Does Planet Fitness Accept Medicare Advantage Plans?

If you are one of the many seniors who receives a fitness benefit with your Medicare Advantage plan, you probably want to know where you can go to the gym and have that accepted.

Planet Fitness is a popular gym due to its nationwide footprint and affordable rates. But will they accept Medicare?

What Medicare plans have fitness benefits?

The only type of plan that may have fitness benefits are Medicare Advantage plans.

This is because they're operated by private insurance companies and do not have the same limitations as other Medicare options. This does not mean, however, that every Medicare Advantage plan is guaranteed to have fitness coverage.  

Fitness plans are considered a plan perk and not a core aspect of coverage. This means Medicare Advantage plans are not required to offer fitness or health memberships and coaching benefits.

It's an additional feature added to some plans by select carriers.

What are Medicare fitness benefits called?

The fitness benefit many Medicare Advantage plans use is called SilverSneakers.

SilverSneakers is a national company with over 15,000 participating locations. It works with local health clubs and fitness centers to provide free or discounted memberships to those enrolled in eligible Medicare Advantage plans with SilverSneakers benefits.

The SilverSneakers program offers in-person workouts and classes and online fitness instruction via their app.

With SilverSneakers, you can access gym equipment and classes to better your health through age-appropriate activities. They may also offer nutrition coaching, yoga and Tai Chi classes in your area.

For more information on covered services, please visit their website.  

Related article: Do Medicare Supplements Offer the SilverSneakers® Program?

Are there other fitness benefit programs besides SilverSneakers?

Besides SilverSneakers, there are other fitness benefit programs out there.

While SilverSneakers is historically the most popular one for those with Medicare Advantage plans, two other popular options are Silver&Fit and Renew Active.

Silver&Fit  

Silver&Fit is a popular option that many Medicare Advantage plans offer.

Like SilverSneakers, it covers both in-person and online fitness courses and gym memberships. It has a large selection of covered locations, with many national fitness centers and recreation centers included.

They also have a premium feature for an additional cost that gives access to specialized locations and classes for those seeking a specific experience.

One of the nice things about Silver&Fit is that it has an extensive online library you can access as part of your membership, and you may be eligible for a free at-home health kit.

You can learn more about Silver&Fit here.

Renew Active

Renew Active is a specialized program offered through AARP United Healthcare Medicare plans.

They put emphasis on body and brain health by offering gym memberships, personalized fitness plans and an app to work on cognitive function. With over 22,000 locations nationwide, they have a wide selection of fitness opportunities to choose from.

You can check out more about Renew Active over on their website.  

Does Planet Fitness accept Medicare fitness benefits?

Since the fitness benefits are not through the Original Medicare program, technically, Planet Fitness doesn't accept Medicare. However, many Planet Fitness locations accept SilverSneakers and Silver&Fit to cover the cost of your gym membership.  

Planet Fitness is a nationwide franchise with over 2,000 locations, so rules may vary based on location.

To see if your local Planet Fitness accepts your Medicare Advantage fitness benefit, you will need to call and confirm with a representative.  

Related Reading: Are Medicare Advantage Plans Really Free? $0 Plans, Explained

Do other gyms and health centers accept SilverSneakers?

If your local Planet Fitness doesn't accept SilverSneakers, or you don’t have one nearby, you still have options.

YMCA/YWCA locations accept SilverSneakers and may also offer senior rates for those not enrolled in SilverSneakers. Community recreation centers and other national gym chains, such as 24-Hour Fitness, may also accept SilverSneakers.  

At these and other locations, you can take group classes, swim, use resistance equipment and more. And if none of those options are available in your area, the SilverSneakers app has access to both pre-recorded and live online classes for all fitness levels.

How do I find a Medicare plan with a fitness benefit?

SilverSneakers is only available with select Medicare Advantage plans.

Medicare Advantage plan availability can change based on where you live and what carriers offer plans in your area.

To see what Medicare Advantage plan options you have, you can contact our team of licensed sales agents. You can also head on over to Medicare.gov and use their Plan Finder feature.  

Conclusion

Planet Fitness is one of the national fitness chains that seniors use. And while Medicare itself does not cover fitness, many Medicare Advantage plans offer free or discounted gym memberships and health benefits.  

If you're interested in reviewing what Medicare Advantage options you have in your area that include fitness benefits, give us a call and talk to one of our licensed insurance agents.

We are happy to help you find a Medicare plan you’ll love!

Medicare Allies is not affiliated with Medicare or any other government agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.