What Health Insurance Will Pay for Your Gym Membership?

What health insurance pays for a gym membership? Is it extra coverage? Let’s find out here.

What Health Insurance Pays for a Gym Membership? 

Not all health insurance policies cover gym membership. It depends on your health insurer and individual plan.

Some providers don’t offer to pay for your gym membership but you can get a reimbursement for fitness costs.

It’s common for health insurance companies to reimburse their members $100 to $400 every year for the fees they spent on a gym membership.

Read: What Health Insurance Should I Get?

Reimbursement

You can only get reimbursement of the gym membership costs by providing documentation. It means that you have to present proof that you’re indeed an active member for a certain period.

You may need to submit documents for 6 months of your workout history. Some health insurance may need for you to log your workouts.

Many providers don’t just offer reimbursement for gym memberships. They also cover group fitness classes or studios. However, it still depends on your plan.

In that case, if your plan offers reimbursement in that way, your plan may pay for your spin or yoga class.

Discounts 

If your health insurer may not offer reimbursement, it may provide member-exclusive discounts. But some plans provide reimbursement programs along with exclusive discounts on popular gyms.

You can even find great deals on Apple Watch or FitBit. Furthermore, you can get discounts on healthy meal delivery services and some bargains on athletic apparel.

But you need to talk to your provider. Find out what offers they have under fitness products.

Does Health Insurance Offer Senior Discounts? 

Some health insurance providers or plans include Silver Sneakers for anyone who is 65 years old or older.

Silver Sneakers is a program that lets you get into many big gym chains in the country. It also allows access to video library workouts and fitness guides.

You should avail of this program if you’re eligible. It’s a massive bargain that can offer benefits to your physical and mental health.

Read: Is Health Insurance Premium Higher for Smokers?

Incentive Programs 

There are health plans that offer reimbursements for a weight loss program when you track your progress. You can also find health insurance plans that will pay you back if you enroll or complete an online weight loss program.

Coverage for Fitness Equipment Expenses

You can also find health plans that can reimburse you when you purchase home exercise equipment, such as ellipticals, dumbbells, weight lifting machines, etc.

If you have a Flexible Spending Account, any medically necessary exercise equipment can be covered. For instance, if your doctor prescribes a treadmill to treat your hypertension or obesity, your health insurance might cover the cost.

Why Do Health Insurance Companies Pay for Gym Membership? 

The reason health insurance companies will pay for your gym membership is that it will cost them less to keep you healthy today than to pay for your medical costs.

Staying fit is necessary to prevent life-threatening diseases. Although there’s no way to prevent anything bad to happen to you, your odds are better if you remain active as you grow older.

You may think that your health insurer is being kind to you by offering to pay for your gym membership or provide reimbursement programs. However, they just want you to avoid going to the hospital.

Still, you’ll wind up benefiting from having your health insurance pay for your gym membership. Paying attention to your health and fitness can pay dividends for many decades to come.

On-Site Gym 

If you’re lucky to work in a company that has an on-site gym, your employer might let you use it for free. Apple, Facebook, and Google are just some of the companies that provide free use of their gyms as part of their work perks.

Conclusion 

What health insurance pays for a gym membership? It depends on your health insurance company and policy. If your health insurance plan won’t pay for your gym membership, see if it can give you member-exclusive discounts.

Make sure to understand your policy. If you find anything confusing, make sure to consult with your health insurance agent. You need to know what’s being covered and what’s not so you can have a plan that can significantly lower your medical and fitness expenses.