The Real Cost of Skipping the Gym

Let's talk about money. Not the "gym membership is expensive" conversation — the other one. The one about what happens financially when you don't invest in your health.

We get it. Looking at $150–$200 a month for a CrossFit membership can feel like a lot when there's a big box gym down the road for $30. But here's the thing nobody puts on a billboard: the most expensive health decision you can make is doing nothing.

This isn't a guilt trip. It's just math.

What Healthcare Actually Costs in Minnesota

Before we even get to gym memberships, let's look at what most people are already spending on healthcare. Because this is money that's coming out of your pocket whether you're healthy or not.

The average Minnesotan with private insurance spends about $6,181 per year just on premiums. On top of that, you've got deductibles, copays, and prescriptions. That's before anything goes wrong.

Here's what "something going wrong" looks like:

• One ER visit (without insurance): $1,500–$3,000. With insurance, you're still looking at $400–$650 out of pocket.
• A round of physical therapy (6–8 weeks): $1,800–$5,450 without insurance. Even with coverage, copays add up to $520–$2,000.
• Rotator cuff surgery: $5,500–$13,000.
• Knee replacement: $29,300 on average. Without insurance, north of $35,000.
• Spinal fusion in Minnesota: $50,153 average cash price.

Read that last one again. A spinal fusion — one surgery — costs more than 24 years of CrossFit membership.

The Chronic Disease Equation

Acute injuries are expensive. But the real financial damage comes from chronic disease — the slow, compounding kind that builds over years of inactivity.

According to the CDC, 6 in 10 American adults have at least one chronic disease. 4 in 10 have two or more. And here's the number that should make everyone pause: 90% of the nation's $4.9 trillion in annual healthcare spending goes toward treating chronic disease and mental health conditions.

That's not a typo. Ninety percent.

Here's what living with chronic disease costs per year, per person:

• Type 2 diabetes: $19,736/year in medical costs — 2.3 times more than someone without it. Over a lifetime, that's roughly $85,000 in direct medical expenses.
• Obesity-related medical costs: $2,505–$12,588 more per year than someone at a healthy weight, depending on severity and insurance type.
• Heart disease: Part of a $233 billion annual national healthcare bill, projected to hit $2 trillion by 2050.

And those are just the medical bills. We haven't touched lost wages, reduced quality of life, or the cost of medications. Annual insulin costs alone can run $3,000–$6,000 without Medicare coverage. Even a basic combo of diabetes and blood pressure meds adds up to around $1,200 a year.

A CrossFit membership at $150–$200/month runs about $1,800–$2,400 a year. One year of managing type 2 diabetes costs roughly 9 times that.

What Exercise Actually Does to Your Healthcare Costs

This isn't hand-wavy "exercise is good for you" stuff. The research is specific.

A 2023 systematic review published in BMC Health Services Research looked at the actual healthcare spending of physically active people versus inactive people. The finding: active people spend 9% to 27% less on healthcare annually. For someone with cardiovascular risk factors, regular exercise saves roughly $2,500 per year in medical costs.

On the disease prevention side:

• 40% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes with regular moderate-to-high activity
• 35% lower risk of cardiovascular disease
• Significant reductions in risk for certain cancers, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline

A separate study on CrossFit specifically — a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Sports Medicine — found improvements across five major fitness domains (cardiovascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, and power) with notably higher adherence rates than traditional gym programs.

That last part matters. The best exercise program is the one you actually show up to. And people show up to CrossFit because someone's expecting them, the workout is different every day, and they've got friends in the room. That's not marketing. That's what the research found.

You Might Already Be Able to Pay With Pre-Tax Dollars

Here's something most people don't know: CrossFit Aerial memberships are HSA and FSA eligible.

Under IRS Section 213, gym memberships can be reimbursed through your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account with a Letter of Medical Necessity from your doctor. If your provider has recommended exercise for a specific condition — obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic pain, cardiovascular risk — your membership may qualify.

The 2026 HSA contribution limits are $4,400 for individuals and $8,750 for families. At a 30% tax bracket, paying for your gym membership with pre-tax HSA dollars saves you roughly $540–$720 a year. That effectively brings your monthly cost down to $105–$140.

Ask your doctor. Ask your HSA administrator. The process is simpler than most people think.

The Comparison Nobody Wants to Make

Here's the uncomfortable truth laid out side by side:

• CrossFit membership (annual): ~$1,800–$2,400
• One ER visit: $1,500–$3,000
• One round of physical therapy: $1,800–$5,450
• One knee replacement: $29,300 (14 years of membership)
• One spinal fusion in MN: $50,153 (24 years of membership)
• Type 2 diabetes management (per year): $19,736 (9x your membership)
• Obesity excess medical costs (per year): $2,505–$12,588

And remember — you're still paying insurance premiums, deductibles, and copays on top of all of that. The gym membership doesn't replace your insurance. But it might keep you from needing to use it.

This Isn't About Guilt. It's About the Math.

Nobody's saying a gym membership prevents all disease or that fit people never get sick. Life doesn't work that way. But the data is clear: regular exercise — especially the kind that builds strength, cardiovascular fitness, and functional movement — dramatically reduces your risk of the chronic conditions that drive the majority of healthcare costs in this country.

The question isn't whether you can afford a gym membership. It's whether you can afford not to have one.

If you're in Duluth and you've been on the fence, come talk to us. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a conversation about your goals and whether we're a good fit. You can also check out our pricing or learn more about how our programs work.

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Sources: CDC Chronic Disease Facts & Stats (2025), ADA Economic Costs of Diabetes Report (2022), BMC Health Services Research systematic review (2023), Sports Medicine systematic review on CrossFit (2018), MN Department of Health Economics Chartbook (2024), IRS Section 213, Sidecar Health Minnesota procedure pricing. Full citations available on request.