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The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Whether you can count on Medicare to cover these costs depends on what type of coverage you have, but you do have options.
Staying fit is beneficial at any age. Regular physical activity helps all older adults, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reinforcing the long-known belief that exercise positively affects our physical health and our emotional well-being.
While the way to do that is through a mix of aerobic activity, strength training and maintaining flexibility, these workouts often require specific equipment that’s available only at gyms or fitness centers. And those memberships are pricey.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover gym memberships, but it does cover some fitness-related benefits in special situations. For example, Medicare covers:
- Medically necessary physical therapy to treat an injury or illness.
- Group sessions for prevention of diabetes and programs to help you manage your condition, change your diet, exercise more and control your weight.
- Nutrition therapy as a free preventive benefit for people with diabetes or kidney disease.
- Weight-loss counseling for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, which includes obesity screening, a dietary assessment and behavioral therapy designed to help you lose weight by focusing on diet and exercise.
Does Medicare Advantage pay for gym memberships?
If you opt for a Medicare Advantage plan through a private insurer instead of original Medicare, coverage for gym memberships and fitness centers is available.
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