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

Download Article
Getting a YMCA gym membership is totally doable
Download Article

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

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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]
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Insurance Provider Assistance

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f5\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f5\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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?

Download Article
City Financial Assistance? Insurance Coverage?
YMCA Financial Assistance (by Location)
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

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9f\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9f\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4f\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4f\/Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Get-a-Free-Ymca-Membership-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    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]
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      Best Facial Yoga Workouts for Mouth, Jaw, Eyes, Forehead, & Neck
      Skill-Related Fitness: The 6 Components & How to Improve Them
      How to
      Mould a Mouthguard
      How to
      Choose and Wear a Protective Cup for Sports
      20 Best Pickleball Tips and Techniques for Beginners
      How to
      Play Horse (the Basketball Game)
      How to
      Improve Reaction Speed
      How to
      Air up an Exercise Ball
      How to
      Heal a Rib Muscle Strain
      How to
      Learn Wing Chun
      How to
      Cancel a YMCA Membership
      How to
      Read a Safety Helmet Expiry Date
      How to Drink Water for Weight Loss
      How to Fix a Muscle Imbalance in Your Biceps
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://ymcanyc.org/join/financial-assistance
      2. ↑ https://www.seattleymca.org/programs-for-health/insurance-provider-partnerships
      3. ↑ https://www.ymcamidtn.org/join/senior-programs
      4. ↑ https://ymcawichita.org/ways-to-save
      5. ↑ https://ymcainw.org/join-the-y/military-memberships/
      6. ↑ https://ymcawichita.org/ways-to-save

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 597 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement