Under the new Medicare ACCESS initiative, you might be eligible for Bold’s personalized online chronic pain management program at no cost. But the initiative is so new, this might be the very first time you’ve heard of it.

ACCESS stands for Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions. This new Medicare initiative started in July 2026. It supports people managing certain chronic conditions by changing how organizations are paid to help you.

Innovative approaches to chronic pain are especially important for adults over 65. Researchers estimate that around one-third of older adults are living with chronic pain.

Keep reading to learn more about what Medicare considers chronic pain, how to qualify for chronic pain management, who is eligible, how much it might cost you, and how to get started.

What Medicare covers for seniors with chronic pain

Chronic pain can be challenging to treat. Some people feel the discomfort constantly, while pain comes and goes for others. There’s often no single underlying cause of the pain, and therefore no obvious treatment. It usually takes a combination of approaches for people to get meaningful relief from chronic pain. But Medicare coverage hasn’t always reflected that reality. 

That’s why Medicare has been expanding its coverage. The new ACCESS program is a better reflection of how chronic pain is managed today.

The new ACCESS program, who it’s for, and why you should care 

ACCESS is for anyone with Original Medicare (not Medicare Advantage), part of Medicare Part B. It’s for anyone managing ongoing muscle or joint pain that’s lasted for three months or more who has been cleared to exercise on their own.

The program will grant you access to more consistent, technology-supported care alongside treatment from your current doctors. That means you can get more than a single appointment with a pain doctor to better manage day-to-day discomfort.

For example, ACCESS gives you coverage for:

• Telehealth visits with care providers.
• Wearable devices to monitor things like sleep, heart rate, and movement.
• Apps that coach you on behavioral and physical health habits.

That’s a big deal, because it’s a better match for how people typically manage chronic pain — it takes constant support beyond a single visit to a doctor. And technology-supported care is especially helpful to people who live in areas with less access to care providers.

It’s completely voluntary to register for ACCESS, and it will be running for 10 years. 

Medicare coverage: Costs and fees

Typically, after you meet your Part B deductible, you’ll pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for chronic pain treatment, while Medicare covers the remaining 80%. Most people will pay $202.90 per month for Medicare Part B in 2026, according to the National Council on Aging.

Under ACCESS, providers are paid differently. ACCESS will test outcome-aligned payments, meaning providers are paid a set amount when patients meet a measurable health goal, such as lower pain. Beneficiaries like you may pay $3 per month for chronic pain management, or providers may decide to waive your fees entirely – for instance, Bold’s chronic pain management program is provided at no cost for eligible Medicare members.

Who is eligible for Bold’s chronic pain program through Medicare 

ACCESS organizes care into four groups, called tracks:

• Early heart, kidney, and metabolic conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and prediabetes
• Heart, kidney, and metabolic conditions, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease
• Chronic musculoskeletal pain
• Behavioral health conditions, including depression and anxiety

You can decide to enroll in more than one track if you qualify. But here’s how to know if you’re eligible for chronic pain management specifically.

Here’s who is eligible for Bold’s chronic pain program

• You must be 65 or older, or 55 and older with certain qualifying disabilities
• You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B
• Medicare must be your primary payer
• You must have experienced chronic pain for at least 12 weeks
• Your pain must be in your low back, upper back, knee, hip, neck or shoulder
• You must be located in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, or Maryland (Note: we are actively expanding coverage to more states.) 

The best way to know if you're eligible is to enter your name, date of birth, and zip code into Bold’s eligibility checker. You can also enter your MBI, or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, which can be found on your Medicare card.

Types of chronic MSK pain that are included in the Medicare ACCESS program 

Any type of chronic musculoskeletal pain can be managed through the Medicare ACCESS program. You might experience discomfort in your low back or upper back, hips, knees, neck, or shoulders, for example. The pain must have lasted for at least 12 weeks. Generally, chronic MSK pain also interferes with your daily life.

Why sign up for Bold for chronic MSK pain: Benefits for Medicare members 

Bold offers a Medicare-covered digital pain management program for seniors living with chronic pain. It adapts every day to how you actually feel, combining clinician-designed movement with education about pain and how to manage it.

Medicare members can expect:

• Support between visits rather than waiting for your next appointment to ask a question or report a change
• Coordinated care with your existing doctor and anyone else on your care team
• Flexibility to stop treatment or switch providers anytime after your first 90 days
• Specialized care delivered by a team that understands chronic pain isn’t just physical

How it works 

Designed by physical therapists and specifically created for adults 65 and older, Bold’s program combines non-medication alternatives like movement with pain education, with real results.

Medicare members can access on-demand exercise classes, pain education, and support from Bold's clinical team online from the comfort of home. 

The program adjusts to your pain and preferences daily. You’ll check in each day for your movement recommendations. What you do that day adjusts to match how you’re currently feeling, with the goal of getting you back to the specific activities your pain has made difficult.

Over time, you’ll build strength, mobility, and confidence as you move more freely and with less pain.

What members get through Bold 

If you work with Bold on your chronic pain management, you’ll get immediate access to our provider-led online program and resources. You won’t be on the hook for any copay or fee.

Here’s what you can expect: 

• On-demand exercise coaching and classes
• Pain education resources
• Virtual community support
• Messaging or visits with a Bold clinician as needed

How to sign up for Bold for Chronic MSK Pain

The simplest way to get started is to find out whether you’re eligible. An unsupervised home exercise program might not be right for everyone, especially if you’ve had a recent surgery or are managing certain medical conditions. A brief conversation with the Bold team can help you determine the best course of action for you.

Medicare members and referring providers can check eligibility and sign up at agebold.com/access or by calling (424) 414-7672. 

What to have ready for your eligibility check

To make sure you’re prepared for your eligibility check, you should be ready to discuss:

• Where you feel pain
• When the pain started
• What activities are difficult because of the pain
• What activities or positions make the pain feel better or worse
• Any recent surgeries you’ve had
• Any other health conditions you live with

For providers and PTs: Here’s how to refer your patients to Bold 

If you're a physical therapist or other provider working with Medicare beneficiaries living with chronic musculoskeletal pain, you can refer them to Bold's ACCESS program at agebold.com/access or by calling (424) 414-7672.

If you're interested in partnering with Bold, learn more here.