How does the Medicare SilverSneakers program work?
Partnering through national fitness centers, local gyms, healthcare providers, and community centers, the SilverSneakers program offers fitness classes at more than 17,000 locations. SilverSneakers is focused on helping seniors stay active and interact with friends.
The Medicare SilverSneakers program is available only through select Medicare Advantage plans or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) strategies. Once you enroll in a qualified Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, you’ll also be eligible for the SilverSneakers program. You will receive a card with a 16-digit number that will give you immediate access to all the classes and equipment offered by the Medicare SilverSneakers program.
To see if your current Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan qualifies you for SilverSneakers, you can use the SilverSneakers Instant Eligibility Check.
What does the membership include?
A SilverSneakers membership gives you access to more than 17,000 gyms. With this program, you can use the gyms and all the services included in the vast national network of SilverSneakers.
SilverSneakers is well known for its group exercise classes, led by qualified instructors, such as SilverSneakers Classic, which includes equipment to wear in style. The SilverSneakers program also offers social events, a fitness app (SilverSneakers GO), online resources for home workouts, and more.
Furthermore, SilverSneakers states that it does not sell shoes. Nor do you get the shoes for free when you become a program member. So, you will have to buy your shoes to wear to the SilverSneakers classes.
planet fitness
Planet Fitness is one of the largest fitness center franchises in the United States. Much of its popularity comes from low-cost memberships. It’s also noted its reputation as a “judgment-free zone,” thus attracting people of all fitness levels.
If you attend Planet Fitness with your SilverSneakers membership, you can enjoy:
- 24-hour club access
- Free fitness training
- 30-minute circuit training
- Free pizza once a month
- A free bagel once a month
What kind of classes can you find?
SilverSneakers offers several types of classes for every level of physical activity. For example:
- Stability classes to improve balance and prevent falls
- Aquatic exercise classes for low-impact aerobic workouts
- Yoga classes to increase flexibility,
- Upper body conditioning classes to increase strength
If you prefer to train from home, you can request the SilverSneakers videos. Plus, you can enjoy the features of their SilverSneakers GO app, including exercise videos.
If you like the community and the classes but don’t like the gym environment, the SilverSneakers program offers more than 70 types of courses through its FLEX network. They are available at churches, community centers, or recreation centers. In addition to being outside of a gym or even outside of a building, FLEX classes are often shorter than those in gyms. Instructors’ contact information is available for students to call with questions or get to know them. You can see what FLEX classes are available in your area with the FLEX locator tool.
Fitness classes available
The SilverSneakers Medicare program offers more than 70 fitness classes for all fitness levels, all taught by a certified instructor. You can choose a category to meet a specific fitness goal, from mobility to muscle development.
Among the types of classes available, you will find:
SilverSneakers Classic
With SilverSneakers Classic, the class adapts to your fitness level, using a support chair if you need it. The exercises can be modified according to your ability. Overall, Silver Sneakers Classic is a great way to help increase range of motion and muscle strength to make daily activities more accessible and improve overall well-being.
SilverSneakers Circuit
The SilverSneakers Circuit class is a choreographed routine to music that incorporates movement with exercises. Rubber tubes and dumbbells are used. The course can be tailored to your fitness level, and chairs are available for support during activities.
SilverSneakers Cardiofit
Here you will find more rigorous training than the SilverSneakers Classic or Circuit. SilverSneakers Cardiofit is an aerobic exercise class to increase heart strength, upper body strength, and overall cardiovascular health. However, all exercises are low impact.
Yoga SilverSneakers
Do you need better flexibility, balance, and range of motion? Yoga SilverSneakers may be the answer. A certified instructor guides the class through friendly yoga positions for almost all fitness levels. In addition to the physical benefits, Yoga SilverSneakers helps relieve stress and promotes relaxation.
SilverSneakers EnerChi
This new class of SilverSneakers EnerChi shares specific characteristics with the old Tai Chi. Don’t worry; no punches are thrown in this class. The instructor guides students through slow, deliberate, low-impact movements to gain strength and balance. You may even leave class feeling more mentally clear.
SilverSneakers Splash
Here you will find a great low impact aerobics class. SilverSneakers Splash is taught in a shallow pool that allows you to stand up. The instructor leads the class through a series of movements that vary depending on fitness level.
SilverSneakers Stability
SilverSneakers Stability is explicitly organized to impact your everyday life and make the activities you do every day easier for you. The class focuses on strengthening the ankles, knees, and hips to aid normal movement. It even has exercises to help improve reaction time. As with most courses in the SilverSneakers program, Stability can be modified based on your fitness level.
boom series
SilverSneakers has the best classes for you if you are looking for more intensity in your workouts in 30 minutes or less. In the Boom series, you will find:
- Boom Move is an aerobic dance class to improve cardiovascular health.
- Boom Muscle, which strengthens the main muscle groups.
- Boom Mind, which mixes pilates and yoga to improve strength and concentration.
Does Medicare include SilverSneakers?
Some Medicare Advantage (MA) or Medicare Supplement plans cover SilverSneakers. Unfortunately, Original Medicare (Part A and Part B ) does not include the SilverSneakers program.
Also, a SilverSneakers membership cannot be purchased outside of a private insurance plan. You can only enroll through a qualified MA or Medicare Supplement plan.
How to get a SilverSneakers membership
If you have Original Medicare and want a SilverSneakers membership, you can find out if a Medicare Supplements plan is available in your area that includes the program. Medicare supplement plans (also known as Medigap) are supplemental health insurance plans that help cover costs like coinsurance, copayments, or deductibles associated with your Medicare coverage.
You can learn more about Medicare Supplement plans, or if you want to know if a SilverSneakers goal is available in your area, use the number below.
You can also get the SilverSneakers plan through Medicare Advantage. The Medicare Advantage plan is another way to receive Medicare benefits by bundling everything Part A and Part B offer. You can usually access additional benefits like vision, dental, hearing, or even SilverSneakers. However, keep in mind that you can only switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage if there is an enrollment period (such as the annual review period, every October 15 through December 7).
Call a qualified agent to learn more about Medicare Advantage or switch to a plan that includes SilverSneakers.
You can speak with an authorized agent through 833-271-5571
What do I do if my plan stops offering SilverSneakers?
There seems to be a recent trend of companies dropping SilverSneakers coverage. Several YMCAs across the country have discontinued their SilverSneakers service and do not allow their members to access popular recreation centers.
Just last fall, Tennessee’s Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) pulled out of its contract with SilverSneakers, according to one of the Nashville Post’s stories.
Fortunately, Medicare beneficiaries are lucky. If your plan drops SilverSneakers, it can replace it with a similar program like Silver&Fit, just like BCBS of Tennessee did. Or, if you prefer the SilverSneakers program, you can switch to a plan that offers it. If you need help, we recommend speaking with an authorized agent.
