by Aidan Kang, CFA
Senior Writer
Insurance
UPDATED: October 13, 2022

Are you thinking of getting in shape by going to the gym? Around 45 million adults have a gym membership. If you’re considering signing up for one, you most likely want to know if it’ll be covered by insurance plans. 

If you’re still on the market for insurance plans, here are some of the insurers that offer coverage for gym memberships.

Insurance Companies That Pay for Gym Membership Fees

Generally speaking, most insurance plans don’t cover gym membership fees. But there are some insurance plans that will reimburse some of the costs if you meet certain conditions. Here are some of them. 

1. Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a fitness program called Fitness Your Way. Under this program, you’ll get access to 8,000 fitness facilities across the country. It’ll also cover $29 of your monthly gym membership.

2. AmeriHealth

AmeriHealth’s fitness program reimburses members up to $150 on the fees charged by participating fitness centers. It’s a one-time reimbursement upon the completion of 120 workouts during a 365-day program period, which begins on your enrolment day.

Only one workout is allowed to be logged per day. There should also be an eight-hour interval between workouts.

Eligible members must be at least 18 years old and have a managed care health plan covered, such as PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) and HMO (Health Maintenance Organization).

3. Aetna

Aetna offers a fitness discount program that will let you save on gym memberships. This program is automatically included in its health insurance plan.

You can choose between 10,000 gyms in the GlobalFit network and enjoy preferred rates. You may even be reimbursed up to $150 of fees annually.

Aetna also has an online exclusive offer called the Personal Health Improvement Training program (PHIT). It covers memberships in participating gyms and gives access to wellness education tools.

4. Oscar

Oscar Health Insurance plans offer its members reimbursements of up to $400. If their spouses are also covered under their insurance plan, they may also enjoy up to $200 in fitness costs reimbursements.

5. Cigna

Under Cigna Medical Plan, you may get up to $100 of fitness reimbursement per calendar year or up to $300 if your family members are covered under your plan.

You must choose a qualified health club and be a member of that fitness center and Cigna for at least three years to enjoy this benefit.

6. United Healthcare

United Healthcare members can get up to $200 in fitness reimbursement. To be qualified, you must be an active member of an eligible United health insurance plan.

You also need to complete qualifying workouts or attend gym classes 50 times within six months.

United Healthcare also has a Medicare fitness program called Renew Active, which is offered through its Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. Members will be given the chance to join a participating gym and attend health and wellness events. 

Does Medicare Provide Coverage for Gym Membership?

Fitness or gym memberships aren’t covered under the original Medicare, Part A or Part B, which means you’ll have to pay for the costs. However, some Medicare Advantage plans, which are provided by private insurance companies, offer fitness and gym membership benefits under programs, such as SilverSneakers.

SilverSneakers is a health and fitness program for members who are at least 65 years old. Members have unlimited access to more than 16,000 fitness locations, including community centers and gyms.

There’s also the SilverSneakers Flex program, which is held in senior communities, churches, recreation centers, and other community areas. You’ll have unlimited access to classes like Tai chi and yoga, which are led by certified instructors.

Does Medicaid Pay for Gym Membership?

Whether or not Medicaid covers gym membership depends on where you live. Gym membership isn’t covered by Medicaid in all states because it’s not considered a benefit under federal guidelines.

However, some states have started receiving federal assistance in 2010 as part of experiments on behavior rewards. 

They use the federal grant money as incentives for people who opt to improve their health. These allow them to cover gym membership fees under Medicaid.

How Can You Find Insurance Plans that Pays for Your Gym Membership?

As previously mentioned, there are no standards that require all insurance policies to cover gym memberships. But there are ways to help you find one.

Ask gyms in your area if they are in partnership with any health insurance companies. Don’t forget to inquire about the discounts and benefits they offer if you have insurance.

If you already have coverage, you can check your plan benefits. They’re usually listed in the information you received when you enrolled for the coverage.

You can also visit your insurer’s website. But if you want a more direct approach, you can always call your insurance provider.

How Do Insurance Providers Pay for Your Fitness Costs or Gym Membership Fees?

Insurance providers have different ways of covering fitness costs or gym membership fees.

Some insurers such as AmeriHealth, reimburse members for the fees you’ve spent on your gym membership. Of course, you’ll have to offer proof that you’re an active member of that gym or fitness center.

Meanwhile, Aetna and other insurance providers offer discounted rates for fitness and gym membership fees. There are also those that feature senior discounts and programs, such as SilverSneakers, under the Medicare plan.  

Insurance carriers like Blue Cross offer incentive-based programs where you may be eligible for a reimbursement based on your progress in a weight loss program. These insurers may also pay you back if you complete a certain number of eligible workouts within a specific period.

Why Would Insurance Companies Pay For Your Gym Membership?

People these days are starting to become more health-conscious. Insurance companies also know that keeping you healthy by encouraging you to enroll in a fitness program or gym membership costs less than the amount they have to pay in insurance claims if you get hospitalized because of medical problems.

They would rather give you a $400 reimbursement for your fitness and gym expenses than pay for thousands of dollars of hospital-related costs.

How Can You Save on Gym Membership Fees?

Not everyone can afford to pay for gym membership fees, especially without insurance. Fortunately, there are things you can do to cut back these costs.

Anytime Fitness and other gyms offer a free pass for a specific period. For Anytime Fitness, for example, you can get a free 7-day pass, as a free trial of their gym membership while 24 Hour Fitness offers a 3-day pass.

You may also negotiate a cheaper membership fee if you join with a relative or family member. Gyms and fitness centers want more customers. If you can bring more people with you and make them sign up for a membership, you may be able to cut a deal.

Wait it out. Some fitness centers offer discounted membership fees on specific dates, especially when business is slow. You may score amazing deals and discounts if you sign up on days when fitness centers are willing to cut a deal.

Conclusion

Staying fit and healthy is a must. Though you can always exercise in the comforts of your home, there’s still something different about the workout you’ll get if you join a fitness program or have a gym membership.

Even though not all insurance providers cover gym memberships, you will find some that do. Just make sure that the gym where you’re planning to go to is covered by your insurance plan.