Does my health insurer pay for my gym?

Almost no statutory insurer pays the membership directly. But two routes are common: (1) reimbursement of ZPP-certified prevention courses (often 75–100% up to an annual cap) and (2) bonus programmes in which you collect points for training that are later paid out as a cash amount or reward. Ask your insurer for the exact amounts, as they change every year.

How much money do I get back?

That depends on the insurer and the chosen programme. Typical range: with bonus programmes, up to several hundred euros per year depending on activity; with prevention courses, usually 75–100 euros per course (twice a year). Binding amounts are always in your insurer's current insurance terms — please check there.

What is a ZPP-certified prevention course?

The Central Prevention Testing Office (ZPP) certifies courses for primary prevention (e.g. back training, functional training, yoga, pilates, Nordic walking). Only these courses are subsidised by statutory health insurers under § 20 SGB V. Some gyms offer such courses directly — ask at the studio for a ZPP certificate or a prevention course under § 20.

What requirements do I have to meet?

Typical ones are: regular attendance (e.g. 80% of the sessions), a minimum number of training sessions per month (bonus programmes) and a completed course (for prevention-course reimbursement). Some insurers require a short health check or a doctor's recommendation — see your insurer for details.

Is the effort worth it?

If you're training anyway, yes — the subsidy can noticeably lower the effective price of your membership. For an average studio at around €40 effective per month, €100–300 in bonus per year can offset 20–60% of the annual cost. Anyone who compares the effective price before signing gets double the benefit in the end.

Can I also get a subsidy at a discounter like McFIT or FitX?

The bonus from the bonus programme is usually independent of which studio you train at — the main thing is that you document your training sessions. Prevention-course reimbursement, by contrast, runs through the course, not the studio: discounter chains rarely offer ZPP-certified courses directly, but you'll often find them in health or fitness studios with a prevention focus.

Krankenkasse & Fitnessstudio: Zuschuss, Bonus und Erstattung 2026

Updated: 17.06.2026 · without guarantee

Does my health insurer pay for the gym?

Most statutory health insurers do not directly pay for your studio membership. But they support you in two ways: through bonus programmes (points for training, paid out as a cash amount or reward) and through reimbursement of certified prevention courses under § 20 SGB V (often 75–100% up to an annual cap). The exact amounts change every year and differ per insurer — please ask your own insurer.

The two routes to a subsidy

1. Bonus programmes — collect points, get money back

You document your training sessions (often via an app or stamp booklet) and receive a bonus at the end of the year. The amount and conditions vary widely — ask your insurer for the current programme rules. Advantage: it usually applies regardless of the studio.

2. Prevention-course reimbursement under § 20 SGB V

ZPP-certified prevention courses (back training, functional training, yoga, pilates and others) are partly reimbursed — usually 75–100% up to a cap, often twice a year. Requirement: the course's ZPP certificate and regular attendance.

Health insurers with fitness programmes

Overview of the common insurers with bonus/prevention offers. Amounts deliberately not stated: they change every year and per programme — ask the insurer directly.

Insurer	What is offered
AOK	extensive bonus programme (Fit mit AOK / AOK-PLUS benefit depending on the state variant).
TK (Techniker Krankenkasse)	TK bonus programme plus reimbursement of certified prevention courses.
Barmer	bonus programme + reimbursement of ZPP-certified prevention courses.
DAK-Gesundheit	DAK bonus + prevention-course reimbursement.
IKK classic	bonus programme + prevention-course reimbursement.
KKH	KKH bonus + reimbursement of ZPP-certified courses.
hkk	smart bonus programme + course reimbursement.
BKK (verschiedene Betriebskassen)	varies greatly by BKK — ask directly.

How to claim the subsidy

1. Ask your insurer. Phone call or online login: "Which fitness programmes do you currently offer, and how high is the maximum bonus or reimbursement?"
2. Sign up for the bonus programme. Usually online in the insurer's app or the member portal. Training sessions count from sign-up.
3. Choose a prevention course. Search zentrale-pruefstelle-praevention.de for ZPP-certified courses — or ask directly at the studio whether a course is offered.
4. Submit your proof. After completing the course: send the certificate to your insurer. Reimbursement typically arrives within 4–8 weeks.

Anyone wanting to lower the effective price of their membership shouldn't overlook the subsidy — it can amount to several hundred euros per year. Which studio near you is cheapest can be seen in the price index and on the city pages. Background on the term: our glossary on the effective price.

Frequently asked questions

Does my health insurer pay for my gym?: Almost no statutory insurer pays the membership directly. But two routes are common: (1) reimbursement of ZPP-certified prevention courses (often 75–100% up to an annual cap) and (2) bonus programmes in which you collect points for training that are later paid out as a cash amount or reward. Ask your insurer for the exact amounts, as they change every year.
How much money do I get back?: That depends on the insurer and the chosen programme. Typical range: with bonus programmes, up to several hundred euros per year depending on activity; with prevention courses, usually 75–100 euros per course (twice a year). Binding amounts are always in your insurer's current insurance terms — please check there.
What is a ZPP-certified prevention course?: The Central Prevention Testing Office (ZPP) certifies courses for primary prevention (e.g. back training, functional training, yoga, pilates, Nordic walking). Only these courses are subsidised by statutory health insurers under § 20 SGB V. Some gyms offer such courses directly — ask at the studio for a ZPP certificate or a prevention course under § 20.
What requirements do I have to meet?: Typical ones are: regular attendance (e.g. 80% of the sessions), a minimum number of training sessions per month (bonus programmes) and a completed course (for prevention-course reimbursement). Some insurers require a short health check or a doctor's recommendation — see your insurer for details.
Is the effort worth it?: If you're training anyway, yes — the subsidy can noticeably lower the effective price of your membership. For an average studio at around €40 effective per month, €100–300 in bonus per year can offset 20–60% of the annual cost. Anyone who compares the effective price before signing gets double the benefit in the end.
Can I also get a subsidy at a discounter like McFIT or FitX?: The bonus from the bonus programme is usually independent of which studio you train at — the main thing is that you document your training sessions. Prevention-course reimbursement, by contrast, runs through the course, not the studio: discounter chains rarely offer ZPP-certified courses directly, but you'll often find them in health or fitness studios with a prevention focus.

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