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. 

[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 

[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.

[HH542555]

Thanking Lifetime for implementing the reduced senior hours policy.The lifetime location at garland,tx location is super packed with seniors throughout the day.Sorry if this comment offended anyone.

[RaulD660572]

I don't think this policy makes it any better for someone like you. You clearly do sound anti senior around.

They can arrive at 9:30 and stay all day.

They can arrive at 3:45.

[falaniz]

Texas may have a problem but its not like that in Illinois (Orland Park).  Its not fair for them to do it across the country based on one state!

[RaulD660572]

Their membership tends to be national.   I can travel and pop in all over.

Even with my signature membership, there are some locations labeled higher to which they only let me in once or twice. 

That is fair, I don't pay that membership.

I think it is fair to have a tier system.  I've always chosen lower tiers in every gym, skipping sauna, and massage chairs, etc. A choice.

They should just do a 10% discount to seniors regardless of Medicare.  But that would make the membership closer to full pay.

[jmtredwood28]

 I am saving your response and will send it to you when you become a Senior Citizen.  Then you will be able to determine if anyone (you) is offended or not.  What comes around goes around.

[s438812m]

I am a "senior" who strongly objects to Life Time's new policy. I am sorry that the Garland, TX contributor is uncomfortable with the number of my peers at their club. If the Garland seniors spend "every single day at" the club, it is clearly a central part of their lives. If so, I suspect that they will adjust to the revised schedule, arriving at 9:30 AM and leaving at 3 PM, so that they can socialize and exercise. They won't go away. My Life Time facility in Ohio has a senior population but I don't know if it numbers 200+. My routine involves exercising between 5-8 AM, every other day, so that I can pursue other interests/responsibilities the remainder of the day. There are very few people- young, middle aged or seniors- at the club when I am there, which is why I take issue with the policy change. The new policy conflicts with my life schedule and, since I cannot justify $100/month for early/late access &/or classes I have no interest in, I will be terminating my Life Time membership at year's end. I will join another national fitness chain for ~$30/month. It isn't as high-end as the Life Time I am leaving, but the locker rooms are clean and the equipment is new, albeit uniquely colored. I just need a place to sweat and moderately stress my heart at the start of my day. 

[tt55778876 · Accepted solution]

You should have several good options for gyms offered through UHC Renew Active.  Also, you can join as many as you want. Why terminate your LT membership?  It’s not costing you anything is it?  

[RaulD660572]

I'm a senior.  Not offended, but clearly see he or she has issues.

More to my point.  You can upgrade your plan and workout at 5am.  No problem.

I just don't see the quick complaining.  All gyms throughout my life had a tier system.  Hrs, no sauna, no massage chair, etc.   I chose those gyms because the lowest tier was very cheap.

I like how LTF last year or so changed a lot of memberships to have access to many classes that before were extra.  I don't do a single class, so in a sense I'm subsidizing, but I prefer a more even level.

Again u can upgrade.  Or get more for your money at LAF, or planet fitness, etc.

[js8864]

I agree with you 100% and will be leaving Lifetime as well. This new policy is demoralizing and marginalizing seniors.

[RaulD660572]

I just don't see that.  I workout at 530am most often, sometimes 5:30 pm.  I don't see that marginalization.

Keep in mind a very important thing, you can upgrade your plan.

All gyms I ever been too had a tier systems.  I chose them because their lowest level was very cheap.  Many went out of business.

I joined LTF on first month many, many years ago.  I asked for a lower tier, and they had none.  I still went with it.

This month, my gym at 10am is jam packed with pickle ballers.  Just adapt.

[rt23921016]

Sad that you would say that out loud. Let alone think it to yourself!

[RG361135]

 This in "MY OPINION" is discrimination. Why should we have to pay $100 per month when Lifetime Fitness is already receiving money? Everyone thinks that those of us over a certain age just sit home all day and do nothing.  This is wrong. BTW---"Membership offering is based on the rate Medicare Fitness Program Administrators are paying on behalf of enrollees". SO how much are they paid? Is it capitated on a monthly basis or are they paid when an enrollee goes to the gym? 

EITHER WAY--------This in my opinion is AGE DISCRIMINATION. It is wrong and once again "greed" on behalf of LTF.