Original Medicare does not provide any benefits for fitness. Many, but not all, Medicare Advantage Plans and a few Medigap plans include some fitness benefits such as free or reduced-price classes, gym memberships, supplements, etc. If this kind of benefit is important to you, examine the plan brochure carefully.
The more interesting question is, should they be important to you? There is a lot of research that demonstrates that even mild to moderate aerobic and strength training exercise is enormously beneficial to seniors and the disabled. Even a little exercise will help and the more the better.
Exercise improves and maintains functioning, fights depression, reduces pain, increases mobility – the benefits are unlimited! So, in general, having an Advantage or Medigap plan that offers fitness benefits is a good thing.
But is it a good thing for you? If you are a self-starter and self-organizer who can Google a fitness routine and start and keep to it without encouragement, you probably don’t need a fitness benefit.
Buying a pair of two-pound dumbbells or a membership at a local gym, you can benefit greatly from any type of fitness regime.
Many Advantage and Medigap Plans offer the “Silver Sneakers” program of in-person and online exercise classes as a fitness benefit. The classes are worth taking, particularly if you enjoy group activities. Introverts may prefer the online version.
If your plan offers fitness activities, there is usually no cost or obligation to try them, so give them a whirl!
