AARP/UHC Renew Active change for 2025

[js22]

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.

[js22]

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!

[JodieN656045]

That’s over too

[LisaT742060]

Was it EXERCISE COACH you were going to, I just started going there and so mad it won’t be covered in 2025

[js22]

Yes, the Exercise Coach. It was just perfect for my needs as it was not self-directed!

did you verify that it was not available in your area? When I do a search for participating gyms , at the top of the page with the results, it states “Starting Jan. 1, 2025, Orangetheory Fitness, The Exercise Coach and Xponential Fitness brands including Club Pilates, CycleBar, StretchLab, Rumble, Pure Barre and YogaSix will no longer be in the Renew Active fitness network.“‘

[LisaT742060]

yes I am so mad. I was going to be new to Medicare supplement. I am choosing a different company now due to this.

[ClaudiaB949628]

What other company are you choosing?  Have you found one that includes the premium gyms as a benefit?

[fr7026]

  I'd change my insurance company in a minute. I'll have 300 OTF classes this month. I'm in Illinois, who includes Orange Theory?

[k682309m]

I have not found another supplement plan that has these benefits

[ClaudiaB949628]

Ok folks, a representative from United Medicare Advisors just told me Cigna has a supplement plan that will still include the premium gyms (at least Club Pilates, which I love) in 2025. Might consider switching from UHC supplement to Cigna.

[TRL1111]

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@ClaudiaB949628 wrote:

Ok folks, a representative from United Medicare Advisors just told me Cigna has a supplement plan that will still include the premium gyms (at least Club Pilates, which I love) in 2025. Might consider switching from UHC supplement to Cigna.

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Be careful.  Cigna's plan is called Silver&Fit and there are two levels of locations--standard and premium.  Standard ones are included, but premium ones (like Club Pilates) cost extra.  It appears to be basically a discounted membership at a given location, and you pay that location directly, and since it's an actual membership you pay whether you go or not.  Plus I can't find anywhere that gives even an approximation of what a membership at, say, Club Pilates would cost, or even the amount of discount.

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https://www.silverandfit.com/faq 

Also, I got an email from a Club Pilates I belong to and it said they had been notified that "UHC and ASH have implemented substantial changes to their benefits."  I figured out ASH is American Specialty Health Fitness, which owns Silver&Fit.  So I'd triple check that Club Pilates is included even as a premium location.  But FWIW, Club Pilates said said to contact them about special discounts they're offering to people who are losing the insurance benefit, so that might be an option if that's the only gym you're interested in.

Since open enrollment has nothing to do with changing my Medigap supplement, I'm gong to wait until after January 1 to let things settle down.  At that point I can look at the participating gym lists for various insurance plans in real time rather than speculatively.

[ClaudiaB949628]

Thanks, Larry. Your findings align with mine. I couldn't get a straight answer out of Cigna (beyond the concept of a "discount," but nothing in writing. I contacted my local Club Pilates and they very kindly offered me a discounted rate for the class I take. I suspect many of the premium gyms may be so inclined, as they will be losing lots of senior business.

Regarding switching insurers, the licensed broker I worked with to find the AARP UHC supplement plan reminded me that any of these insurers can take away a benefit at any time, and they often do. So, switching insurers may mean jumping through annoying hoops (underwriting, medical info, applications, etc.) and with no guarantee of specific gym benefits. Therefore it seems best to stay put, at least for now.  

Thanks for your informed response. Much appreciated. Good luck, everyone.

[TRL1111]

Since Cigna/Silver&Fit won't say what the discount actually is, I wonder if you could contact Club Pilates again and ask them what it would cost you to join there with a Silver&Fit membership. Or even what type of membership you could get; since you'd be paying for it, it might be more than just the four pack that came free with Renew Active. Wanna call them again?

[ClaudiaB949628]

Club Pilates offered me a good discount on a monthly 4-pack. The deciding factor for me was the likelihood that any other insurer could change the benefits package at any time, and the hassle of applying and getting set up with another insurer.  And, as of now, UHC still offers membership at Ochsner Fitness Centers (listed as premium gyms) and classes at Barre3. So I'm content with my decision. 

If you're interested in exploring discounted rates with a Club Pilates I'd suggest calling the one closest to your home. It seems like they have some leeway in pricing, at least regionally.

[js6246]

What is a “good discount”? When I asked for a written pamphlet or PDF of prices, my Club Pilates in MN doesn’t have one. I was quoted $108 for 4 sessions per month. It is an ongoing charge so as a snowbird, I will still be charged $15 per month I am gone. It seems the franchises have some wiggle room.  Since we will leave for 2 months, I may wait and see if prices are better when I return in the spring.

[TRL1111]

I mentioned elsewhere in this thread that one Club Pilates I belong to is offering Renew Active members a 20% discount on a four-pack membership, with a waived enrollment fee.   

[JillR908616]

 I am now going to pay $220 per month for an unlimited membership. I will have access to 4 studios. This is in Lake Forest, Illinois    

[LisaT742060]

If anyone hears any discounts due to this at Exercise Coach please let us know. 

[js22]

At the exercise coach towards the end of last year, I was told that some franchises will be offering discounted programs. I asked if I could post the sheet with the information, but she requested that I not do that since it is the choice of each franchise whether or not to offer it. So if you would like to continue, you should ask your local the exercise coach about the “exclusive offer for Renew Active clients.”

[DavidG962812]

My wife and I are looking at an Aetna Advantage plan which has Silver Sneakers as its fitness program. I've called Aetna, Silver Sneakers and Lifetime Fitness. All said that as far as they know a basic membership at Lifetime Fitness will be covered for 2025. Lifetime is a premium fitness club with many fitness programs for seniors and pickleball which we both love playing (with other seniors 😁). 

[DavidG962812]

There is a difference between UHC Advantage and UHC Supplemental. My understanding is some UHC Supplemental plans still cover Premium Gyms in certain areas. Best to check with UHC and the gym you want to attend before deciding.

[js6246]

Today I received a letter from my UHC supplemental plan saying Club Pilates and Exercise Coach will NOT be covered in 2025.

[k682309m]

No, I've been told UHC supplement will not have those benefits in 2025

[js22]

Today I received a letter from UHC telling me The Exercise Coach would not be a Renew Active Gym for 2025.

i also received a very ‘helpful’ response to my email about the premium gyms- ‘

There are changes to the Renew Active gyms participating in the fitness offering. Some gyms will no longer be offered through the fitness network after December 31, 2024.  The good news is, you will still have access to a large network of gyms and fitness locations nationwide, offering many ways to stay active — either at a gym or from home.  

A letter will be mailed to insured members who has utilized one of the centers listed in the previous email. ’

they did not address they question I had asked about the list of gyms in my area, premium gyms having a little ‘i’ to the right of the “premium location” text - when you
click it you see “ Premium Locations are not available in all plans” - how
do we know if our plan has access to those premium gyms?

so I sent them that same question for the third time.

i had also joined our local YMCA in 2024, which is a premium gym that may not be available for all plans. As of yet, I have received no letter from them

[ClaudiaB949628]

I have a UHC Supplemental plan, live in New Orleans, and called UHC to make sure. Yes, they are dropping the premium gyms for the Supplemental plans, too in 2025.  I am crushed.

[GailL1]

@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.  

[js6246]

It is the insurer that made that decision. The owner of our Exercise Coach was informed by Optum that there would be no reimbursements from UHC for Renew Active as of January 1,2025

[js6246]

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.

[jk7140]

Would it do any good for all of us to campaign to UHC to continue with these memberships?  Basically, I think they'd rather we spend our money on medications (Which have increased in price) than help us stay healthy by using these facilities.

[KarenG670834]

 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.

[JillR908616]

 I put in a grievance to both UHC and Calpers ( which is where I get my medical care from.) I just received a call about an hour ago, responding to my Calpers grievance. She asked for the details and was sympathetic but didn’t know anything. I asked her to look into why the clubs were cancelled and she said she would and get back to me. She understood that many people wanted them reinstated and said sometimes

contracts do get renegotiated. We shall see. I told her about this blog and suggested they look at it to see how unhappy people are about this decision. Again, call , write submit a grievance. I really don’t want to lose this amazing benefit.