In a previous article, I wrote about Free Money in Medicare and how many fitness trackers can automate data logging for your Medicare Rewards Program to earn that extra cash.

“In 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) permitted Medicare Advantage plans to offer limited rewards and incentives to beneficiaries. The guidelines were slightly expanded in 2016.

According to CMS, the goal of rewards and incentives in Medicare Advantage “is to encourage enrollees to be actively engaged in their health care and, ultimately, improve and sustain their overall health and well-being.” In 2016, CMS expanded the ability to offer rewards and incentives, but more improvements are needed. ( Better Medicare Alliance Fact sheet July 2019).”

Tracking physical activity to qualify for these perks can be reported manually via your Medicare Advantage Plan account page or automatically tracked via devices like my Garmin Fenix 6XPro watch, a Fitbit, or many other brands of fitness trackers that connect directly to your Advantage Plans Rewards Page. You do your stuff and collect those Rewards dollars. These are two of many brands and models of trackers.

Do your research and find the one(s) that most closely match your current and future needs. Are primary health metrics sufficient for you, or are you planning on running a marathon or the R2R2R(Rim to Rim to Rim crossing the Grand Canyon from one side to the other and back, where serious health parameters tracking like VO2max or continuous O2 Saturation, Sleep, body battery, and HRV are part of your daily health monitoring

The Garmin Fenix 8 Series was released on 9/2024. It is a fantastic sports and outdoor device with Full US Topo maps and built-in GPS. It tracks health and sleep metrics (HRV, Sleep, Body Battery, Exercise Activities, and more).

The Garmin 6XPro on my wrist is about five years old, so there are newer models in the lineup. https://amzn.to/3X7Albg

The Fitbit Inspire 3, released September 2022, is around $99(July 24) and is a great “starter” health and fitness tracker. The Inspire 3 lacks heart rate on exercise equipment(does not communicate with equipment), no heart rate training zones, floors climbed, and fall detection(yes, they do have that). https://amzn.to/4dcnpHA

These are shortcomings ONLY if you are further advanced in clawing back any Medicare dollars you can get and probably have a more advanced tracker. This article is for those who haven’t started to earn some of your retirement money back.

Here is the direct link to Garmin Watches. Depending on your sport, they probably have a model just for you with price and feature sets that will fit your budget. See the features and compare at https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/wearables-smartwatches/

Keep an eye on Amazon for deals on Garmin watches. They have some fantastic deals that pop up that should show up at this link: https://amzn.to/3SrgLVW.  For example, in May, my friend John, who I am coaching, grabbed a Garmin VivoActive 5 for $250. Currently $299 https://amzn.to/4dha5Sa

The data below are screenshots of the Garmin Connect App online(desktop version). This data is compiled automatically, other than initiating an activity like a hike, walk, or bike ride by pressing the right button or touch screen. You can access the same data on your phone but in a more compact form.

The image below is a screenshot of the (the day I wrote this article). Notice the sleep score is a crappy 37. I gave myself a 1st degree in AC joint separation by doing a poorly excited forward roll in Krav Maga class; hence, more pain and less sleep were recorded. My 6XPro automatically tracks this data.

The following screenshot is of the daily metrics in the middle of the day.

Below are more of yesterday’s metrics and the Last Seven Days.

I ruck(hike with a weighted backpack) 2500-3000 miles a year, ruck/ride (ride a gravel bike with a 30lb backpack) 3000 miles per year, Weight Lift 6+ hours per week, and do 2-6 hours of Krav Maga and my Garmin tracks it all for me.

For more reviews of fitness trackers and products, go to the https://www.dcrainmaker.com/ website. It is one of the most trusted names in fitness product reviews.

Let me know if you have any other questions on trackers.

Let’s say you are one of the millions of older retired people who try to do some exercise a few days a week.  And you do this every week for a year or more.

Imagine seeing the same person on the trail while you walk, hike, run, bike, swim, or do yoga…. And you see them every day you exercise.

Now imagine that person who sees you doing the work, walks up to you after that year, hands you $160+ cash, and says, “This is for working hard to stay healthy.”

That would be pretty awesome, wouldn’t it?  Well, it happens to me every year!  Seriously, Every Year with my United Health Care Medicare Advantage Program.

“In 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) permitted Medicare Advantage plans to offer limited rewards and incentives to beneficiaries. The guidelines were slightly expanded in 2016.

According to CMS, the goal of rewards and incentives in Medicare Advantage “is to encourage enrollees to be actively engaged in their health care and, ultimately, improve and sustain their overall health and well-being.” In 2016, CMS expanded the ability to offer rewards and incentives, but more improvements are needed. ( Better Medicare Alliance Fact sheet July 2019).”

Below is a screenshot of my actual Medicare Advantage Portal. I had a 132.59 rewards balance I could spend, which I earned from the goals. Here, you can see the Get Moving monthly moving challenge. The ten green circles mean I covered the required minimum walking distance for that month and received $10, which gets added to the reward balance.

You can see I have up to $25 more available by signing up for text messaging, completing my annual wellness visit(three months away), and getting a flu shot. So, I will grab $15 of that free cash.

My Medicare Advantage Plan has a REWARDS program that pays me:

$10 to get some form of exercise 10 days a month($120/yr )
$10 to be “Social” by participating in a social activity
$5 to sign up for text messaging
$15 for an annual physical / wellness visit
$5 for a flu shot
$5 form making a doctor appt.

Many Medicare Advantage Programs also offer you $40 every three months to spend on over-the-counter medications, health aids like eye drops, my all-time favorite Preparation H, and hand lotion,… per my UHC plan:

 Get more help with your everyday needs. Your plan comes with a credit that will be loaded to your UnitedHealthcare UCard® every quarter for covered over-the-counter (OTC) products. Shop in-store or online for pain relievers, cold remedies, toothpaste, vitamins and more.
Word of warning: use it or lose it. This money does NOT roll Over.

CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, Walmart, and other online and retail stores allow you to use this card. These allowable sources can change over time, so keep track of them.

In the past years, this money from the UHC plan has bought me $165 Rucking/walking hiking shoes, which I go through four pairs a year. I have also paid for a $370 Garmin Edge 530 Bike computer from this fund.

Tracking physical activity to qualify for these perks can be reported manually via your Medicare Advantage Plan account page or automatically tracked via devices like my Garmin Fenix 6XPro watch, a Fitbit, or many other brands of fitness trackers that connect directly to your Advantage Plans Rewards Page. You do your stuff and collect those Rewards dollars.

The Garmin Fenix 6XPro, $750 on release, has been replaced by the Fenix 7 Series. The Fenix series is a fantastic sports and outdoor device with Full US Topo maps and built-in GPS. It tracks health and sleep metrics (HRV, Sleep, Body Battery, Exercise Activities, and more).
The Garmin 6XPro on my wrist is about five years old, so there are newer models in the lineup. https://amzn.to/4fp7WWl

The Fitbit Inspire 3, released September 2022, is around $99(July 24) and is a great “starter” health and fitness tracker. The Inspire 3 lacks heart rate on exercise equipment(does not communicate with equipment), no heart rate training zones, floors climbed, and fall detection(yes, they do have that). https://amzn.to/4dcnpHA

You can read my article about Fitness trackers in more detail here https://downhillslide.life/2024/08/09/fitness-trackers-can-help-improve-your-life-and-earn-you-cold-hard-cash/

The money you earn from this Rewards Program can actually buy you a fitness tracker with most plans.

The main point of this article is that IF you have a Medicare Advantage Plan and would like some extra spending money, check out your plan online today.

Not all Medicare plans offer this perk, but you should investigate as the Open Enrollment period starts soon. While looking for ways to spend money, you may find a Medicare plan that offers a more attractive plan/benefits package.

For me, it became a game not only to get as healthy as possible as soon as possible but to earn as much money in rewards as possible. 

It is not a lot of money, but it provides additional incentives to motivate you.

Check out your plan and let me know by posting a comment if you score any free cash.