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Yoga has become more and more popular over the recent years. This is partially because of the many health benefits it is said to have. These benefits include flexibility, loss of weight, lowering stress, balance, and strength.
If you are thinking of taking up yoga to help improve your health, you may have the question, “does Medicare cover yoga?” In this article, we answer that question in clear, plain English. There is also information about what a typical yoga lesson costs as well as other helpful info.
Does Medicare Cover Yoga?
The short answer is no. In most cases, Medicare will not cover the cost of yoga classes. That said, there may be some situations where you can get these costs covered. Below we’ll take a closer look at this to see when you might be able to get Medicare to pay for your yoga classes.
Original Medicare
Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) does not provide coverage for yoga classes. So that means you will have to pay 100 percent for your yoga classes. Original Medicare does not provide coverage for yoga classes because they mainly cover medically necessary services, equipment, and treatment.
Original Medicare does not provide coverage for gym and fitness memberships such as yoga classes. That is because Original Medicare excludes weight loss supplements and programs from its coverage. The reason for that is because these types of things are viewed as lifestyle choices rather than medically necessary treatment for an illness.
If you are a Medicare beneficiary, and you need exercise therapy as part of rehabilitation after a surgical procedure, Original Medicare may provide coverage for it. However, the rehabilitation has to be ordered by your healthcare provider and must take place in a skilled nursing facility or an outpatient treatment program.
Medicare Part A will provide coverage if the rehabilitation takes place in an inpatient setting such as a skilled nursing facility. Medicare Part B will provide coverage if it takes place in an outpatient setting.
Part C Coverage for Yoga
However, Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) may provide coverage for yoga classes. While Medicare Advantage plans have to cover the same things that Original Medicare covers, the plans offer coverage for things that Original Medicare does not. This may include gym memberships and yoga classes. However, what a plan covers and the costs for the coverage will depend on what plan you have.
Some Medicare Part C plans provide coverage for gym and fitness memberships. Your Medicare Part C plan may offer gym membership plans or membership discounts for your overall health and wellness.
How Much Does A Yoga Class Cost?
The average cost of yoga training is $15 to $25 per hour. However, private yoga classes may range somewhere from $30 to $70 per lesson.
What Are The Benefits Of Yoga?
Unlike the usual type of exercises and workouts where you lift weights and gain muscles and abs, yoga is focused on something else. Yoga is more about the wellness of the mind, body, and spirit.
Some of the benefits of yoga include improvement of balance, strength, and flexibility. It can also help against certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure, inflammation, and back pain.
Note: Medicare coverage changes all the time. And your specific coverage may vary from plan to plan for Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. Always be sure to double check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what your plan covers and what it does not.
Additional Info on Medicare Coverage
This article is part of our series on “What does Medicare cover?”
Also, you can check out other articles in this series including: Does Medicare cover IVIG for CIDP?
