Blue Cross and Blue Shield is one of the most renowned names in the world of health care. For over 80 years, they have been providing coverage to their members and have a passionate customer service team that lives and works in their community. EmblemHealth offers special health programs for eligible members and a library of information on many health topics to help you take care of yourself. Unfortunately, Medicaid does not cover gym membership in every state as it is not considered a benefit under federal guidelines.
Original Medicare, Part A, and Part B also do not cover fitness or gym memberships, so you will have to pay for them out of pocket. To promote healthy lifestyles, health insurance companies are offering cash allowances to cover gym membership costs and other incentives. One such incentive is Silver Sneakers, which is offered by many Medicare Advantage plans. AetnaAetna also offers reimbursements for gym memberships for their group products and Medicare Advantage plans.
To be eligible, members must be at least 18 years old and have a covered managed health plan, such as the PPO (preferred provider organization) or the HMO (health maintenance organization). Blue Cross also has an incentive-based program where you may be eligible for reimbursement based on your progress in a weight-loss program. You must buy a life insurance policy that is part of their Vitality program and they take it from there. These insurers can also refund your money if you complete a certain number of eligible years within a specific period.
All you have to do is verify that your gym participates in the program and sign up through the Horizon portal here. It is always important to lead a healthy lifestyle to help reduce the risk of future illnesses, regardless of whether you choose to take a program with gym benefits or not. This should not replace regular consultation with your health care provider. Aetna also has an exclusive online offering called the Personal Health Improvement Training Program (PHIT).
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