Renew Active: UnitedHealthcare’s Fitness Program Explained (2026)
Reviewed October 9, 2026. Renew Active is UnitedHealthcare’s fitness program for body and mind. It comes at no extra cost with many UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, and AARP members with a qualifying AARP Medicare Supplement plan from UnitedHealthcare can use it too. It includes a gym membership in a large national network, on-demand and live-streamed workouts, AARP Staying Sharp brain-health tools and local classes.
Quick answer: Renew Active costs $0 on plans that include it, but it isn’t in every plan, and some plans include only “core” gyms rather than core and premium gyms. To start, sign in to your UnitedHealthcare member site or app, open the Fitness page to get your personal confirmation code, then use the gym finder to choose a location. Original Medicare does not cover gym memberships.
What is Renew Active?
UnitedHealthcare describes Renew Active as “a fitness program for body and mind” that is available with many of its Medicare Advantage plans at no cost. It’s an extra benefit, the kind of thing Medicare Advantage plans can add on top of Original Medicare coverage. It’s voluntary, and what you get depends on your plan and where you live.
| Feature | What UnitedHealthcare says |
|---|---|
| Cost | $0 on plans that include it |
| Who can use it | Members of many UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans; insured AARP members with a qualifying AARP Medicare Supplement plan from UnitedHealthcare |
| Gyms | A large national network; some plans include core and premium gyms, others core gyms only |
| Online | Thousands of on-demand workout videos and live-streamed classes |
| Brain health | AARP Staying Sharp: a cognitive assessment, lifestyle check-ins and exclusive videos and challenges |
| Social | Local classes and activities such as walking, pickleball and yoga |
| How to start | Get your confirmation code on the Fitness page of the member site or UnitedHealthcare app |
Sources: UnitedHealthcare: Renew Active and UnitedHealthcare: Medicare Advantage fitness benefits.
Renew Active locations: core and premium gyms
Renew Active gives you a standard membership at participating gyms. UnitedHealthcare’s 2026 plan documents describe a “free gym membership at core and premium locations” and add that “not all plans offer access to premium locations.” Two 2026 plan pages show the difference:
- AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC ID-0007 (HMO-POS), 2026: “$0 copay for Renew Active, which includes a free membership at core and premium gyms.”
- AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback from UHC TX-34 (PPO), 2026: “$0 copay for Renew Active, which includes a free membership at core gyms.”
So before you pick a gym, check which tier your plan includes. The gym finder on the member site shows the locations available to you; it requires you to sign in. Classes, personal training and other services a gym charges extra for may not be part of the standard membership, so ask at the front desk.
What’s included besides the gym
On-demand and live-streamed workouts
If you’d rather exercise at home, Renew Active includes thousands of on-demand workout videos and live-streamed fitness classes, so you can work out without going to a gym.
AARP Staying Sharp
Renew Active members get access to AARP Staying Sharp, an online brain-health program. It includes a cognitive assessment, lifestyle check-ins and exclusive videos and challenges. UnitedHealthcare notes that results are not an indicator of cognitive health; they aren’t a medical test.
Local classes and social activities
The program also points members to local classes and activities, such as walking groups, pickleball and yoga. These can be a good way to stay active and meet people in your area.
How to sign up for Renew Active
- Sign in to your UnitedHealthcare member site or open the UnitedHealthcare app.
- Go to Health & Wellness, then Fitness. Your personal Renew Active confirmation code is shown there.
- Find a gym. Use the Renew Active gym finder on the member site to see participating core (and, if your plan includes them, premium) locations near you.
- Visit the gym and give them your confirmation code to activate your membership.
- Set up Staying Sharp with the same confirmation code if you want the brain-health tools.
If you have trouble, call the member services number on the back of your UnitedHealthcare member ID card. UnitedHealthcare doesn’t publish a separate Renew Active phone number on its program pages.
Renew Active with an AARP Medicare Supplement plan
Renew Active isn’t only for Medicare Advantage. UnitedHealthcare lists it as a “wellness extra” for insured members with a qualifying AARP Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, with a gym membership at no additional cost. A few rules apply to Medigap members:
- You must be an AARP member to enroll in an AARP Medicare Supplement plan.
- Wellness extras are not insurance and can be discontinued at any time.
- Availability depends on where you live.
UnitedHealthcare’s 2027 AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G page still lists Renew Active. If you’re weighing a Medigap plan, see our guide to UnitedHealthcare Medicare and AARP plans.
Renew Active vs. SilverSneakers
Both programs offer older adults gym access at no extra cost through their health plans, but they are separate programs run for different insurers.
| Renew Active | SilverSneakers | |
|---|---|---|
| Offered by | UnitedHealthcare individual Medicare Advantage plans and qualifying AARP Medicare Supplement plans | Many Medicare Advantage and select Medicare Supplement plans from other insurers (some UHC group retiree plans) |
| Cost | $0 if your plan includes it | $0 if your plan includes it |
| Gym access | National network; core or core plus premium gyms by plan | Thousands of gyms and fitness locations |
| Brain health | AARP Staying Sharp included | Check the program’s own site |
| Who runs it | UnitedHealthcare | Tivity Health (SilverSneakers trademark owner) |
A plan normally includes one fitness program, so you get the one your plan offers rather than a choice between them. For more detail on the other programs, read our comparison of Silver&Fit vs. SilverSneakers and Medicare vs. TRICARE for SilverSneakers.
Does Medicare pay for a gym membership?
No. Medicare.gov says Original Medicare doesn’t cover gym memberships or fitness programs. They may be offered as an extra benefit by a Medicare Advantage plan. That’s why programs like Renew Active, SilverSneakers and Silver&Fit come through private plans. If fitness matters to you, look for it in a plan’s Summary of Benefits, as described in our guide to finding a plan that includes Silver&Fit.
Renew Active in 2027: check your plan
Extra benefits can change every January. UnitedHealthcare’s 2027 Medicare Advantage plans were published October 1, 2026, and Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. If you’re a current member, look for the “Fitness program” line in the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your plan sent you. If you’re shopping, check the plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits for “Renew Active” and whether it lists core or premium gyms. See our Medicare Open Enrollment guide and the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage before you switch for a gym benefit alone. Doctors, drugs and the out-of-pocket maximum matter more.
Other UnitedHealthcare extra benefits
Many UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans also include other extras. See our guides to UnitedHealthcare vision coverage, the UnitedHealthcare UCard, the UnitedHealthcare OTC catalog and finding dentists that take UnitedHealthcare.
Frequently asked questions
Is Renew Active free?
Yes, on plans that include it. UnitedHealthcare says it’s available with many of its Medicare Advantage plans at no cost, and plan documents list a $0 copay.
How do I get my Renew Active confirmation code?
Sign in to the UnitedHealthcare member site or app and go to Health & Wellness, then Fitness. Your confirmation code is on that page.
Where are Renew Active locations?
Use the gym finder on the UnitedHealthcare member site after you sign in. It shows the core and, if your plan includes them, premium gyms near you.
Is Renew Active the same as SilverSneakers?
No. Renew Active is UnitedHealthcare’s own program. SilverSneakers is a separate program offered through many other insurers’ plans.
Can I get Renew Active with a Medicare Supplement plan?
Yes, if you’re an insured AARP member with a qualifying AARP Medicare Supplement plan from UnitedHealthcare. It’s a wellness extra, not insurance, and can be discontinued.
Does Renew Active include premium gyms?
Only on some plans. 2026 plan documents say “not all plans offer access to premium locations,” so check your Summary of Benefits.
This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by UnitedHealthcare, AARP, SilverSneakers or any U.S. government agency. Benefits vary by plan and county; check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage or call the number on your member ID card.
Sources
- UnitedHealthcare: Renew Active
- UnitedHealthcare: Fitness benefits for Medicare Advantage members
- UnitedHealthcare: AARP Medicare Supplement wellness extras
- UnitedHealthcare: AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC ID-0007 (HMO-POS) 2026
- AARP Medicare Plans: AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback from UHC TX-34 (PPO) 2026
- SilverSneakers: Do you have SilverSneakers?
- Medicare.gov: Gym memberships and fitness programs