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Getting a YMCA gym membership is totally doable
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The YMCA (also known as “the Y”) is an international organization with thousands of locations in the USA, where members can focus on fitness and community outreach. While most YMCAs have membership fees, many locations offer scholarships, deals, and other discounts for individuals and families who may need them. Think you qualify? We’ve got you covered. Read to learn more about the financial assistance many YMCAs have to offer, so you can be an active member at your nearest facility.

How do you get a YMCA membership for free?

Visit your local YMCA’s website and see what kinds of financial support your facility offers. Some YMCAs allow you to apply for a scholarship or pay at a reduced rate. Others may offer insurance- or Medicaid-based support. Certain YMCAs may provide special discounts and offers to seniors, too.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Apply for a Scholarship

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  1. Nearly all YMCAs offer some type of financial assistance to members who need it, whether it’s an income-based membership rate or a scholarship. Check the “Membership” page of your closest YMCA’s website, or visit the facility in person and ask what their financial aid policy is.[1]
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Section 2 of 4:

Insurance Provider Assistance

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  1. Visit your local YMCA’s website and search phrases like “insurance” or “insurance provider partnerships” on the site’s built-in search bar. Some facilities have pretty extensive partnerships with popular insurance providers (like Medicaid), which could save you money on a membership.[2]
    • Not all facilities partner with insurance companies—it depends on the individual location.
Section 3 of 4:

Does my city’s YMCA offer free memberships?

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YMCA Financial Assistance (by Location)
City Financial Assistance? Insurance Coverage?
Atlanta Yes Yes
Anaheim Yes -
Anchorage Yes -
Arlington Yes -
Baltimore Yes -
Boise Yes -
Boston Yes Yes
Buffalo Yes Yes
Charlotte Yes -
Chicago Yes -
Cincinnati Yes Possibly
Cleveland Yes Yes
Columbus Yes -
Dallas Yes Yes
Denver Yes Yes
Des Moines Yes Possibly
Detroit Yes Yes
El Paso Yes -
Fort Wayne Yes Possibly
Fort Worth Yes Yes
Gilbert Yes Yes
Greensboro Yes Yes
Henderson Yes Yes
Honolulu Yes Yes
Houston Yes Yes
Huntsville Yes -
Indianapolis Yes Yes
Irvine Yes -
Jacksonville Yes Yes
Kansas City Yes Yes
Las Vegas Yes Yes
Lincoln Yes No
Los Angeles Yes Yes
Louisville Yes Yes
Madison Yes Yes
Memphis Yes Yes
Milwaukee Yes Yes
Minneapolis Yes Yes
Nashville Yes Yes
New Orleans Yes -
NYC Yes -
Newark Yes Yes
Oakland Yes -
Oklahoma City Yes -
Omaha Yes Yes
Orlando Yes Yes
Philadelphia Yes Yes
Phoenix Yes Yes
Pittsburgh Yes -
Plano Yes -
Portland Yes -
Raleigh Yes Yes
Sacramento Yes Yes
Salt Lake City Yes -
San Antonio Yes -
San Diego Yes Yes
San Francisco Yes Yes
San Jose Yes Yes
Seattle Yes Yes
St. Louis Yes -
Stockton Yes -
Tampa Yes -
Toledo Yes Yes
Tulsa Yes -
Virginia Beach Yes Yes
Washington D.C. Yes -
Wichita Yes -
  • The “-” means that insurance coverage options couldn’t be immediately found on the website. Consult with your local YMCA to confirm what types of financial assistance are/aren’t available.
Section 4 of 4:

YMCA Membership Discounts

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  1. Many YMCA facilities offer free trials/passes that allow you to use the YMCA for 1 week. Check your local YMCA’s website and visit the “Membership” tab (if applicable) to see if your facility offers something like this.
    • You can also check with your YMCA in person and see if they have a free trial for prospective members.
  2. Many YMCA locations offer special discounts and programs exclusively for seniors. Visit your local YMCA website and head to the “Programs” section to see what the facility has to offer, or manually search the word “senior” using the site’s built-in search feature (if possible).[3]
    • Some facilities may participate in Silver&Fit and/or Renew Active, which are insurance-based programs geared toward seniors.
  3. Some YMCAs have a referral program, which allows you to earn a discounted membership for every successful referral you make to your facility. The YMCA may offer perks to the person you refer, too![4]
  4. Many YMCAs offer special discounts and membership rates to members of the military. Visit your local YMCA’s website and scan the membership page (or search the word “military” on the site) to see what’s available.
    • For example, at the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, veterans and active military members can get special YMCA memberships.[5]
  5. Lots of YMCA locations offer corporate memberships to interested workplaces. Search for the YMCA facility that’s closest to your workplace; then, visit their website and check the “Membership” page to see what types of memberships they offer.
    • If corporate memberships are available, chat with a manager or HR rep at your workplace to see if your company could potentially get one.
  6. If your past employer recently laid you off, some YMCAs may offer free/discounted membership in the interim. For instance, the Wichita YMCA gives recently laid-off individuals free membership for 3 months.[6]
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About This Article

Samantha Gorelick, CFP®
Co-authored by:
Financial Planner
This article was co-authored by Samantha Gorelick, CFP® and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Samantha Gorelick is a Financial Planner based in New York, New York. She is the Owner of Take Root Financial, a firm that provides accessible financial coaching and advocacy to help clients feel rooted in their financial lives. Before starting Take Root, she was the Lead Financial Planner at Brunch & Budget, a financial planning and coaching organization. She also spent 4 years working at Heron Wealth as a Wealth Advisor. Samantha has 10 years of experience in the financial services industry and has held the Certified Financial Planner™ designation since 2017. Samantha specializes in personal finance, working with clients to understand their money personality while teaching them how to build their credit, manage cash flow, and accomplish their goals. She received a Certificate in Financial Planner from the NYU School of Professional Studies and received a BA from Bard College. This article has been viewed 10,006 times.
2 votes - 50%
Co-authors: 5
Updated: November 5, 2024
Views: 10,006
Categories: Sports and Fitness
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 10,006 times.

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