How does health insurance with a gym membership work?
Gym memberships, yoga and Pilates classes, personal training, and even weight management courses may be covered by the extras component of your private health insurance. This doesn't necessarily mean your insurer will cover you for all of these costs though. As a starting point, it could be worth asking what they offer in the way of ‘health management benefits’, ‘healthy lifestyle benefits’, or ‘wellness benefits’.
You’re also likely to need a healthcare professional’s referral when claiming for these benefits, as insurers can only pay out claims to assist with the management and treatment of already identified health conditions, as stated in the Private Health Insurance Act. You might face annual limits and sub-limits to how much you can claim, as well as waiting periods, so check your policy’s Private Health Information Statement (PHIS) for more details.
Finally, exclusions can apply. For instance, some providers won’t cover the cost of personal trainers, while others will only cover sessions with trainers approved by them and who hold recognised certifications. Recreational and competitive sports or activities are also usually excluded from coverage.
Gym membership discounts or other member perks may only apply for specific partner gyms and fitness centres and usually come with their own terms and conditions, like only applying for certain membership types or durations.
Below is a list of health insurance providers offering gym and fitness related benefits and discounts at the time of writing. The list is based on the providers rated in Canstar’s Health Insurance Awards, which means it’s not necessarily an exhaustive list, but can be a good starting point. Check the terms and conditions on each provider's website for more details.
Health insurance providers with gym membership discounts and benefits
AAMI
If you have Everyday Active Extras or Premium Active Extras health cover, you may be able to claim for a range of Healthier Lifestyle services, including gym memberships, weight management, quit smoking programs, and personal training sessions.
Ahm
If you have Health Improvement Benefits included in your cover, you may be able to claim for certain exercise classes, personal training, yoga, and Pilates.
AIA
You may be able to access up to 40% off eligible gym memberships from Goodlife Health Clubs and Fitness First, or four weeks free from BFT (Body Fit Training) through AIA’s Vitality program. Some AIA extras policies also provide coverage for weight management (including dietetics) and quit smoking programs.
Apia
You may be able to claim a portion of the costs of your gym membership, personal training, or weight-management program by adding Healthier Lifestyle cover to your extras policy. Some quit-smoking programs may also be eligible.
Australian Unity
Select extras policies may allow you to claim for things like gym memberships, dietetics, and quit smoking programs. Members may also be able to access discounts on fitness classes and activewear through the Wellplan Rewards program.
Bupa
Depending on your level of cover, you may be able to claim for certain ‘Health Management’ benefits like gym memberships and personal training fees. Bupa also notes it only pays benefits for Bupa recognised gyms and personal training providers.
Frank Health Insurance
You may be able to claim gym memberships and exercises classes if your extras cover includes Health Maintenance Programs.
GMHBA
The Healthy Weight For Life Essentials program (a weight management program) is free for eligible policyholders. This program is available for GMHBA hospital policyholders, rather than extras policyholders.
HBF
You may be able to claim for weight management programs and sessions with a dietitian or nutritionist under certain extras policies.
HCF
You may be able to claim an exercise or gym program, or a dietitian-led HCF-approved weight management program.
HIF
HIF’s ‘Healthy Lifestyle Benefits’ is included in most of its extras cover options and can allow you to make a claim for gym memberships and weight management and quit smoking programs.
Medibank
Medibank members can get 20% off 12- or 18-month Platinum, Home, Passport, or Titanium memberships with Fitness First, Blue, or Platinum memberships with Goodlife, or any 12- or 18-month membership with Zap Fitness. You can also earn 500 Live Better rewards points when you visit the gym eight or more times in a calendar month. Finally dietetics can be claimed for on certain extras policies.
nib
If you have extras cover with ‘Healthier Lifestyle’ benefits included, you may be able to claim for things like gym memberships and weight management programs.
Peoplecare Health Insurance
You may be able to claim fitness equipment, swimming lessons, health programs, and screenings under Peoplecare Health Insurance extras cover.
Phoenix Health Fund
Through Phoenix Health Fund’s Healthy Lifestyle Program, you can claim benefits towards the cost of approved health-related programs like quit smoking courses, gym memberships, asthma and diabetes management classes, weight management programs and health screening, and diagnostic testing. The Healthy Lifestyle Program is only offered on certain extras policies.
Qantas Insurance
If you have Qantas Active Extras or Top Extras cover, you may be able to claim a portion of your gym membership, personal training, or weight-management program costs, as well as those for dietary advice. Some quit-smoking programs may also be eligible.
St. Lukes
If you have combined hospital and extras cover, you may be able to claim benefits for gym memberships and other health management programs.
Westfund
If you hold an eligible Westfund extras cover, you may be able to claim a benefit towards the cost of membership and class fees associated with aquatic programs and fitness centres, as well as the cost of weight loss and mental health programs.
Source: All offers are based on advertised online promotions on each provider’s website on 26 August 2026. Please note, conditions, exclusions, and annual limits may apply to these offers and benefits. Read all terms and conditions provided by the relevant health insurance provider before deciding whether to commit to a policy.
How much can you claim on gym memberships each year?
If your provider offers cover for gym membership as a benefit, it’ll often set annual limits, combined limits, or sub-limits up to which you can claim for. Combined limits group different services and treatments, like gym memberships, support to quit smoking, and weight management programs, together giving you a specific dollar amount for the whole group. Sub-limits allow you to claim dollar amounts for specific services within a combined category. These will often differ between policies and providers.
Whether these benefits will assist you or be cost effective will depend on the policy you choose, as well as your own financial needs.
How to find the right health management benefit for you
A discounted rate on a gym membership or a health management benefit shouldn’t be the only reason for choosing one provider over another. It’s important to weigh up the quality of the policy’s coverage, as well as its overall cost. You may find the right policy for you doesn’t include a gym membership discount or benefit. Some health insurance providers also offer sign-up deals and discounts for people looking to switch providers or take out a policy for the first time.
Extras policies also often come with a variety of other services, like dental, physiotherapy, and remedial massage, so it may be worth thinking about how and if you would use these extras if you were to take out a policy. If you already have a policy and are thinking of switching or if you're taking out a policy for the first time, you can compare health insurance policies with Canstar.
