SilverSneakers Fitness

What is Silver Sneakers?

SilverSneakers is a program provided my some Medicare health plans at no extra cost. It gives you access to exercise programs and equipment, group classes and social events.

Even though you may live in a 55+ Active Adult Community with your own facilities, it will be beneficial to  you as some programs may be different than provided at your community. For example, I use my SilverSneakers to walk on an indoor track in the local senior center during the Winter or when it’s raining.

The part I like is that you can enroll in as many SilverSneakers Fitness programs as you like, at any time. So you can go to different gyms or take SilverSneakers classes at different locations.  Many senior centers also offer SilverSneakers classes.  You get your member ID card with your name and number on it.  Just take this card to a location near you and ask for a tour. Then you can use the facilities, equipment, pool, or join a group class like yoga or ti chi.

SilverSneakers is a great program so you should always ask your medicare insurance company if they provide SilverSneakers when you sign up.  Some plans and companies do include it and some do not.  The first medicare advantage plan I was on did not include SilverSneakers but when I changed insurance companies, that one did include it, so SilverSneakers is included in my Medicare Advantage plan.

SilverSneakers Locations

There are over 13,000 Silver Sneakers locations country wide and there are some near you.

Once you have your SilverSneakers card, just go to one of the nearby locations (which will be provided to you) wearing comfortable shoes and loose fitting clothes and ask for the tour.  Be sure to bring the card with you.  You will be provided a tour and instructions. Be sure to take full advantage of this great program.

SilverSneakers has a great web site with plenty of information and even a blog.  For more information, here is the SilverSneakers web site. The SilverSneakers phone number is 1-888-423-4632, 8am to 8pm EST, Monday – Friday.

There are plenty of SilverSneakers videos of classes on YouTube that will give you a very good idea of the classes.  If you are new to exercise, and many in your class will be, just go because they will give you a gentle start. We are all seniors in the classes, so we go at the pace that’s right for us.

I hope you find this information helpful and will check it out. You will be glad you did.

Robert Fowler