How to Get a Free YMCA Membership as an Individual or Family

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Getting a YMCA gym membership is totally doable

Co-authored by Samantha Gorelick, CFP® and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: November 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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Scholarship Assistance

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Insurance Provider Assistance

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Does my city’s YMCA offer free memberships?

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YMCA Discounts

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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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Visit the “Financial Assistance” page on your local YMCA’s website. 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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- Not sure which YMCA is closest to you? Click/tap here to check.

Section 2 of 4:

Insurance Provider Assistance

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See if your local YMCA offers free memberships to certain insurance providers. 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]
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- 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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Free trials 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.
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Senior discounts 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]
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- Some facilities may participate in Silver&Fit and/or Renew Active, which are insurance-based programs geared toward seniors.
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]
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Military discounts 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]
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Corporate memberships 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.
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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