![]() ![]() (And again, you can always ask for coverage or reimbursement… the worst they can say is No.)Īnother tip: Exercise equipment can be covered or paid for through a FSA (flexible spending account), HSA, or HRA if it’s deemed medically necessary by a doctor.įor example, you might be able to get a treadmill through your health insurance in order to specifically treat or prevent obesity, hypertension, or another specific disease. It’s less common, though still possible, that your health insurance will reimburse for home exercise equipment like treadmills, ellipticals, weight lifting machines, dumbbells, and more.ĭig through your health benefits vigorously and read the fine print! You know how you can dispute coverage and benefits that your insurance initially denies? You can often do this with your fitness benefits, as well, by petitioning to gain coverage for classes, programs, or gyms that aren’t normally included in the plan.Īs long as your motives are true and you’re actually putting in the work, you might just have some luck getting your fitness expenses covered. ![]() Or they may simply pay you back for enrolling in and completing an in-person or online weight loss program as long as it meets their approved requirements. If you’re eligible, this is obviously a massive bargain, and will do absolute wonders for your physical and mental health if you choose to take advantage.īlue Cross and other insurance carriers sometimes offer incentive-based rewards or reimbursements.įor example, you might be able to earn reimbursement for a weight loss program by tracking your progress. Silver Sneakers gets you into most big gym chains around the country, a video library of workouts and fitness guides, and even hosts their own workout classes for seniors around the USA. Your insurance plan might just include access to a program like Silver Sneakers for anyone age 65 and over. What they offer will depend heavily on where you live, who your carrier is, and your specific plan benefits. If you’re willing to dig and browse the marketplace, you might find a great deal on a FitBit or Apple Watch (I got a nearly-free one from Aetna), discounts on healthy meal delivery services, and bargains on athletic apparel.Ĭheck with your provider, as always. It’s common to get exclusive prices and membership deals on popular gyms like LA Fitness or Anytime Fitness through your insurance. Sometimes in tandem with a reimbursement program (and sometimes instead of) some providers will offer a whole bunch of health and fitness discounts via some kind of online marketplace. That means you might be able to get your spin or yoga class paid for. Blue Cross Blue Shield, for example, covers some group fitness classes or studios in certain areas (depending on your plan, of course). More and more providers are beginning to provide reimbursement or stipends for more than just big box gym memberships. Some carriers have you log your workouts, others just need to see 6-months of history before they’ll consider reimbursing the costs, for example. ![]() Typically, you’ll need to provide documentation of your costs (of course) and often you’ll have to show proof that you were an active member at the gym or workout studio for a certain period of time. It’s common for insurance companies to reimburse you anywhere from $100-$400 per year for fees spent on a gym membership. The ideal scenario for most people is that their insurance would flat-out pay for them to go to the gym. Here are a couple of commonalities and coverage benefits you can expect from your health insurance provider.įor more detailed guides on each carrier, check out my guides to: Most providers, however, will offer you a stipend or reimbursement for fitness costs (usually around $200 per year or so) plus other benefits and discounts. Whether your health insurance will cover or pay for a gym membership depends on your carrier (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Oxford, Cigna, and more) and your individual plan. Your average gym membership cost can put a significant dent in your monthly budget, but there may be some relief in the form of your health insurance provider:ĭoes your health insurance cover a gym membership? That doesn’t change the fact that fitness is expensive! I probably don’t need to convince you that the benefits of working out and staying in shape are so great you can’t put a price on them. ![]()
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