In an Australian first, a new gym offering – GymBetter - will provide both Medibank members and non-members with access to more than 500 of Australia’s top gyms, with no joining fees or contracts.
Medibank’s Chief Customer Officer, Laz Cotsios, said Medibank’s unique gym offering means now members and non-members can take positive steps to improve their health.
“GymBetter aims to improve the health of all Australians by making it as easy as possible for people to get fit and healthy, through making going to the gym more accessible and affordable for everyone” Mr Cotsios said.
“Only 25% of 1,500 respondents to a recent Medibank survey indicated they would join a gym as their new year’s resolution. With many consumers frustrated or put off due to traditional gym joining fees and contracts we saw the need to do something to change this.”
By registering for GymBetter through Apple or Android phones, it’s possible to visit any participating gym, without being locked in by joining fees or contracts.”
The cost of a gym visit with GymBetter is $8.50* for Medibank members with both hospital and extras cover, and $11.95 for non-members, another example of Medibank’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of all Australians. Participants only ever pay for what they use, so if you don’t go, you don’t pay. Importantly, no matter how many times you visit the gym, you will never pay for more than eight visits per month.
Mr Cotsios continues, “While we’re living longer than ever before, 80% of coronary heart disease cases, 90% of type 2 diabetes and around one-third of cancers can be prevented by regular exercise, eating healthy and stopping smoking[i], GymBetter offers people an opportunity to take some of the simple steps needed to achieve good health.”
The recent Medibank Health Check Survey revealed that four out of five Australians do not expect to achieve their lifetime goal of living in good health and that motivation and time to exercise are the main barriers.
“An incentive may be just what they need to help them take that step in the right direction and it’s important that we demonstrate how easy and rewarding it can be to take these steps,” Mr Cotsios said.
“At Medibank, we believe we have an important role to play in meeting this healthcare challenge, from prevention through to policy.”