The Fitness Benefit Program is available to the members of the Traditional, Flexible, and Kwajalein Option MIT Health plans. Members of the Student and Affiliate Extended Insurance Plans are not eligible. The Fitness Benefit Program is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

This document summarizes information that is available on their website at http://www.bcbsma.com.

What is the Fitness Benefit?
The Fitness Benefit is a $150 reimbursement for membership or exercise classes at a health club.

How does it work?
The Fitness Benefit reimburses you for payments toward health club memberships. In some instances, it can also reimburse exercise class fees. Qualifying payments may be for yourself or your covered dependents. The maximum Fitness Benefit reimbursement for you and your covered dependents (in other words, per individual or family insurance contract) is $150 per calendar year.

What kind of health club membership qualifies?
Most health clubs qualify, including YMCAs, JCCs, and the extensive athletic facilities at MIT and Lincoln Laboratory. Aerobic/ fitness classes at a health club without an annual membership fee can also be covered, but make sure you check first with Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA whether the specific class is covered, and make sure to get full documentation from the club. Of course, check with your physician or nurse practitioner before starting any exercise program.

The purchase of exercise or sports equipment or apparel will not be covered.

1. Save applicable receipts, credit card records, cancelled checks, and/or pay stubs.
2. You must have been both a member of the health club and covered by the MIT Health Plan for at least four consecutive months of the calendar year. This means that if you first enroll in your MIT plan or first enroll in a health club after the first of September, you cannot be reimbursed for that calendar year. You may, of course, qualify for a Fitness Benefit reimbursement in the following calendar year for qualifying payments made during that calendar year.
3. If you purchase an MIT Athletics Facility Membership, submit a copy of the payment form.
4. You can only file one Fitness Benefit Claim Form per covered individual for any calendar year. Thus, to be reimbursed for one person with two or more qualifying expenses, each expense must be included on the same claim form. However, reimbursement for different family members should be requested on separate claim forms.
5. You must file all claim forms with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts by March 31 of the following calendar year. That means if you have a qualifying membership in 2006, you have until March 31, 2007 to claim your reimbursement.

Need a claim form, or have questions about what's covered?
To get a form, or to ask about what qualifies for the benefit and how it works, call Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts at 1-800-882-1093.

For a claim form only:

Download the form at http://www.bcbsma.com or stop by the MIT Health Plans office in E23-308.