Louisiana Medicaid does not cover gym memberships as a standard benefit, but most of the managed care plans that deliver Medicaid in Louisiana offer a free or discounted gym membership as an extra perk. These fitness perks are what the state and federal rules call value-added benefits: services a plan chooses to fund on its own, on top of the required Medicaid coverage. Whether you can get one, and what it looks like, depends on which Healthy Louisiana plan you’re enrolled in.
Why It Depends on Your Plan
Louisiana runs most of its Medicaid program through private managed care organizations under Healthy Louisiana. Each plan must cover the same baseline Medicaid services, but plans can add extra benefits voluntarily and pay for them out of their own administrative budgets rather than through state payments.1KFF. Medicaid Authorities and Options to Address Social Determinants of Health Gym memberships sit in that voluntary bucket, which is why offerings vary from plan to plan and can shift year to year.
What Each Healthy Louisiana Plan Offers
AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana
AmeriHealth Caritas offers a no-cost gym membership to members 18 and older who complete an annual adult well visit. The benefit resets each year with the well visit. The plan also includes an on-demand digital workout library and home fitness kits.2AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana. Member Benefits Comparison Chart Its “Every Calorie Counts” weight management program adds two dietitian visits a year and a gym membership for qualified members.3Louisiana Department of Health. Health Plans Chart
Humana Healthy Horizons
Humana provides a free one-year membership at participating YMCA locations. You can activate it by calling member services at 1-800-448-3810 or by walking into a participating YMCA and showing your Humana ID card.4Humana. Louisiana Medicaid Value-Added Services
Healthy Blue
Healthy Blue gives members $75 a year to put toward a gym membership or in-home fitness supplies.5Healthy Louisiana. Quarterly Value-Added Benefits Its “Every Calorie Counts” and “Healthy Families” programs also include dietitian visits and gym memberships for qualified members, with the Healthy Families track adding up to eight swim lessons.3Louisiana Department of Health. Health Plans Chart
Louisiana Healthcare Connections
Louisiana Healthcare Connections lists gym memberships and swim lessons as extra benefits for qualified members through its “Every Calorie Counts” and “Healthy Families” programs. Call member services at 1-866-595-8133 for specific eligibility.3Louisiana Department of Health. Health Plans Chart
Aetna Better Health of Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Health’s plan comparison chart lists Aetna Better Health as offering gym memberships through the “Every Calorie Counts” program for qualified members.3Louisiana Department of Health. Health Plans Chart A more recent quarterly benefits document does not list fitness benefits under Aetna’s offerings, so members should confirm current availability by calling 1-855-242-0802.6Healthy Louisiana. Quarterly Value-Added Benefits Q3 2025
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
UnitedHealthcare previously offered gym memberships but is no longer part of Healthy Louisiana as of April 1, 2026. Former members were moved to other plans during a special enrollment period earlier in 2026.7Louisiana Department of Health. Medicaid 2026
Benefits for Children and Teens
Some plans extend fitness benefits to younger members enrolled through Medicaid or LaCHIP. The pediatric “Every Calorie Counts” weight management track offered by several plans includes dietitian visits, a gym membership, and up to eight swim lessons for qualified children.3Louisiana Department of Health. Health Plans Chart4Humana. Louisiana Medicaid Value-Added Services8Healthy Louisiana. Health Plan Comparison
How to Sign Up
There is no shared enrollment process. Call your plan’s member services line and ask what’s available and what you need to do to qualify:3Louisiana Department of Health. Health Plans Chart
- Aetna Better Health of Louisiana: 1-855-242-0802
- AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana: 1-888-756-0004
- Healthy Blue: 1-844-521-6941
- Humana Healthy Horizons: 1-800-448-3810
- Louisiana Healthcare Connections: 1-866-595-8133
Watch for prerequisites. AmeriHealth Caritas requires an annual well visit before the gym benefit activates.9AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana. Member Enrollment Humana members can walk into a participating YMCA and start using it the same day.4Humana. Louisiana Medicaid Value-Added Services One thing to know if you’re coming from Medicare: none of the Louisiana Medicaid plans use SilverSneakers or Silver&Fit, which are Medicare programs.3Louisiana Department of Health. Health Plans Chart
Switching Plans to Get the Benefit
If your current plan doesn’t offer what you want, you can move. As of March 2026, Louisiana Medicaid members can change plans at any point in the year without giving a reason, up to two changes per annual period.10Louisiana Department of Health. Healthy Louisiana Plan Changes Compare benefits at myplan.healthy.la.gov, then switch online through that portal, through the Healthy Louisiana mobile app, or by calling 1-855-229-6848.11Healthy Louisiana. Changing Your Health Plan or Your Dental Plan