan provider to see if you meet Silver Sneakers Eligibility requirements. Stay Fit with gyms that accept Silver Sneakers. Remaining active is one of the best things Seniors can do to stay healthy. It
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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.
You can visit the SilverSneakers official website to find a participating location near you.
SilverSneakers locations offer fitness classes targeted towards aging adults, including:
- Yoga
- Senior sports teams or recreational leagues
- Outdoor exercise activities
- And more
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.
Can I Get A Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan With Silver Sneakers
A Medicare Supplement insurance plan is also known as Medigap. Private insurance companies approved by Medicare offer these plans. A Medicare Supplement insurance plan is designed to work alongside your Original Medicare benefits. It covers costs not paid by Part A and B, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
A Medicare Supplement insurance plan may also offer a few additional benefits. Some plans cover pints of blood or medical care you need outside the country. You cannot get a Medicare Supplement insurance plan with Silver Sneakers at this time.
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