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Conversationalist ⭐
November 13, 2024

AARP/UHC Renew Active change for 2025

  • November 13, 2024
  • 309 replies
  • 157246 views

I was told by The Exercise Coach this morning that AARP/UHC has removed them as a gym for Renew Active for 2025.

I have looked online at Medicare.gov  as well as the AARP/UHC Plan G for 2025 but not seeing anything that specifies that there will be changes for 2025, other than premium.

I called AARP/UHC customer service and was assured that The Exercise Coach  was still an available gym for me for 2025.

I found a YouTube video that talks about 2025 changes to renew active. He read a letter that UHC sent to a renew active member over 2 weeks ago. What it stated was that gyms listed as premium locations will no longer be part of Renew Active. The YouTube video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gEIIHEES70 about the 3:39 time mark. He did do a follow up video that indicated that removal of premium gyms was location based.

I have not received any communication from AARP/UHC about this. I emailed them to ask if it is true that premium gyms are being dropped and how do we know what locations are keeping premium gyms for Renew Active.

    309 replies

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 5, 2024

    I find it interesting, in a sad way, there are 6.5 amount of views compared to how many signed the petition…. 
    Will it help ? Maybe not but all these disparate responses only act to dilute and divide….

     

    As I said in another entry, a whopping 80% of denied insurance claims are never disputed, nor fought but sadly accepted. 

    My push in this petition is not to fight a reality or policy that we will never win or change but to make a stand that it most resembles false advertising, as they could have let us know much earlier in open enrollment. You know they knew ….And that is way too much stress on Agents and we Insured who researched with the information we had, but were falsely led to believe our gyms would remain.

    It is now my understanding only Premium Locations will be available to Medicare Supplement plans not Medicare Advantage Plans. 
    But the petition is still valid because we need information to make intelligent decisions, and truth in advertising without waiting until 10 days before Open Enrollment ends. 

    I will edit the Petition again to add the above, and a request to add another gym (although they are all under the umbrella “Premium Locations“)

     

    Please don’t be in the apathetic 80%.
    Please stop with the individual complaining. 

    I ask that you sign, share and become a cohesive voice in holding them accountable- even if it may not work…

     

    https://www.change.org/BringBackPremiumGymstoRenewActive2025

     

    Thanks to all who have shared and signed

    Suuz

     

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 5, 2024

    Where did you find out? Premium gyms are covered under supplemental plants

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 5, 2024

    A text from my Agent

    WebWiseWoman
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    December 5, 2024
    Community Champion ⭐
    December 5, 2024

    You think it was somebody here?

    Contributor ⭐
    December 4, 2024

    I am disgusted by the decision by renew active to remove pilates and stretch labs. Pilates is essential to core strength and balance and keeping your feet flexible so you do not fall. It is also not high impact. It also helps you recover faster from any falls. Stretch Labs has also been incredible! By the way, Kaiser One Pass is picking these up, so I might leave United Healthcare behind for 2025. What is wrong with you guys, smarten up and keep us healthy, strong, centered, and balanced

    Contributor ⭐
    December 5, 2024

    thanks for sharing about kaiser, @LindaP54583! i was actually thinking of checking them out b/c, in the aftermath of the ceo's assassination yesterday, i saw a report that said united's rate of disallowing medical services is twice as much (32%!!!) as the industry average. that means, a third of what might be medically necessary—like an ambulance to the hospital if you have a heart attack, which was disallowed as per someone's facebook post on united's site—might be considered not necessary. shocking! & scary!

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 4, 2024

    UHC is probably distracted today as their CEO was gunned down in NYC this morning.

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 4, 2024

    Very unfortunate that this happened. I feel bad for his wife and kids.  Apparently, he had been receiving threats. More to come, I'm sure. 

    He was the CEO for the insurance business, which I assume is or includes health care (not parent company The UHC Group).

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 4, 2024

    Regardless, I think it is unrealistic to expect that protests from us about Renew Active dropping Premium Gyms will change anything for 2025.

    Contributor ⭐
    December 4, 2024

    Upset stretch lab no longer covered under UHC aarp benefits. After 2 injuries stretch lab sessions has improved by health more than any other therapy who do I contact. 

    Contributor ⭐
    December 4, 2024

    I am so disgusted with UHC Medicare Advantage for dropping Renew Active Stretch Lab from the gym Membership program here in Idaho. Another rip-off for seniors. I never use medical benefits because I am healthy and at 67 yrs old still work part time as a housekeeper. This is very very physically demanding and I absolutely loved my once a month covered appt to help me recover physically. UHC is extremely short-sided in not covering this type of benefit to help working seniors and those trying hard to stay fit and healthy. I do not use medical benefits and this type of benefit is very proactive in helping us seniors avoid needing medical benefits by staying healthy, working, and fit. I will be looking to see what other plans are available. I am so tired of healthy seniors getting the short end of things. We paid into Medicare our entire working years. It's a sad state of insurance greed. 

    JeffG242897
    Contributor ⭐
    December 2, 2024

     I spent a long time today with a UHC agent, who eventually talked to a manager. Their only suggestion was for me to send a paper letter to UHC. Of course, open enrollment will be over by the time they receive my letter. Useless. I am researching other plans. Does anyone know of a plan G in Florida that has a fitness component that includes Club Pilates?

    December 2, 2024

    @JeffG242897 wrote:

     I am researching other plans. Does anyone know of a plan G in Florida that has a fitness component that includes Club Pilates?


    =======================

    I misread your post so I am adding the Medigap plan locator: 

     

    MEDIGAP PLAN LOCATOR:  Here is the link for finding Medigap plans (Supplemental) that are available to you at your location:

     

    Medicare.gov - Find a Medigap Policy That Works for You  

     

    The one below is for Medicare Advantage Plans or Free standing Prescription Drug Plans.

    You can go to the Medicare.gov compare site and by entering your zip code you can find all the Medicare Advantage plans that are available to you in your location.

     

    MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN AND FREE STANDING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN LOCATOR:

     

    Medicare.gov - Explore Your Medicare Coverage Options 

     

    But as far as knowing what extra benefits they may have and at what location,  you will have to research that plan by plan.

     

    Don’t forget to make sure they also cover any meds or medical providers you may also want -

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 2, 2024

    He was asking about a supplement plan G. I have not been able to find any yet, but I have an appointment with EXERCISE COACH tomorrow. I will update if I find out any information.

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 2, 2024

     Has ANYONE heard one word from United/AARP addressing our concerns? ANYONE? 

    Contributor ⭐
    December 1, 2024

     Having just started using the Renew Active benefit I now find (one week before the end of open enrollment) that I am losing my Club Pilates. I am so disappointed. I thought that the purpose of these programs was to help us remain healthy and active and, ultimately, not need additional resources that would save the insurance carrier money. I guess I was mistaken. Very sad. I will be doing extra research next year and may go to less expensive option since there is no longer added incentive.

    Community Champion ⭐
    December 2, 2024

    @mw80402156 wrote:

    I will be doing extra research next year and may go to less expensive option since there is no longer added incentive.


     

    You don't have to wait until next year.

     

    If you have a supplement, you can change your supplement any time during the year.  Depending on your state, you might have to undergo medical underwriting to qualify for a different supplement, but there's nothing special about open enrollment when it comes to changing supplements.

     

    If you have an Advantage plan, there is one week left in the open enrollment period we're currently in.  But from January 1 - March 31, there's an additional open enrollment period for Advantage members, during which they can switch Advantage plans, or change to Medicare (although if you want a Medigap supplement, you might have to undergo medical underwriting).

     

     

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 1, 2024

      I was trying to sign up for my yoga, pilates, exercise coach, and stretch labs this morning (December 1 2024) and they are no longer on the list!!! Availability to these gyms is WHY i chose to stay with UHC and Renew Active this year vs Kaiser, which is much cheaper and includes OnePass, and does include these gyms.  My whole retirement and current health involves going to these gyms.  I'm super bummed.

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 1, 2024
    • Obviously UCH prefers to have their seniors unhealthy on more drugs. 
    Contributor ⭐⭐
    December 1, 2024

    I think all our premiums are going up next year too….. it all stems  back to the inflation reduction act that was done back in September or August ….sometime last fall. The healthcare companies are trying to figure out where  to cut extras. I agree with you they cut out the donut hole and are covering more prescriptions, which doesn’t make sense. They should be covering more gyms as well so people don’t have to take drugs in the first place. The healthcare companies themselves didn’t have any control over this. It was all done in Congress to provide better coverage for low income, Medicare recipients.