One of the perks of my Medicare Advantage Plan

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
Just enrolled in a new plan and I’m excited to discover that membership to several gyms that are close by, plus my local YMCA, are all free!

What fun to be able to vary my exercise and walking with gym visits here and there! I drive by Planet Fitness every work day, and with a slight adjustment to my route, I can do the same with the Y, so plenty of choices.

I’m considering hiring a personal trainer for a one-time walk though of the best gym workout for my age and fitness level because a gym workout offers many more choices than my small home gym machine.

Who else goes to the gym? What’s been your experience?
 

I stayed with medicare I did not enroll in an advantage plan
 

jujube said:
Well, I have a membership to Planet Fitness but, much to my dismay, I realized you have to actually  go there, not just think or talk about going......LOL.
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Lol yes .I go to YOUFIT as like machines .

I drink coffee and it gives me a couple of hours where I do what I rather not do be it cleaning , laundry , gym .

While gardening I LOVE .

I only go to the gym 2 or 3x a week and cybex machines but '' doped '' up on coffee or I rather watch grass grow .

I'm going in half hour but yes rather do something else .

I guess we could do what a lot of younger people do which is go to the gym sit on a machine and text .

However I have never sent out a single text in my life nor know how .
 
We have the Silver Sneakers benefit with our Medicare Advantage plan through Devoted Health, and it includes several local fitness centers also.
However, what i like to do is swim, and most of the fitness centers here do not have a swimming pool, hot tub, and steam room. My husband works out with the machines, but he likes to relax after his workout by sitting in the steam room for a little while.
Our local hospital has the Wellness Centers, which has all of those amenities and is covered by our Silver Sneakers membership; so this is where we go for our exercise and workouts.
We try to go 2-3 times a week, depending on the weather and our schedules. For us, it is one of the best benefits of our advantage plan, since we both enjoy the fitness center so much.
 
NotCompSavy said:
I guess we could do what a lot of younger people do which is go to the gym sit on a machine and text .

However I have never sent out a single text in my life nor know how .
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Not just the younger folk. I text continuously through the day..to family, friends, clients, and to online chat with customer service for whatever my needs may be for banking, shopping etc.

I’ve been a gym member before. I do again what I did then to make the time pass on an elliptical or treadmill…watch a favorite TV series. An hour episode is the perfect amount of time/steps to do!
 
Happyflowerlady said:
We have the Silver Sneakers benefit with our Medicare Advantage plan through Devoted Health, and it includes several local fitness centers also.
However, what i like to do is swim, and most of the fitness centers here do not have a swimming pool, hot tub, and steam room. My husband works out with the machines, but he likes to relax after his workout by sitting in the steam room for a little while.
Our local hospital has the Wellness Centers, which has all of those amenities and is covered by our Silver Sneakers membership; so this is where we go for our exercise and workouts.
We try to go 2-3 times a week, depending on the weather and our schedules. For us, it is one of the best benefits of our advantage plan, since we both enjoy the fitness center so much.
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@Happyflowerlady just a suggestion in case you haven’t thought of it. Have you checked out your local Y? You should have a membership to it through Silver Sneakers, and many have pools etc.
 
We did check it out, but for some reason, it is not included in the Silver Sneakers membership, or it was not. We can check it out again and see if that has changed. Thank you for the suggestion.

edit to add: I just looked. They allow Silver and Fit, but not Silver Sneakers.
 
Ronni said:
Not just the younger folk. I text continuously through the day..to family, friends, clients, and to online chat with customer service for whatever my needs may be for banking, shopping etc.

I’ve been a gym member before. I do again what I did then to make the time pass on an elliptical or treadmill…watch a favorite TV series. An hour episode is the perfect amount of time/steps to do!
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Oh I know you humans enjoy texting but I meant some go to the gym and take up a machine and text for 30 minutes .
 
Happyflowerlady said:
We did check it out, but for some reason, it is not included in the Silver Sneakers membership, or it was not. We can check it out again and see if that has changed. Thank you for the suggestion.

edit to add: I just looked. They allow Silver and Fit, but not Silver Sneakers.
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I went and looked too because I was curious. Apparently a lot (maybe all?) of YMCAs nation wide have cancelled their affiliation with Silver Sneakers, but they’ve replaced it with other Senior programs, like Silver and Fit, Renew Active etc.

You might want to do some research within your Plan because my understanding is that whatever Silver Sneakers supported, the replacement plan is supposed to as well. My free gym membership and free YMCA membership are both through Silver and Fit.

Or maybe you’ve already researched thoroughly and I’m just being redundant. 🥴 🤣
 
jujube said:
Well, I have a membership to Planet Fitness but, much to my dismay, I realized you have to actually  go there, not just think or talk about going......LOL.
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@jujibe I so get this! 🤣

I have a client who routinely asks me to research and download a variety of fitness apps, you tube videos etc focusing on whatever her flavor of the moment/current obsession is. She has dozens of both apps and videos stored on her phone.

She does similar with food…cooking apps and recipes and the latest popular diet. Then she regales me with details about this or that exercise or recipe or diet.

I finally told her “Della, you know you have to actually DO the exercise or FOLLOW the diet to lose weight or get healthy or whatever your goal is. Don’t you??” 😒
 
jujube said:
Well, I have a membership to Planet Fitness but, much to my dismay, I realized you have to actually  go there, not just think or talk about going......LOL.
Click to expand...
I've had several gym memberships over the years but quickly tire of the hassle of coming, going, waiting for machines, being off in my timing in classes, etc. Ultimately realized gyms and fitness centers aren't for me.

I walk the neighborhood regularly and do some other exercises at home, but exercising or taking classes in gyms isn't my thing. I'm a free-form kinda gal. At 72, I'm still very fit and spry, but I stay that way using my own path.
 
StarSong said:
I've had several gym memberships over the years but quickly tire of the hassle of coming, going, waiting for machines, being off in my timing in classes, etc. Ultimately realized gyms and fitness centers aren't for me.

I walk the neighborhood regularly and do some other exercises at home, but exercising or taking classes in gyms isn't my thing. I'm a free-form kinda gal. At 72, I'm still very fit and spry, but I stay that way using my own path.
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@StarSong I really get this! I was the same way for a long time! As strange as it might sound, this was one of things about me that was heavily affected by Devin’s death. I’ve lost that impulsivity and free form mindset that I used to have. 💔

I don’t know if I’d be so eager if I had to make a special trip every day to ge to the gym. As it stands right now I drive literally past the front door of the place a minimum of 4 days a week, i tend to wear workout clothes to work because they’re easy to move in, and I can mostly tweak my schedule so I can manage an extra hour away from home.

The only thing that would make it easier was to have someone do the exercises FOR me! 🤣 Any volunteers? 😉
 
Checked out my local YMCA yesterday, wanted to see how it compares to the Planet Fitness Gym I’d visited earlier in the week.

Planet Fitness: My plan allows me a premium (Black Card) membership so I get access to amazing hydro massage beds and deep tissue massage chairs, tanning beds, and red light therapy.

YMCA: I have access to a well appointed pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room. They also have a spin class room.

Both have an abundance of fitness rooms and exercise machines of various kinds addressing both Cardio and strength training workouts which are my main focus.

Interestingly Planet Fitness offers neither personal trainers nor fitness/exercise classes while the Y has an abundance of both. Some Planet fitness centers do, just not the one in my neighborhood.

In addition, the Y also houses this area’s chapter of Fifty Forward … “The goal of FiftyForward is to assist adults 50+ in Middle Tennessee to live longer, more fulfilling lives through innovative programs and services. Committed and compassionate staff, volunteers, and partners form a powerful leadership team positively impacting older adults, their families, and the community”

I am thrilled to have all these options! Between the two places there is nothing lacking!
 
looking forward to going to the grand opening of our new YMCA just a few minutes from my house.it has a sauna ,steam room and warm water therophy pool. it also has walking track and state of the art working out bikes tread mills and other gym equipment.my membership is free with my advantage plan.was going to planet fitness across town.but don't like driving so I did not use it much.
 
I've gone to Planet Fitness, which I can walk to, but not consistently. I had a membership but cancelled just before COVID. My son hardly ever uses his membership, which allows him to bring a guest. We've gone together a couple of times, once to one in the next town over. Several months ago I realized I can use his membership to go even when he doesn't. I'm planning to go back when spring comes. I hate all the wrapping up and unwrapping of heavy clothes in winter.

I use the treadmill and I found another machine that is like a sit down treadmill or elliptical. The ellipticals tire me out too quickly but I do like using them. I also like using the rowing machine and sometimes use the ab machine. At one time I was up to an hour of exercise. When I go back, I'll have to build back up to that, probably starting with 1/2 hour. I think of the gym as a playground for adults. :) I need to start doing some weight training too. 🏋️‍♀️

It's great that you get to work out for free! Let us know how you like it.
 

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