Lifetime Fitness Hours Limited

[rt23921016]

As your Medicare Fitness Program Administrator may have shared with you, I am pleased to confirm that we have renewed agreements so members on eligible Medicare plans may continue accessing Life Time clubs as of January 1, 2024.

The new agreements were established based on the rate your provider is paying on your behalf and includes revised club access hours effective January 1, 2024:

• Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 2:00 p.m. to close.
• Sunday: all open hours.
• Note: Members will have continued access to all ARORA Aqua classes at any time with a reservation and club arrival within 30 minutes of the class start time.

[RG361135 · Accepted solution]

 This is still not right. Who is "I" as a contributor on this thread? I wrote a letter directly to the Chairman/CEO of LFT. He could not even respond to my letter. It is ridiculous. I was with LTF since it opened its doors here in N. TX. in 2003. I have no desire to pay them more money. We are not interrupting anyone working out at LTF. They do not have to spend any additional money to hire staff. It is just a money making idea. Look at the number of members they lost after the lockdown? All they are trying to do is increase revenue. This is still AGE DISCRIMINATION. This is STILL WRONG. 

[c792939h]

Is the paragraph about Arora members having access to all aquatic classes still true in 2025? Lifetime Fitness in Florham Park is requiring Signature membership for $150 a month to do outdoor aqua classes this summer. 

[TRL1111]

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@c792939h wrote:

Is the paragraph about Arora members having access to all aquatic classes still true in 2025? Lifetime Fitness in Florham Park is requiring Signature membership for $150 a month to do outdoor aqua classes this summer. 

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That same language is on the current website.  You can see it by going here:  

lifetime.life/faq/arora.html 

and then click on "Medicare FAQs" and then "What is a Limited Access Membership?"

[wb43462941]

I sometimes use LifeTime fitness for my workout.  This "restricted access" has got to be something of an embarrassment for them:

(1) They apparently expect a large group of mostly older members to read the fine print;
(2) They apparently expect a large group of mostly retired members to know what day of the week it is (I'm not joking, there are times when I only need to remember this because of LTF, and I'd rather not);
(3) It reflects a negotiation failure on the part of LTF.  All they had to do was insist on a per-visit remit from Medicare (or part C insurer etc.) instead of a monthly "access" fee per member.  Trivial arithmetic would work out the initial rate, to be adjusted, say annually, as more data becomes available.  This would eliminate their self-inflicted conflict of interest, put their incentive back on the right track, and IMO make them more money.  They're beeping us in anyway--as a software engineer/computer scientist I know not everyone in the industry is too incompetent to take advantage of this.

I must add that, the couple of times I've accidentally arrived outside the restricted hours I've been treated with courtesy and respect.  So, as far as I can tell the boots on the ground are doing a fine job, it's just ruinous corporate policy.

-antgaucho

[RaulD660572]

I don't understand the criticism towards LTF.  It is a very fine gym, expensive.  One can't always afford certain things,  bentley vs accord, move on, not bentley's fault.
Having said that, limited access at a reduced rate should be welcomed.  Otherwise, simply pay full amount and be happy.

[TRL1111]

‎03-08-2025 09:34 PM

@RaulD660572 wrote:

I don't understand the criticism towards LTF.  It is a very fine gym, expensive.  

I wish @wb43462941 would come back with information about the reimbursement at Life Time.  It's expensive for a regular membership, but we don't know how expensive it is for insurance plans that contract with them.  

I've been going to Life Time for less than a year, so I've never experienced having access at all hours.  I'd prefer having that flexibility, but I'm willing to work around the limited hours.  I travel fulltime and am not always near a Life Time, but right now I am and I managed to go to a yoga class last week, and am going to one tomorrow, on my Renew Active "restricted" membership.  And they DO let people in outside the restricted access hours if they're going to an Arora Aqua class, which is designed for older people.

It would be even easier if I wasn't wanting only classes.

I'll take that over no access at all.

[RaulD660572]

I did not completely follow you.   It sounds like your main issue is there is an Arora class scheduled which you are not paying for.   Is that right?

Again, I get zero of the complaints.   It is easy to have full access, they will not deny you full-pay to get full-access.  It should be considered lucky that you can get access, even if limited, at a discount.  If the discount is not enough, there are other gyms to provide the value you are looking for.

[TRL1111]

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@wb43462941 wrote:

(3) It reflects a negotiation failure on the part of LTF.  All they had to do was insist on a per-visit remit from Medicare (or part C insurer etc.) instead of a monthly "access" fee per member.  

---

Where did you find out what the reimbursement payment scheme at Life Time is (monthly vs. per visit)?  And how much is it?

[RG361135]

8 March 2025

I was informed by a RENEW ACTIVE customer service "advocate" that all Premier Gym memberships have been terminated under the AARP UHC Advantage Membership Plans.

I looked at their gym listings near my home and none are listed any more. I left LTF and joined Cowboys Fit. At this moment I am once again deciding what to do. I am very disappointed especially when working out (including strength training) helps eliminate Osteoporosis for women, helps with BP, helps the mind, helps you sleep better, keeps the weight off, keep muscles moving, etc... Isn't this what we were told to do all our lives? Eat right, exercise and get a good night's rest.  

Have a great day.

[RaulD660572]

What is your issue?  There are many ways to exercise, and the safest are no gym.  Even yoga can cause long term spine injury.

Go walk and do light yoga.

Many guns outside there too, light, weights.  Youtube for older folks.

Be sure to be safe.

[HaydenM65423]

It is my understanding that Lifetime Fitness will NOT honor any advantage plans starting  the next year 2025.  That means if you are in any advantage plans you will have to full the full membership price.  Is anyone aware of this?  I understand it’s a done deal 

[DavidG962812]

I have spoken with both Lifetime and SilverSneakers and so far they both say they are covered for 2025. I got the letter from my UHC Advantage plan that their Renew Active would not cover Lifetime (or the YMCA) and an email from Lifetime confirming that. However, UHC's website still shows Lifetime as a covered benefit under Advantage plans, and it won't be corrected until early December so folks signing during open enrolment, thinking they will get Lifetime, are going to be disappointed. Good one UHC. (UHC Supplemental plans will still cover Lifetime, but their premiums are high).

[HaydenM65423]

I don’t have advantage I have supplemental so this doesn’t affect me. Llfe Time is telling others they can pay $89 for restricted and $139 for non restricted. So these are the options for seniors who have advantage for 2025 

[RaulD660572]

That is the way to go.   $89 for restricted access is a great deal.  If not value enough, you can pay less at other gyms that have all you need too.  It is a personal thing.

[JeffreyB893177]

Not any more, I was just cancelled effective 1/31/2025

[RaulD660572]

Cancelled?  You can pay full price.  or seek the best value for you out there.

[r774491r]

I just got my letter stating so.   Interesting that Lifetime would be willing to give this up.  In the middle of the day the club may be a ghost town.   LOL...

[HaydenM65423]

Our lifetime has more members then they can handle. They’ve made deals for seniors that aren’t bad. I pay $80 to come whenever I want. I think the senior rates for the new year are affordable but they’re not zero 

[JimK301599]

I am 73 and have been a member of LT for over 20 years. I actually pay the additional fee to come in at any hour.  Personally, I have noticed the behavior of many seniors coming in at the senior hours.  I have watch seniors coming into the sauna and even the steam rooms with their speaker phones on having conversations.  Often people sit on equipment just talking. I see people taking six towels at a time while they take home shaving supplies or taking the skin cream and using it all over their body.  Finally, a lot of the older folks use the hair dryers on parts of their body which are inappropriate.

I try to go to LT outside the senior hours.

I am not saying all seniors display these behaviors, but it seems to me a lot of people do not use the health clubs as they should.  I also think this behavior has to be costing LT. There are other clubs which seniors can use which don't have the same amenities, but they will also not be abused. Sorry seniors are not being discriminated against.

People are simply ruining things. Again, I am 73 and I pay extra because of other senior's behavior

[ShivJ938734]

This change not only impacts seniors to maintain consistent workout schedules but also appears to unfairly target seniors, potentially infringing on seniors' rights to equal access under anti-discrimination laws. This approach seems to penalize members based on age, as the upgraded membership fees are prohibitive for many seniors.

The new policy by Life Time Fitness that restricts the access hours for Standard Medicare memberships could potentially be seen as discriminatory, particularly against seniors. Under the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, discrimination on the basis of age in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance is prohibited. While this law primarily addresses age discrimination within federally funded programs, it sets a precedent for how discrimination based on age should be handled generally​ (Findlaw)​.

• U.S. Department of Labor on Age Discrimination
• Healthcare Discrimination - FindLaw

Given that other health clubs do not impose similar restrictions on Medicare members, and considering that the rates and restrictions seem to disproportionately affect older adults, there might be grounds to argue that such a policy could be considered discriminatory.

Furthermore, the option provided, the “65 Plus” Membership at $179 per month for two, appears to offer a better value than the proposed upgrade for Medicare members, which would total $200 per month for a couple. This pricing strategy seems inconsistent and punitive.

It is also noteworthy that other health clubs, such as the YMCA, do not impose such restrictions on Medicare members, suggesting that such a policy is not typical.

Please maintain equal access for all members, regardless of their insurance type, and review your pricing strategies to ensure they do not unfairly discriminate against any group.

[GailL1]

@ShivJ938734 

I guess I don’t understand the logic here because there are many other plans which are offered by Lifetime Fitness under Medicare plans - each one is negotiated separately with the insurer of the Medicare plan.  Of course, some are better in benefits than others - but that’s where premiums come in -

It is also an additional benefit not required by Medicare for a plan to have.  But it looks like many of these Medicare membership Life Time plans connected to various insurers have exactly what you seem to be looking for -

or can upgrade to them.

Medicare Memberships at Life Time

Each one is covered in detail at this site.

Now if you have this coverage under a MediGAP plan, read the EOC (Explanation of Coverage) and see how it is described if it is there at all - If changes aren’t specified in the policy then I guess you could have a case of a breached contract - but that would be odd that this would be an oversite.

It maybe stated that they can make changes to these extra benefits, if so, what would this do to the premiums?

[WilliamB640938]

 I totally agree with you.  I'm 75 and have been a Lifetime member for many years.  I was not on Medicare until this year.  I paid the same as other members and got the same full access.  In other words, there was no age discrimination.  Since going on Medicare and signing up for AARP Medigap, I pay a reduced amount and get full access.  I could pay nothing and get reduced access.  There is nothing about this situation that constitutes age discrimination.  

[lopes]

I don’t get it. The member is not taking up any extra space. But under the commerce clause, isn’t it a violation to accept federal funds and discriminate due to sex, gender or age?

[RaulD660572]

Hmm, it might be discrimination against younger ages not being offered such a great deal.

Seniors have access to a great facility at a much reduced cost.

Seniors are not discriminated against because they are not impeded to simply upgrade.  Still a great deal.

[ARoninLiberal]

It is discriminatory.  If they had created a tier system which any adult had access to limited hours at a reduced rate and then put the Medicare members in that tier, it would have been fair and legal.  But they created a lower tier based solely on age and/disability.  Its method is also similar to redlining in real estate.  They’re trying to pretend it’s not about the person they are supposed to be treating equally.

[NancyH23128]

Does anyone think that we have any Legal recourse?  People who are handicapped (any age) are also affected by this new membership policy since many of them have “Silver Sneakers “ (or One Pass).  They (LTF) are receiving Federal Funds. 

[RaulD660572]

Very important to notice they allow you to upgrade, to a pay that is lower than a lot of members.

All my life, gyms had tier system.  Hrs, no access to sauna, etc.

[JillS901961]

You're missing the main point. The real problem is lack of choice. The "upgrade" of $100 that is "lower than a lot of members" also includes the Medicare supplement that LT is receiving from seniors. If that supplement is (conservatively) a third of a Standard Membership ($129), then LT is getting $140 from seniors in the upgrade, not $100. But, the issue from the start was reduced hours. So, why can seniors not choose where that Medicare supplement is being applied? The "65 Plus" Membership is $119, the Standard Membership is $129, the Signature Membership is $179. Why is the only "upgrade" option, their most expensive membership? It would have been equitable to allow seniors an option in the upgrade process. We really don't need a membership that offers Infant care, or many of the other features of their premier tier. Also, the absence of communication on possible routes for us to follow, I think, is unacceptable for a company as professional as LT. For instance, a married couple of seniors on the Medicare membership, if they wanted to "upgrade," would pay an additional $200 per month. Yet, LT's "65 Plus" Membership would allow them to each have a full membership for $179 total! No one informed seniors about that option. At the end of the day, it seems that no one wants to disclose just how much money Medicare is putting out. I can't get any figures from our Medicare provider, from Silver&Fit or from LT. 

[js8864]

This is a horrible business decision & yet another way to demoralize and marginalize seniors. Most attend the club in the hours you are prescribing and the ones that don’t do not created any kind of overcrowded-ness or issues for other members. This decision isolates a good part of the population you as a business in our community should be supporting. In addition to my Medicare benefits, I pay $200/month for Pilates classes. When I leave the club, you will lose that revenue as well as the other revenue seniors bring. 

[RaulD660572]

It may be horrible.  The big mistake is offering it in the first place.

When they first started, they should have just done a blanket discount, like 10% to any senior over like 60. Unrelated to medicare.  Again a discount, but still much closer to actual membership.

All my life , gyms have had a tier system.  Restricting hrs, no access to sauna, massage chairs, etc.  Often I chose the lower membership , a choice.

Thus:

Very important to notice they allow you to upgrade, to a pay that is lower than a lot of members.

I don't see them loosing much members, full paying, members.