Medicare Wellness & Added Support
Medicare Wellness Programs & Extra Benefits
Your Medicare plan may offer more than you realize.
Some Medicare Advantage plans offer benefits beyond Original Medicare, including dental, vision, hearing and other wellness or support programs. What is available depends on the plan, your location and, for some benefits, whether you meet specific eligibility requirements.
Extra benefits can be useful, but they should never outrank your doctors, prescriptions, hospitals, provider network, costs and access to care. Start with healthcare fit. Then compare the extras.
What Types of Medicare Plan Extras May Be Available?
These examples are not included in every plan. Benefit amounts, rules, participating providers and eligibility can vary by plan and county.
Fitness Programs
Some plans may include participating gyms, fitness classes, online programs or home-based fitness resources.
Fitness Devices
Some wellness programs may make activity trackers or other fitness-related tools available. Device and eligibility rules differ.
Wellness Rewards
Some plans may offer rewards for eligible activities such as wellness visits, screenings, vaccinations or activity goals.
Over-the-Counter Allowances
Some plans provide an allowance for eligible over-the-counter health products.
- First-aid supplies
- Pain and cold products
- Dental care items
- Incontinence supplies
- Other plan-approved products
Dental Benefits
Some plans may include preventive dental care and may offer additional coverage subject to plan rules and limits.
Vision Benefits
Benefits may include routine eye exams and an allowance toward glasses or contact lenses.
Hearing Benefits
Some plans may help with routine hearing exams, fittings or hearing aids through participating providers.
Transportation
Some plans may provide a limited number of rides to approved medical appointments or other qualifying locations.
Meal Support
Some plans may provide temporary meal delivery after a qualifying hospital stay or other eligible medical event.
Healthy Food Benefits
Certain plans may offer food or grocery-related benefits to qualifying members. These benefits are not available to everyone.
Virtual Care
Plans may offer telehealth options, nurse advice lines or other virtual support services.
Care Coordination
Some plans provide care management or coordination programs for members with chronic or complex healthcare needs.
What Can Change from One Plan to Another?
The benefit itself
- Whether the benefit is offered
- The amount or number of covered visits
- Monthly, quarterly or annual limits
- Which products or services qualify
- Which providers or retailers participate
Who can use it
- Some benefits are available to all plan members
- Some require a qualifying health condition
- Some depend on Medicaid or other eligibility
- Some require completion of specific activities
- Unused amounts may expire under plan rules
Do Not Choose a Medicare Plan Based Only on the Extras
A fitness membership or over-the-counter allowance may sound attractive, but it will not make up for a plan that does not cover your medications or include the doctors and hospitals you rely on.
Review these first
- Your primary doctor and specialists
- Your preferred hospitals and medical groups
- Your exact prescription drugs
- Premiums, copays and maximum out-of-pocket costs
- Referrals, prior authorization and network rules
- Travel and multi-state healthcare needs
Then compare the extras
Once the healthcare foundation fits, compare the wellness and support benefits that matter to you.
The “best” extra benefit is useless if the underlying healthcare plan does not fit your medical needs.
A Smart Question to Ask During Your Medicare Review
Tell your Medicare advisor which benefits matter to you. Do not assume every available benefit will automatically be included in the comparison.
Ask this during your Medicare review
“After we confirm that my doctors, prescriptions, hospitals and costs fit, what wellness programs and extra benefits are available with the plans in my area?”
Michelle's Tip
Do not choose a Medicare plan because it offers a gym membership, activity reward or over-the-counter allowance.
First make sure the plan fits your doctors, prescriptions, hospitals, budget and healthcare needs. Then ask about the extras you would genuinely use—fitness, OTC items, dental, vision, hearing, transportation, meals or wellness rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Original Medicare pay for a gym membership?
Original Medicare generally does not include routine gym memberships. Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer fitness benefits as an extra plan benefit.
Does Medicare pay for a fitness tracker?
Medicare does not provide a universal fitness-tracker benefit. Some Medicare Advantage wellness programs may make a device available under plan rules.
Can I earn money or rewards for walking?
Some plans may offer rewards for eligible wellness activities or activity goals. The reward, qualifying activity and redemption rules vary.
What is an OTC allowance?
An over-the-counter allowance is a plan benefit that may be used for eligible health-related products. The amount, approved items, ordering method and expiration rules vary.
Does every Medicare Advantage plan include dental, vision and hearing?
No. Many plans offer one or more of these benefits, but coverage details, provider networks, limits and member costs differ.
Does everyone qualify for grocery or healthy food benefits?
No. Food-related benefits may be limited to particular plans or qualifying members. Eligibility and allowed purchases vary.
Can the extras change every year?
Yes. Benefits, amounts, networks and rules can change. Review the plan's current Evidence of Coverage and Annual Notice of Change.
Could Medicare Plan Extras Improve Your Quality of Life?
Your Retirement Readiness Assessment™ will soon ask which wellness and support benefits matter to you. Your Snapshot™ can then remind you what to ask about during a Medicare review.
Benefits vary by plan, county and eligibility. This page is educational and does not promise that any specific benefit, allowance, reward, device or service is available to you. Review official plan materials before enrolling.