What is the SilverSneakers program?

SilverSneakers is a fitness and wellness program designed for older adults that is included at no additional cost with many Medicare Advantage and select Medicare Supplement plans.

What It Includes

• Gym Access: Entry to thousands of participating fitness locations, gyms, and community centers nationwide, with the ability to use multiple locations.
• Classes: Specially designed group exercise classes for all fitness levels, focusing on strength, balance, mobility, and flexibility.
• Online Workouts: Live online classes through SilverSneakers LIVE and access to a 24/7 video library of on-demand workouts.
• Mobile App: The SilverSneakers GO app to find locations, track workouts, and get a digital membership card.

Eligibility and Cost

• Cost: The program is free if it is included in your qualifying Medicare plan.
• Qualification: It is generally available to adults aged 65 and older enrolled in a participating Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medigap plan. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover it.
• How to Check: You can verify if your insurance plan includes this benefit by using the SilverSneakers Eligibility Tool.

SilverSneakers is free only if you have a participating Medicare Advantage (Part C) or select Medicare supplement (Medigap) plan that includes it as a bonus benefit. It is not a free feature of Original Medicare (Parts A and B).

How Coverage Works

• Original Medicare: Does not pay for or include SilverSneakers.
• Medicare Advantage: Many private insurance companies include SilverSneakers at no extra cost in their Medicare Advantage Plans.
• Medigap Plans: Some supplemental policies also offer the program, depending on the carrier and state.

What is Included

• Gym Access: Standard membership at thousands of participating gyms, YMCAs, and community centers nationwide.
• Classes: Access to specialized group classes and community events.
• Online Workouts: Live online classes and an on-demand video library through the SilverSneakers Website.

Gyms and insurers are dropping or scaling back SilverSneakers because low per-visit reimbursement rates and rising healthcare costs make the current financial model unsustainable.

Financial Pressures on Gyms

• Low Reimbursement: Many fitness facilities receive only about $3 per visit for each senior check-in, which often fails to cover operational costs.
• High Usage: Seniors tend to use facilities and classes more consistently than standard members, placing steady wear on equipment, locker rooms, and staff.
• Facility Withdrawals: Major chains and local centers—such as select YMCA and Life Time locations—have pulled out when vendor price hikes or flat payments no longer match the cost of service.

Pressures on Medicare Advantage Insurers

• Rising Medical Costs: Insurers face tightening profit margins as medical expenses grow faster than federal government reimbursements.
• Discretionary Cuts: Because fitness benefits are discretionary line items, health plans trim or replace SilverSneakers with lower-cost alternative programs (like Renew Active or Silver&Fit) to control immediate budgets.
• Vendor Price Hikes: Program operators like Tivity Health have raised network operating costs after absorbing inflation and rising administrative expenses, prompting major insurers to drop specific gym chains from their networks.

Gyms get paid for SilverSneakers primarily through a per-visit reimbursement model, where the program administrator (Tivity Health) or the health insurance plan pays a small fee each time a member checks in.

Payment Structures

• Per-Visit Rate: Gyms typically receive $2 to $5 per check-in when a member scans their card or logs their visit.
• Monthly Caps: Reimbursements under the per-visit system often include a monthly cap per active member (historically around $30 per month).
• Alternative Contracts: Some larger chains, hospital-affiliated wellness centers, or YMCAs may negotiate flat monthly access stipends, lump-sum annual payments, or value-based incentives depending on volume and location.

How the Process Works

1. Member Check-In: When a senior visits the facility, they present their SilverSneakers ID number or scan their barcode via the gym's digital check-in system.
2. Data Tracking: The gym's management software logs the visit and transmits the attendance data to Tivity Health or the network administrator.
3. Payout Disbursement: The program aggregates these check-ins monthly and reimburses the gym based on the agreed-upon contract rate per visit. Funds come directly from the insurance network or administrator, never out of the member's pocket.

SilverSneakers costs $0 for eligible individuals. It is provided at no additional cost as a built-in benefit through participating health insurance plans.

Because it is an insurance-backed benefit, you cannot purchase a SilverSneakers membership directly if it is not included in your health plan.

Key Cost Details

• Medicare Eligibility: Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover SilverSneakers. To get it for free, you must be enrolled in a participating Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan or a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan that includes the benefit.
• Indirect Costs: While the basic gym membership and SilverSneakers classes are entirely free, you are still responsible for your standard health insurance out-of-pocket costs, such as your monthly plan premium and annual deductible.
• Excluded Services: The program covers basic gym access and group classes. If you want extra amenities at the gym—such as personal training, massages, tanning, or specialty classes—you will have to pay the gym's standard out-of-pocket fees.

What if your plan doesn't cover it?

If your current Medicare plan does not offer SilverSneakers, you cannot buy into the program independently. However, many local gyms and YMCA locations offer separate senior discounts or independent senior memberships (typically ranging from $30 to $60 per month) or low-cost daily drop-in rates for older adults.

You can check your eligibility or look up participating plans directly on the SilverSneakers Eligibility Tool.