The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests adults get 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week, plus 2 days of muscle-strengthening activity.1
Older adults who want to be physically active can benefit from programs designed with their age group in mind. One such program is SilverSneakers. 88% of SilverSneakers members say SilverSneakers has improved their quality of life.2 SilverSneakers is available on many Humana Medicare Advantage Plans. Go365 by Humana® is the wellness and rewards program on many of these plans. Using SilverSneakers is one of the ways Go365 members can earn Go365 rewards for exercising, and is offered at no additional cost to seniors 65+ on eligible Medicare plans.
What is the SilverSneakers program?
SilverSneakers is a health and fitness program that offers indoor, outdoor, online and at-home fitness options. It also holds events that promote social connection. This plan benefit program includes no-cost access to thousands of gyms across the country and exercise classes designed for seniors, from chair-supported yoga to high-intensity interval workouts.
SilverSneakers is specifically aimed at adults 65 or older, focusing on important areas of health and wellness for seniors, like stamina, strength, flexibility and balance. It is designed to help older adults stay physically fit and socially active.
Does Medicare cover SilverSneakers membership?
SilverSneakers is a wellness program, not a medical benefit. It is not a program affiliated with or administered by Medicare; it’s privately owned and run by Tivity Health, Inc. For that reason, original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover membership. You access SilverSneakers membership through one of the private insurance companies approved to help cover Medicare-related services.
Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” offer coverage for items original Medicare doesn’t cover, like fitness programs.
Some Medigap policies will also cover gym memberships and fitness programs, including SilverSneakers. Like Part C plans, private insurance companies offer Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans. Medigap plans help to cover costs not covered by original Medicare.
How to join SilverSneakers
If you’re on an eligible Medicare plan with the SilverSneakers benefit, you are eligible for the SilverSneakers program. Just be sure you’re enrolled in a Part C Medicare Advantage plan that includes SilverSneakers.
If you currently have a Medicare plan and want to know if SilverSneakers is included, visit
Once you have enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes SilverSneakers, you can go to
What are the benefits of SilverSneakers?
SilverSneakers membership includes the following benefits:
- Use of any SilverSneakers-affiliated facility in the U.S., including fitness equipment, pools and walking tracks.
- Access to over 120 guided workouts online at SilverSneakers.com.
- Take fitness classes specifically designed for older adults of all fitness levels, including cardio workouts, strength training and yoga.
- Introduction to online resources, including livestreamed classes and an on-demand library of pre-recorded workouts as well as nutrition and fitness tips.
- Access to the SilverSneakers GO app (iOS and Android) that lets you find participating facilities with classes near you, provides access to the video workout library, tracks your walking routes and workouts and saves your activities to your activity log.
SilverSneakers instructors are trained in senior fitness and help members learn to do the exercises safely, adapting to individual needs. The program includes more than 70 types of classes, exclusive to SilverSneakers members, including yoga, tai chi, Zumba©, circuit training and water aerobics. Workshop topics include fall prevention, healthy eating habits and how to read food labels. Classes and workshops occur multiple times throughout the day, and FLEX classes are offered at recreation centers, local parks and other neighborhood locations.
There are social benefits as well. SilverSneakers members enjoy a friendly, supportive community both in person and online. This social support offers real health benefits. SilverSneakers members who participate in group exercises are more active, feel healthier, and are less likely to experience social isolation than non-members, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab study.3
One study that followed SilverSneakers participants for 2 years found that, by year 2, they had lower total healthcare costs, as well as smaller increases in healthcare costs, when compared to non-participants.4
Which gyms partner with SilverSneakers?
SilverSneakers participation includes basic membership, at no cost, to thousands of gyms, community centers and other participating fitness locations across the nation.
You can use your SilverSneakers membership card to enroll at your gym of choice. While facilities, amenities and classes vary by location, generally this means that members can use cardio equipment, such as treadmills and ellipticals, strength equipment such as weights and machines, and amenities like pools and walking tracks. Membership does not cover personal services or training, but you can pay for them separately.
To find a participating gym near you, go to
SilverSneakers and Humana Medicare Advantage
To recap, SilverSneakers is a health and fitness program designed for people with Medicare. Many Humana Medicare Advantage plans include the SilverSneakers benefit.
If you’re already a member of Humana Medicare Advantage and your plan includes Go365, then you can use SilverSneakers to earn rewards for exercises.
Humana Medicare members with Go365 on their plan can enroll in Go365 at
If you need to enroll in Medicare Advantage or change your plan outside of the usual Medicare Annual Election Period, a Special Election Period (SEP) could be the answer. For information on eligibility, visit Humana’s
Go365 is a well-being and rewards program for many Humana Medicare Advantage members. To learn more about Humana Medicare Advantage, call to speak with a licensed Humana sales agent at 1-844-321-5843 (TTY:711), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. local time or visit
Sources:
1“Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2nd edition,” U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, last accessed May 24, 2022,
2Mandy Walker, “11 Burning Questions About SilverSneakers—Answered!” silversneakers.com, last accessed May 25, 2022,
3Walker, “11 Burning Questions About SilverSneakers—Answered!”
4Jill Seladi-Schulman, “Medicare and SilverSneakers,” Healthline, last accessed May 25, 2022,
This information is provided for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns.
Consult your doctor before beginning any new diet or exercise regimen.
Go365 is not an insurance product and is not available with all Humana health plans. This is a general description of services which are subject to change. Product features may vary by client. Please refer to Customer Support for more information.
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Humana is also a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.
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