Did you know 94% of Medicare Advantage plans offer free or low-cost access to gym memberships, fitness classes, and even online workouts? Benefits like Silver Sneakers, Renew Active, or OneFit makes staying active a no-brainer. Regular exercise supports heart health, strength, balance, and fall prevention—keys to staying independent longer. Getting started is simple: review your Medicare Advantage plan, confirm eligibility, and visit a participating gym. With no extra cost and big health rewards, it’s one of the easiest ways to invest in your well-being.
My husband and I joined a gym in July of 2025 and signed up for personal training (which is an additional cost). I wanted to do something ‘big’ for my 70th birthday which is in September 2026. My big thing was a Grand Canyon hike from the rim to the river and back to the rim in one day. Pretty lofty goal being 17+ miles and 4800 elevation loss/gain. My husband and I talked about it and came up with a compromise to hike the rim trail which is a moderate trail of 13 miles. We’ll go below the rim on the 2nd day, but only 3 miles round trip. We’ve been training hard and will go for a trial run in mid-May to see how it goes and to see if we need to change up our training. If it’s a breeze, we may increase the below the rim hike in September to 6 miles round trip.
In our last 9 months of being consistent at the gym we see many of the same people. We go in the morning, so we joke it’s the Medicare crowd, which is pretty accurate. I’ve been able to see how people have improved just by showing up. For some it’s a social time, others it’s head down focus. I always like to speak to those people who are putting in the work. To help with the descent of our hike I’ve been walking backwards on the treadmill at a 15% incline. When I first started it was hard and I had to hold on and my legs were on fire after a minute. I now walk for 8 mins and no need to hold on. I had a woman ask about what I was doing and said she was afraid she’d kill herself if she tried. I offered to help her if she wanted to give it a go. There are a lot of benefits to walking backwards on the treadmill. For me strength and balance have greatly improved.
Not everyone is fast or strong, but they show up. They’re consistent and committed to being better to stay independent. There is a couple maybe in their mid to late 80’s who have been showing up to ride the stationary bike. He uses a cane and shuffles along but he’s moving. His wife is right there with him. To me that’s motivating.
Using your Medicare Advantage gym benefit is easy, can add social interaction, and is rewarding – you have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Focus on real-life benefits like better balance, more energy, and staying independent longer. Start small, like one class or a short visit, and invite a friend for accountability. Many enjoy the social aspect as much as the exercise, which helps turn a healthy choice into a lasting habit. Go train!
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