Blog by: Michael Sheeran, CFP

Getting your gym membership paid for by your health insurance company is becoming easier every year. In New Jersey, several insurance carriers offer reimbursement for membership fees, and some even provide incentives for tracking your workouts via a fitness tracker like an Apple Watch or Fitbit.

Which Health Insurance Companies Pay for Gym Memberships?

• Horizon BCBS – Bfit program: Reimburses up to $20 per month for your gym memberships.
• AmeriHealth – $150 in fitness fees reimbursement.
• Aetna – $200 for you and $100 for your eligible spouse every 6 months.
• Oscar – $400 for policyholders and $200 for their eligible spouses.
• Cigna – Various discounts, with up to 40% in total fitness fees reimbursement.
• Aetna Medicare – Silver Sneakers free membership.

For most programs, you need to complete at least 12 workouts a month. With membership fees climbing every year, this is a great way to save money while encouraging you to stick with your fitness routine.

Horizon BCBS Bfit

Horizon offers gym reimbursement through their Bfit program. Verify that your gym participates in the program and enroll through the Horizon portal here.

AmeriHealth

AmeriHealth’s program, called Healthy Lifestyles, offers $150 annually in gym reimbursements and up to $150 each for weight management and smoking cessation programs. Learn more here.

Aetna

Aetna offers gym membership reimbursements for their group products and Medicare Advantage Plans. The program tracks activity in six-month periods, and married couples can receive up to $600 annually! If you’re enrolled in an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan, you’re automatically enrolled in the Silver Sneakers program, which offers free gym memberships at participating facilities. This is one of the best programs available from any insurance company.

• Aetna Group Gym Reimbursement
• Aetna Silver Sneakers Program

Oscar

Oscar is relatively new to the New Jersey market but offers a generous gym reimbursement benefit: up to $400 per year for members and $200 for eligible spouses. Find out more here.

Cigna

Cigna offers up to 40% in fitness fee reimbursements through their Healthy Rewards Program. However, details on whether this is an unlimited benefit are unclear. Learn more here.

Other Notable Programs

The trend of insurance companies being involved in your overall health is encouraging. In addition to gym reimbursements, watch for other discount programs offered by life insurance companies. For example, John Hancock offers a Fitbit or Apple Watch for $25 when you sign up for their Vitality program. The catch? You need to complete activities each month to earn enough points to pay off the watch.

I took up the challenge last year, and they were true to their word. I got my Apple Watch and am using points to pay it off. The life insurance policy costs me less than $15 per month, and in return, I got both the insurance and the watch—not bad!

Learn more about the John Hancock Vitality Program.

Related Questions

Does Medicare pay for a gym membership?
No, unfortunately not. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans offer gym reimbursements.

How do you qualify for Silver Sneakers?
Silver Sneakers is offered through certain insurance companies that cover Medicare beneficiaries. If you have one of those plans, you get it at no additional cost.

For more information or to get a quote, please contact Glenn Insurance at 888-OK-Glenn or click here.