Yes, Your Gym’s Membership is Free

Which are the most overlooked Medicare benefits and how to take advantage of them

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

 

If you have a Medicare plan, chances are you don’t use the benefits as fully as you could.

Anthony Hinds-Fritz, certified financial planner and chartered financial consultant, owns Evolution Retirement Solutions, LLC in Syracuse. He shared a few examples of underused Medicare benefits, most of which emphasize preventive measures for maintaining good health rather than reactive benefits to mitigate health problems.

“Most plans have a gym membership and some offer benefits for at-home exercise equipment,” Hinds-Fritz said. “That tends to be underutilized.”

Plans include coverage for gym memberships to encourage more cardiovascular activity and strength training, both of which are foundational for maintaining good health. Exercise can help improve fitness, functional movement, balance, flexibility and offer a social outlet.

The plan may dictate where you go and provide a list of covered facilities, but what you do there is up to you. Take a class, swim laps, lift weights, pedal on an elliptical: it’s up to you.

Hinds-Fritz said that many plans include coverage for emergency response buttons. However, few people take advantage of these. People who feel comfortable summoning help with a cellphone won’t feel the need for the buttons (they’re for “old people.”) By the time someone is cognitively incapable of using a cellphone to call for help, it may be too late to adapt to use a response button either.

Hinds-Fritz said that dental coverage and allowances for eyewear and hearing aids are sometimes overlooked, as people not experiencing any difficulties in their current oral, visual or hearing health may make do. Part of the reason is that some people lack transportation for what they may view as unnecessary visits.

“Some plans even provide a transportation benefit if you need help getting to and from a provider’s office,” Hinds-Fritz noted.

Lack of transportation prevents some older adults from seeking medical care, from routine visits to appointments for treating chronic conditions.

Even those with perfect health can benefit from a baseline exam and following through with regular primary care visits. Many don’t feel the need to visit a doctor if they’re not sick or hurt. But a wellness visit can reveal issues while they are small and likely more readily treatable.

 

Other little-used benefits include:

• Depression screening

• Gift card for completing surveys and health-related tasks like flu vaccination

• Cardiovascular risk reduction

• Tobacco cessation programs

• Mental health and substance abuse services

• Home health care

• Hospice services

• Caregiver support such as respite care and caregiver training

• Chronic disease education

• Meal delivery (typically for a short period after a hospital discharge)

• Housing assistance

“These things do change and sometimes from year to year, you’ll see bigger changes,” Hinds-Fritz said. “It helps to check in with the broker.”

 

Medicare Enrollment Statistics

• 65,636,490 people are enrolled in Medicare.

• 7,716,192 people — roughly 11.8% of Medicare beneficiaries — are younger than 65.

• 34,073,277 beneficiaries are enrolled in original Medicare (Part A and Part B).

• 31,563,213 beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) or other Medicare health plans.

• 22,576,006 beneficiaries have a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP).

• 28,816,577 beneficiaries get their Medicare drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan.

Source: MedicareAdvantage.com