Conversationalist ⭐

AARP/UHC Renew Active change for 2025

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
November 13, 2024
309 replies
156844 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.

GailL1

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

@js22 If it is like other gym connected exercise programs built in as an extra benefit to an Insurance plans - you have to look at the programs (gym) sponsors website and then find the respective program name and which gym location has the program and then which location.

It seems more like that the gym location would be dropping the insurer since itis the insurer that says what they will pay them and then the gym would say yea or nay via a contract agreement.

IT‘S ALWAYS SOMETHING . . . . .. . . . Roseanne Roseannadanna

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js6246

Contributor ⭐⭐

No. It is the greedy insurance company. The franchise owners will be hurt by this - as Club Pilates & Exercise Coach are small facilities and have small classes. There are never more than 2 people in EC with 1:1 ratio coach/client. Our club has 25 people using EC. This will hurt that business. The ratio for Club Pilates is 1:12. Many seniors will not be able to afford to continue.

KarenG670834

Contributor ⭐⭐

I'm not holding my breath. But, also, I couldn't let this go without letting them know how misguided the decision is. And I'm appalled that AARP isn't pushing back on this policy which uses their name/marketing.

My Pilates reformer and barre classes, each 4x/month, in addition to a lot of other in-person exercise classes have improved my health tremendously, so no medication or P/T is needed. Or doctor's visits.

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DavidG962812

Contributor ⭐⭐

My wife & I both received the letter from UHC stating that "Premium" gyms would no longer be covered under our Advantage Plan for 2025. So, I had a Chat with a UHC rep who assured me that our Premium gym (Lifetime Fitness) was covered for 2025. Then I received an email from Lifetime stating the UHC was dropping them from our coverage for 2025. Well, I called UHC and was told that Lifetime was correct and UHC was not covering their membership for 2025. I asked why the 2025 Plan description on UHC's website stilled showed Lifetime as a covered gym? The answer was, UHC has not updated their website yet, but it would be corrected sometime in early December. So, PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP FOR A 2025 UHC ADVANTAGE PLAN DURING THE ENROLEMENT PERIOD WON'T FIND OUT "PREMIUM GYMS" ARE NOT COVERED UNTIL THE ENROLEMENT PERIOD ENDS. Good one UHC.

GailL1

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

The “Gottcha’ phenomenon

I’m not involved in this so what happens if you have this type of extra benefit and then for some reason you can no longer access the benefit - do they drop your premiums ?

I think for extra stuff like this and other lost leader type benefits, people would be better off getting it on their own and not worry about what a health insurer is gonna be doing.

ESPECIALLY if it is connected to a Medigap plan which is not so easily switched in many states. Might be ok for a MA plan cause you can pick a new one of those every year during AEP.

IT‘S ALWAYS SOMETHING . . . . .. . . . Roseanne Roseannadanna

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js22Author

Conversationalist ⭐

I chose AARP/UHC plan G because it was the only company to offer community priced plans. Because I am an AARP member, I get the wellness benefits for free. The reason I joined the gym I did was because they offered 2 free sessions and mentioned that with Renew Active, visits would be free after those 2 sessions. I’m not into those big gyms where the goal is to meet people and show off your latest exercise gear. So the one I chose is just perfect for me- the studio is small, and you have a personal coach for the 20 minutes. Nice & peaceful too!

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LisaT742060

Contributor ⭐⭐

I was going to sign up for United healthcare now due to losing EXERCISE COACH. I will go elsewhere. I am so mad.

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js22Author

Conversationalist ⭐

I received a response to my email about renew active gyms for 2025. They did tell me about the gyms that are no longer part of the renew active network, but neglected to tell me how we know if premium gyms are available in our plan.

here’s what they said about the gyms not available thru renew active in 2025:

Starting January 1, 2025, some gyms and fitness locations will no longer be available through the Renew Active gym

The below gyms will no longer be offered through the fitness network after December 31, 2024.

Orangetheory Fitness

The Exercise Coach

Locations owned by Xponential Fitness

Club Pilates

CycleBar

Stretch Lab

Pure Barre

YogaSix Rumble

To use the Renew Active wellness extra you will need to go to a gym is the facility network.

You can go to www.uhcrenewactive.com to locate participating gyms. Please note the above list will still show on the network until 12/31/2024.

they failed to explain why advantage plan members have received a letter over 3 weeks ago explaining about the changes to gym locations for Renew Active, but people on supplements have not .

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m186939a

Contributor ⭐

I have used the Y for 7 years since I found out AARP UNH covered the gym with Renew. I am very upset the Y has been dropped. I have made many good friends and they have helped me stay active. I heard by word of mouth that the Y was dropped for 2025. Now I have to find a gym that includes the classes and workouts I have been doing. It's really sad insurance companies do not work with people to do preventive care which would help cut cost for them and for their clients.

J

JillR908616

Contributor ⭐⭐

I have been on United Healthcare medicare advantage with Calpers since May 2023. The Renew Active benefit is amazing. We have used Club Pilates twice a week, Exercise Coach once a week and Stretch Lab once a week. I was never contacted about the loss of the premium gyms and only heard about it yesterday from one of the Club Pilates studios. I spent the whole morning calling United Healthcare and Calpers. Our Calpers open enrollment ended in Oct, so we can't even change plans. I will NEVER use United Healthcare again. I was told by their reps (who also didn't know about the change) to complain and tell everyone else that I know that doesn't like this to complain as well. So I'm putting this out here. Call the customer service number on your healthcare card and tell them you want to submit a grievance. This appears to be the only way we might possibly get it back. We are probably saving $1000 a month for two people and we don't get this for free. Our rates went UP $100 PER PERSON in 2025 so we are now paying over $700 each!! I think an ounce of prevention is worth a pound cure. Call and COMPLAIN about this loss!

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LisaT742060

Contributor ⭐⭐

I was going to pick them for my supplement, I am going to call them and tell them now I am not going to use them. I am so pissed off. The whole reason I was going to choose them was because of EXERCISE COACH

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k682309m

Contributor ⭐

Totally hear you! but I can't find another carrier who has anything similar!

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LoriK241844

Contributor ⭐

OK,

Doing my research--was very upset since I go to both Club Pilates and Yoga Six--I pay for some extra classes via "specials" to get lower prices to go at least two times a week to each. I am in San Diego area for half the year and NJ the rest (long story) and found out I can go to LA Fitness in both states for 2025. They have yoga and pilates, as well as a nice pool and other classes.

It is still annoying to find out there is yet another premium increase while AARP is shouting about keeping costs down and advocating for seniors. Will this increase be worth it if I still have to pay extra for Pilates in my community where I have made friends, etc.?

BTW Yoga with Adriene is free on You Tube!

Still waiting on my letter from AARP--I did get notified by Club Pilates.

Just happy I am well enough to use these programs!!!!

Regards,

Lori

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GerrySavage

Contributor ⭐

I'm in Virginia and just got my letter in the mail today notifying me that OrangeTheory Fitness will no longer be included in the RenewActive plan. I'm on UHC Plan G supplement. I am so disappointed!! If they want people to stay active and healthy, then include the gyms that have programs that help you do that.

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LisaT742060

Contributor ⭐⭐

Especially for seniors

K

k682309m

Contributor ⭐

I go to strech lab, exercise coach, and osteo strong and they were all notified in the last several days that they can no longer participate in active renew. I'm in St. Louis

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MYCAH

Contributor ⭐

So you are saying UHC dropped the gyms or the corporate that owns all those brands dumped the program?

J

js6246

Contributor ⭐⭐

I was just notified by EC and have not received the letter yet. I believe we will be notified by UHC. I was told it will also include Club Pilates & Stretch Lab. My husband & I participate in all 3 of these. We live in MN

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PaulaD181630

Contributor ⭐

North Carolina all the premium gyms gone for 2025. Just the big box gyms.

I am now going to look at other less expensive supplemental plans if the premium I am paying for united healthcare doesn’t include the better gym choices.