SilverSneakers is designed for adults 65 and older, matching the standard age for Medicare eligibility. However, you don’t qualify based on age alone. You need to be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes SilverSneakers as a benefit.
The Age and Insurance Requirements
The baseline age for SilverSneakers is 65, but age is only half the equation. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover SilverSneakers. To get the benefit at no extra cost, you need a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan that specifically includes SilverSneakers in its coverage. Not all Medicare Advantage plans do, so you’ll need to check your plan’s benefits or contact your insurer directly.
If you’re younger than 65 and qualify for Medicare due to a disability or chronic condition, you may also be eligible. Medicare extends coverage to certain people under 65, and if your Medicare Advantage plan includes SilverSneakers, you’re in regardless of age.
How to Check Your Eligibility
The fastest way to find out is to visit SilverSneakers.com and use their eligibility tool. You’ll enter your insurance information, and the site will confirm whether your plan covers the program. If it does, you can create an account and get a member ID right away. That member ID is what you show at any participating gym to access the facility at no cost.
If your current Medicare Advantage plan doesn’t include SilverSneakers, you can switch to one that does during Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. Coverage changes take effect January 1.
What the Membership Includes
A SilverSneakers membership gives you access to nearly 10,000 fitness locations nationwide. You can walk into any participating gym, show your member ID, and use the facility’s basic amenities at no cost. The specific equipment and amenities available vary by location, but the membership itself costs you nothing beyond your Medicare Advantage plan premium.
Beyond gym access, the program includes instructor-led group fitness classes at participating locations. These are designed specifically for older adults. Some gyms offer additional classes on top of the standard SilverSneakers options. Outside of traditional gyms, SilverSneakers also runs community fitness classes at senior centers, assisted living facilities, and local parks. These include activities like Zumba, tai chi, line dancing, and outdoor walking groups.
If you prefer working out at home, the program offers hundreds of live online classes daily plus an on-demand library you can access anytime. This combination of in-person and virtual options makes the program flexible whether you’re comfortable in a gym or not.
What If Your Plan Doesn’t Cover SilverSneakers?
Some major insurers have moved away from SilverSneakers in recent years. UnitedHealthcare’s AARP Medicare plans, for example, replaced SilverSneakers with a competing program called Renew Active starting in 2023. Other plans may offer a program called Silver&Fit instead. These alternatives work similarly, providing gym access and fitness classes for Medicare Advantage members, but they have different participating locations and class offerings.
If you’re shopping for a Medicare Advantage plan and gym access matters to you, compare which fitness program each plan includes and whether your preferred gym participates. The SilverSneakers location finder on their website lets you search by zip code before you commit to a plan.