Free Gym Membership with Your Health Insurance
January is a time when most people sign up for gym membership and other fitness programs. But did you know that your health insurance plans may cover your gym membership? That means that you might get your gym membership for free, or at a steep discount.
Insurance companies want you join a gym and be a healthy individual. It is more cost efficient for them to pay for all or part of your gym membership, if it improves your overall health and lowers the number of times that you end up using your health insurance in the future.
How to Get Free Gym Membership from Insurance
The exact rules and benefits vary based on your health insurance plan. But if you pay for a gym membership or plan to join, it’s always a good idea to check the benefits of your health insurance, and see what they offer.
Typically, you can log into your insurer’s website to review what is included in your health insurance plan. You can also call and ask, or check with your HR department at work.
It’s a good idea to do this before signing up for a new gym membership. Often, your health insurance provider will have ties to certain gym franchises.
Many health insurances have a Flexible Spending Account option, which is a tax-free account where you put aside a certain amount of money to help pay for any out-of-pocket health expenses. An FSA helps you pay for prescribed medications, some medical procedures, co-pays, and sometimes even your gym membership. But you have to make sure that the benefit is specifically listed. But if it’s no, you may still qualify for reimbursement if it’s medically necessary.
Heath Insurance with Free Gym Membership
Here are some examples of health insurance plans that offer gym benefits:
- Aetna: Aetna’s insurance plans offer savings on gym memberships.
- AmeriHealth: This plan offers a reimbursement up to $150 if you join an eligible gym and work out at least 120 days a year.
- Cigna: Up to $150 per individual, or $300 per family per calendar year in qualified health club membership fees, fitness class fees, or online fitness class subscriptions.
- Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield: Eligible members have a total of $200 per family to use towards reimbursement for any fitness clubs or exercise centers of their choosing in their eligible coverage year.
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey: $20 reward per month ($240 per year) for members enrolled in the fitness incentive program. Members must work out at least 12 times a month at participating gyms.
- MetroPlusHealth: You can get a reimbursement of $200 to $250 every six months.
- UnitedHealthcare: Get up to $200 in a six-month period if you work out at least 50 times.
Medicare does not cover the cost of gym membership. Many MA and Medigap plans will cover all or most of a gym membership through access to the Silver&Fit, Silver Sneakers, and Renew Active programs.
These are just some examples, and not a full list. Most insurances will offer this benefit. Let us know in the comments if yours does.
Guru’s Wrap-up
Reading through pages of health insurance documents is not fun. But knowing all your benefits is important. Being able to save $300-$400 a year on your gym membership just by filling out a form is a no-brainer.
If you already pay for a gym membership, or plan to sign up, it’s helpful to know that there are ways that your health insurance can help with those expenses.
You should also check the credit card you have in your wallet and see which one earns you the best rate on gym memberships. This quarter for example, you can earn 5% with the Chase Freedom Flex card.
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