Fitness

Medicare and gym memberships: Here's what's covered and what's not

Published

2 hours ago

September 6, 2024

Medicare and gym memberships: Here's what's covered and what's not

A recent report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that many older Americans aren’t getting the recommended amount of physical activity.

According to the CDC, if you’re 65 or older, your weekly physical activity should include 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, two or more muscle-strengthening sessions, and balance-improving activities.

Physical activity is important at any age, and especially as we get older. Exercise helps the body heal more quickly and prevent injuries, and also supports mental health and brain function.

One way to make exercising easier is to join a gym, which typically offers most or all of the CDC’s recommended activities.

To become a member of a gym in the U.S., the average monthly cost is $58. That figure can vary widely, from $15 per month to some that cost several hundred dollars or more per month depending on the location and type of equipment, classes, and amenities.

In the U.S., 20% of gym members are 65 and older.

Does Medicare pay for your gym membership?

Medicare coverage of gym memberships would seem like a no-brainer, given the importance of physical activity for older adults, right? Nope.

“Original Medicare does not cover gym memberships,” says Jean Brasher, vice president and Medicare specialist at Brasher Brokerage in Delray Beach, Fla.

Why is that, when exercise offers so many benefits?

“Medicare cannot cover fitness, because it’s not related to medical problems,” says Diane Omdahl, author of Medicare for You and cofounder of the Medicare advisory firm 65 Incorporated.

Medicare coverage includes medically necessary services and a small range of preventive services to prevent sickness (such as vaccinations) or detect illness early when treatment is most likely to be helpful.

However, if you’re willing to sign up for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan, also known as Medigap, you may get gym membership and fitness coverage.

Medigap plans generally cost $200–$300 per month, depending on the plan and your location, says Brasher. That’s in addition to your monthly traditional Medicare plan, which is $174.70 per month for most people, with a $240 annual deductible. The main function of Medigap plans is to cover out-of-pocket expenses not covered by original Medicare (such as the 20% co-pay and deductibles), she says, and fitness coverage is an added benefit.

As of this writing, Brasher says one insurance carrier, United Healthcare, does offer Medicare Supplement plans that do include extensive coverage of gym memberships and fitness classes—varied by location but possibly including pilates classes, water aerobics, stretching sessions, and more.

Fitness options with this insurance carrier are available throughout the U.S., so if you travel or spend part of the year in another area, or want to check what’s available locally at zero cost, you can input your zip code.

Be aware that you may be limited in the number of monthly classes or the hours you can use certain facilities.

Medicare Advantage coverage of gym memberships

This is one area where Medicare Advantage private insurance plans—which can be lower in price than traditional Medicare, but often have limited doctor and hospital networks and require prior authorizations—clearly offer more benefits than traditional Medicare, at least in recent years.

“In 2019, CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] opened the door for Medicare Advantage plans to offer supplemental health-related benefits,” including benefits related to fitness, says Omdahl.

Today, according to data from Kaiser Family Foundation, 95% of Medicare Advantage plans offer fitness benefits.

The benefits vary widely, but often cover fitness classes and gym memberships, says Brasher, with many of these Medicare Advantage plans offering zero-cost monthly premiums.

Other fitness expenses covered by Medicare Advantage

Some Medicare Advantage plans have supplemental benefits that cover fitness expenses beyond gym memberships and classes.

For example, Brasher says, one insurance carrier offers a PPO plan which includes an $800 supplemental benefit. “You can buy an Apple Watch, skis, camping equipment—there’s a long list of what qualifies as a recreational benefit,” she explains.

Medicaid coverage of gym memberships

Fitness coverage is not a mandatory type of coverage under Medicaid, but states may offer it.

Free fitness options

Communities often provide free fitness resources to older residents.

Senior centers may offer free health and fitness classes—information on which may be provided by your local Area Agency on Aging.

A word of caution

While fitness is important, Omdahl recommends looking at the big picture when choosing a Medicare plan.

“We always advise not to pick a Medicare plan for one of these supplemental benefits,” says Omdahl. “Plans can change, and your needs can change. You have to look at how the plan will work when you need medical care.”

More on Medicare:

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Fitness

REI’s fall fitness sale takes up to 70% off Patagonia, Hoka and other workout essentials

Published

10 hours ago

September 6, 2024

Press Room

As the seasons change, REI is taking autumn as a chance to clear out a ton of fitness gear. Throughout the sale, you’ll find deals on workout essentials, trail running shoes and other clothing that’s ready to hit the gym, trail, or studio — all at up to 70% off.

Fitness

YouTube restricts teenager access to fitness videos

Published

17 hours ago

September 5, 2024

Press Room

YouTube restricts teenager access to fitness videos

YouTube is to limit recommendations of certain health and fitness videos to teenagers, including those which “idealise” certain body types.

It says 13 to 17-year-old users will still be able to search for and view fitness-related content – but will not be encouraged into repeated viewing of similar videos.

YouTube says it is acting because of concerns that repeated exposure to such material can lead young people to develop “negative beliefs” about themselves.

Experts have welcome the measure but say it needs to be accompanied by a “broader discussion” about fitness and health for young people.

YouTube’s algorithm will usually recommend similar content for users to watch once they have finished a particular video, as well as displaying related videos on a sidebar.

The platform says this will no longer be offered for teens when they view certain types of content, including:

videos that compare physical features and idealises some types over others
videos idealising specific fitness levels or body weights
videos displaying social aggression in the form of non-contact fights and intimidation

YouTube said the measures were being taken after its Youth and Familes Advisory Committee found that “teens are more likely than adults to form negative beliefs about themselves when seeing repeated messages about ideal standards in content they consume online.”

However, the restrictions on what videos are offered will only be possible if the user is logged in to a YouTube account – and if they have registered an accurate date of birth.

The platform has no means of verifying the age users claim to be.

Dr Petya Eckler, a senior lecturer at University of Strathclyde who studies the relationship between body image and social media, said she welcomed the announcement given “the link between use of social media by young people and perceptions of their bodies.”

But she told the BBC more needed to be done.

“This should go hand in hand with a broader discussion of fitness and health within families and the idea that exercise is a great way to enhance our overall health and wellbeing and should not be done only for appearance reasons.”

YouTube has also announced new ways for parents to keep track of their children’s activities on the platform.

Parents will be able link their accounts with teenagers in their household in order to see their uploads, subscriptions and comments, and receive emails when they upload videos or start livestreams.

In May, Ofcom told tech firms to reformulate their algorithms to steer children away from what it called “toxic” material.

Fitness

7 Ways to Exercise More Day-to-Day Without It Feeling Miserable

Published

24 hours ago

September 5, 2024

Press Room

7 Ways to Exercise More Day-to-Day Without It Feeling Miserable

I’m far from the first person to say it, but exercise is essential for our overall health. Exercise helps boost your mood, relieve stress, increase energy, improve sleep quality and lower your risk for developing chronic illnesses and diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

You might be wondering, if exercise is so important to our overall health, why can it be so miserable?

Trust me, I get it. I live an active lifestyle, making an effort to work out daily, and yet I still have that mental debate every morning where I spend several minutes attempting to talk myself out of exercising. Although I never regret working out after the fact, it can be hard to jump the mental hoop. Over the years, I’ve found some easy tricks to get myself more active each day. No, going to the gym and doing a hard-core weight workout isn’t required. There are actually sneaky ways to get more exercise day-to-day that won’t leave you exhausted and miserable. Here’s my secret sauce.

1. Set a routine

OK, so this isn’t really a secret. Creating a regular habit of working out would be ideal — duh! But it’s creating that habit that’s the tricky part. Here’s where I can help.

One of the most efficient ways to build a habit is through the Cue-Routine-Reward system. MIT researchers discovered the power of the neurological loop at the core of every habit. This “habit loop,” later coined by Charles Duhigg in his 2012 book The Power of Habit, consists of three parts: a cue, a routine and a reward.

This system can be applied to building any habit, from drinking more water to waking up earlier. It can certainly apply to creating a workout habit.

For example, say you want to wake up and go to the gym each morning before work. The cue, what triggers the habit, would be the morning and your alarm going off. (Choose a time that works best for you and be consistent. Using multiple cues like time of day and sound can increase your likelihood of performing your routine.)

Your routine, the habit or action you want to create and reinforce, would be getting up and changing into your workout clothes. This can help prevent you from going back to sleep and ensure you hit the gym since you’re already ready. And once you finish the routine (the exercise), you’ll be rewarded. This could appear in the form of endorphins as a bodily reward that can motivate us to do the routine again, or it could even be a tangible reward, like buying yourself new socks after a week of hitting your exercise goals or investing in a new yoga mat after a month of doing yoga each day.

Each person will have a different response to these three elements. It’s important to experiment with what cues and rewards work best for you to develop a consistent routine of training.

2. Start small

A lot of people assume they need to run themselves ragged in the gym to get more fit, but that’s really not true. All you need is about 20 or so minutes a day. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week — that breaks down to a little more than 20 minutes each day. They also recommend strength training to work the major muscle groups at least two times a week.

Thirty minutes of activity each day is an ideal place to start to fulfill your weekly needs, but if that sounds daunting, you can start with even smaller increments. Simply walking on the treadmill or cycling on a stationary bike for five minutes can get you into the habit of exercising a little each day. What you’ll likely find is that those five minutes actually aren’t too brutal, and are maybe even enjoyable. So, the next time you jump on the treadmill, bike or other equipment, you’ll decide to stay for 10 minutes then 15 minutes then 20 minutes, building yourself up bit by bit until you’re getting your heart rate up for 30-plus minutes each day.

You can also start with low-impact activity. A brisk walk in the evening is a more than sufficient workout. You can also refer to this guide for the best workouts for beginners.

3. Habit stack

Habit stacking, popularized by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits, is a way to create small yet healthy habits. This term might be new to you, but it’s really straightforward: you “stack” the new behavior (exercising) onto a habit you already have to help you remember to do it. This will cause the combo to become a habit.

For instance, if you listen to a podcast every day, try going for a walk while you listen. Waiting for your morning coffee to brew? Try stretching while you wait. Habit stacking can be used in a multitude of ways to make new fitness habits blend into your daily routine.

young woman jogging outdoors on bridge. — Exercise while catching up on your favorite podcast.
Ivanko_Brnjakovic/Getty Images

4. Get active at work

Your workday doesn’t have to be totally sedentary. Rather than using your full lunch hour to eat, take some time to go to the gym, speed walk around the office or run errands. You can also break up the drudgery of the day by taking a walk during one-on-one meetings instead of sitting at a desk or conference room — anything to get up and get moving.

Try to get up every so often to stretch your legs: rather than emailing or Zooming coworkers, get up and talk to them in person if you can; use the stairs rather than the elevator; get up and refill your water every so often.

5. Do exercises you actually like

This is a big one. If you hate exercising, it might be because you aren’t doing workouts you enjoy. Very few people actually enjoy running around in circles for miles. So don’t.

Branch out and try different kinds of workouts until you find one you genuinely enjoy. Biking, surfing, paddle boarding, yoga, hiking, skiing, rock climbing, kayaking and ice skating are all fun activities that get your heart rate up. This will require you to go out of your comfort zone and to be patient as you try things out, but it’ll be worth it when working out no longer feels like a chore.

One trick I used when first getting into working out was using the ClassPass free month trial to try new gyms and classes. The free first-month subscription allows you to visit a particular gym or studio only once throughout the month (you can visit as many times as you want throughout the month after the free trial). This plan is meant to encourage new users to try exercises that might be totally foreign to them, like reformer pilates or hot yoga. During my first month, I tried a boxing class and I was immediately hooked (pun only slightly intended). Now, boxing is one of my favorite ways to incorporate cardio without feeling miserable. I initially felt insecure about trying something so out of my comfort zone, but I felt comfortable within a week and now feel grateful that I found a new activity that I love.

Shot of a young woman paddle boarding on a lake — Exercise doesn’t have to feel like a chore.
gradyreese/Getty Images

6. Get active while watching TV

Let’s be honest, running on the treadmill is boring. Riding on a stationary bike is boring. Watching TV is way more fun. That’s why you should combine the two.

There’s no shame in catching up on your favorite show while hitting the gym. Trust me, I’ve been rewatching Game of Thrones on my phone while riding on the stationary bike each day. Not only does the entertainment keep my mind off the burn in my legs, but it pushes me to stay longer. Before downloading Netflix and HBO Max on my phone, I’d stay at the gym for 20 to 30 minutes. Now, I usually stay on the bike or treadmill for 50 to 60 minutes — until the episode is over.

7. Make it social

Exercise doesn’t need to be solitary. Having a workout partner can help keep you motivated and hold you accountable in your routine. If you don’t have one buddy to join you, sign up for a workout class. The structure of working out in a group can push you to work harder while also introducing you to new people.

Young women and man exercising at fitness center — Workout classes can hold you accountable — and introduce you to new people.
twinsterphoto/Getty Images

I recommend exploring the fitness course schedule at your local YMCA or gym, signing up for a boxing, dance or yoga class or purchasing a ClassPass membership, which can grant you access to thousands of health clubs in your city.

For more ways to improve your everyday health, here are 12 household items that double as gym equipment and daily habits to boost your mental health.