What is SilverSneakers?

SilverSneakers® is a fitness program that provides access to gyms and fitness classes for people age 65 and older. It is offered for free through Medicare Advantage plans. SilverSneakers partners with local gyms and fitness centers to provide free memberships to members. Members also have access to thousands of online exercise classes designed specifically for seniors.

Benefits of SilverSneakers for seniors

As you age, your body goes through physical changes. Regular physical activity can help keep your heart, muscles, joints, and bones healthy. Most SilverSneakers members rate their health from good to excellent and say their quality of life has improved since starting the program. SilverSneakers offers many different types of exercise classes, including ones that focus on these areas for improving senior health and wellness. 

Stamina:

SilverSneakers encourages you to participate in regular aerobic and cardiovascular activities. These types of exercises get your heart rate up and increase your breathing. Over time, this improves stamina by making your heart stronger and boosting lung capacity. This means you will be able to enjoy your favorite activities without getting tired as quickly. It can also help you maintain strong bones and a healthy weight, improve insulin levels, and decrease stress.

Strength:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that seniors supplement aerobic activity with strength training at least twice a week. This can help keep bones and muscles strong, boost mobility, improve balance to prevent falls, and help you perform everyday tasks more easily. SilverSneakers offers many strength training classes for all skill and ability levels.

Flexibility:

Increasing flexibility improves your range of motion to help you move more freely and reduce pain and stiffness from tight muscles. SilverSneakers has many stretching videos for seniors that can be done while standing, on the floor, or in a chair. They also give tips to make stretching easier and instructions to make sure stretches are done safely.  

Balance:

As we age, our risk of falling and getting injured increases. This is because our body’s system that maintains balance weakens as we get older. Also, many seniors have health issues or take medications that can cause muscle weakness, unstable joints, and dizziness. SilverSneakers has many classes, including yoga and balancing exercises, that help improve balance and build muscle. Better balance means that you are less likely to fall and can move around with more confidence.

With the SilverSneakers health and wellness program, UPMC for Life members get FREE unlimited gym memberships to local participating fitness facilities.

Stay active with these membership benefits (where available):
• Unlimited FREE access to participating fitness facilities¹
• One FREE personal training session per year at a participating fitness facility
• Support from trained instructors
• Exercise classes, some designed specifically for older adults²
• Access to dance studios, yoga studios, and swimming pools¹
• Amenities such as saunas, steam rooms, and whirlpools¹
• SilverSneakers LIVE™ virtual classes throughout the week
• SilverSneakers On-Demand™ workout videos plus health and nutrition tips
• Workout programs at home or on the go with the “SilverSneakers GO™” app

Learn more about these benefits on the SilverSneakers website.

Tuition Rewards from SilverSneakers

The SilverSneakers Tuition Rewards® program can help with a family member or loved one’s college tuition! Here’s how it works:

• UPMC for Life members can earn up to 250 Tuition Rewards points each month by visiting a participating location seven times or more.
• One point equals one dollar toward a tuition discount at more than 400 private colleges and universities, over 50 of which are in PA. 
• Members receive 1,000 points just for signing up!

Learn more about earning Tuition Rewards points while you work out.

Live online learning with GetSetUp

SilverSneakers^® has teamed up with GetSetUp³ to bring you new ways to learn and grow beyond your fitness benefit. As a member of UPMC for Life, you can join GetSetUp at no extra cost.

GetSetUp makes it easy to learn by doing.
With hundreds of peer-led classes to choose from, you’ll find the perfect ones to make your learning journey fun and rewarding. For example, you can learn how a smartphone can simplify your life.

Always talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

The Tuition Rewards Program is offered solely by Tivity Health Inc., through the SilverSneakers fitness program, and is not a benefit provided or administered by UPMC Health Plan.

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Does Medicare cover SilverSneakers?

Medicare SilverSneakers eligibility

1Participating locations (“PL”) are not owned or operated by Tivity Health Inc. or its affiliates. Use of PL facilities and amenities are limited to terms and conditions of PL basic membership. Facilities and amenities vary by PL.

2Membership includes SilverSneakers instructor-led group fitness classes. Some locations offer members additional classes. Classes vary by location

3GetSetUp is a third-party provider and is not owned or operated by Tivity Health Inc. (“Tivity”) or its affiliates. Users must have internet service to access GetSetUp service. Internet service charges are responsibility of user.

SilverSneakers is a registered trademark of Tivity Health Inc. SilverSneakers GO, SilverSneakers LIVE, and SilverSneakers On-Demand are trademarks of Tivity Health Inc. © 2024 Tivity Health Inc. All rights reserved.