The SilverSneakers program offers an affordable way for senior citizens to stay active during their golden years. In fact, you can get a free gym membership through SilverSneakers if you qualify.
In this article, we’ll take a look at SilverSneakers eligibility, how the program works and how to get your SilverSneakers card, among other topics.
Here’s What You Need to Know About the SilverSneakers Program
Staying active is important at any age, but perhaps no more so than in your senior years. The health benefits of exercise for the senior population are widely acknowledged by both physicians and scientific researchers.
But if the cost of a gym membership is giving your wallet too much of a workout, you need to know about SilverSneakers!
Table of Contents:
- What Is SilverSneakers?
- How Does SilverSneakers Work?
- Who Is Eligible for the SilverSneakers Program?
- How Can I Find a Participating Gym?
- How Do I Get My SilverSneakers Card?
- What Insurance Plans Include SilverSneakers?
1. What Is SilverSneakers?
SilverSneakers is an exercise and wellness program designed for seniors who are 65 and older.
With SilverSneakers, you get access to:
- Fitness equipment at more than 16,000 gyms and community locations across the country
- Group exercise classes for all fitness levels*
- Pools, tennis courts and walking tracks*
- Social networking through community events centered around health and wellness
- Online education, including nutrition and fitness tips
* Not available at all locations
2. How Does SilverSneakers Work?
Access to SilverSneakers is generally provided at no cost to you through your health insurance plan.
To check your eligibility, just visit this page and enter the following info:
- Name
- Birthdate
- Location
- Contact info
Once you’ve determined that you’re eligible, take your SilverSneakers card or 16-digit member identification number to any participating location. More on that in a minute…
Tell them you’re part of the program at the front desk and that you’d like to get your free gym membership. You’ll then be given a tour of the facility.
Best of all, there’s no cost to you to do any of this!
3. Who Is Eligible for the SilverSneakers Program?
The age of 65 is a general indicator that you may be eligible for SilverSneakers. However, there’s actually no age requirement for the program.
Instead, anyone who has a qualifying Medicare Advantage plan is eligible for SilverSneakers. Also eligible are those who have health insurance through Medicare Supplement carriers and many group retiree plans.
4. How Can I Find a Participating Gym?
SilverSneakers partners with more than 16,000 gyms and community centers to offer free gym memberships for seniors.
Participating gyms include:
- 24 Hour Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- Gold’s Gym and
- YouFit Health Clubs, among many others
Click here to find a location near you.
5. How Do I Get My SilverSneakers Card?
Much like Costco, SilverSneakers is making your membership card digital. That means it’s available through their free app (iOS and Android) and lives on your smartphone. So you never have to worry about losing it!
Meanwhile, if you have to replace a lost or stolen physical card, simply call (888) 423-4632. Then press “1” and “1” again when prompted to request that a replacement card be mailed to you.
6. What Insurance Plans Include SilverSneakers?
It’s easy to find out what insurance plans include SilverSneakers. You can do a search by state here.
As a test, we pulled data for the state of Georgia and found the following insurance plans include SilverSneakers:
- AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance
- Aetna
- Aenta Coventry
- Anthem
- Clover
- Bankers Life
- Eon Health
- Humana
- Kaiser Permanente
- United HealthCare
- WellCare
If you don’t see your health plan listed online and want to confirm, give SilverSneakers a call at 866-584-7389 or drop them an email at [email protected].
Final Thought
You’ve heard the saying, “Health is wealth,” right? Well, you can stay healthy and wealthy by keeping more money in your pocket through the SilverSneakers program.
Meanwhile, you don’t have to wait until you’re 65 to start saving in other areas of your life. Here are 15+ Senior Discounts People Age 50 and Older Should Know About.
You may also want to check out our list of 25+ Senior Restaurant Discounts. Some of the restaurant discounts start at age 55!
