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.

[mw80402156]

 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.

[DeniseR657293]

I agree, what a disappointment.  Club Pilates is perfect for seniors to maintain balance and flexibility.  Who is making these decisions? Always screwing the consumer to save money while your CEOs and Higher-ups are living in Million dollar homes with outrageous salaries.   Please reconsider the premium locations such as Pilates or Yoga for us Seniors.

[TRL1111]

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@DeniseR657293 wrote:

Who is making these decisions? 

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No doubt someone who realized that paying $31 every time one of us walks through the door of Club Pilates is not sustainable.  I think it might have been sustainable if they'd limited members to four visits per month total, not per studio.  Or maybe not--Orange Theory was limited to eight visits total per month, and they were dropped, too.

I'm disappointed in the change, but I understand it.  And as I've said elsewhere, the change just brings Renew Active in line with Silver Sneakers, and nobody ever accuses Silver Sneakers of not having a program that helps keep seniors healthy.

[JillR908616]

Personally I specifically chose United Healthcare BECAUSE of renew active. Silver Sneakers offered box gyms where I have only hurt my back in the past. Not sure why you would try to defend them. When a CEO makes 10 million dollars a year, but they can’t support and promote better exercise plans for their members, there is something wrong with the company. 

[TRL1111]

I'm not defending them--I'm just pointing out the economic realities that most people don't seem to acknowledge. 

You might consider getting a plan that includes membership in Silver & Fit, but Club Pilates and the like are available only if you pay extra.  And I don't think Silver Sneakers has ever included places like Club Pilates.  So Renew Active (UHC) was an outlier in providing those premium memberships, and apparently they determined/realized it wasn't economically sustainable, just like the others had already determined/realized.  

I'm going to keep my UHC supplement because my Renew Active still includes some premium places like independent pilates and yoga studios, and Lifetime Fitness, in addition to the usual gyms and rec centers and YMCAs.  But if I lived somewhere that the choices were limited to the same places Silver Sneakers offers, I might consider changing.

[CBtoo]

And hope you can still pass medical underwriting (not true in all states but true in most of them) if you choose to switch so you even can switch at all or can switch as a tier one rate and not have to pay tier two (which then makes it cheaper to stay with what you already have).

The issue too for UHC is that they need to keep the price at a level people even want to sign up as many are price sensitive and only look at the less expensive options. What many of those people don't do is look at what the price will be if they live into their 80's and beyond where community rated plans usually cost a lot less that age attained (everyone of the same age is in the same risk group) or age signed up isk group. 

[TRL1111]

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@mw80402156 wrote:

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

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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).

[SandraH34897]

  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.

[js22]

At the exercise coach this morning 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.”

[LisaT742060]

• Obviously UCH prefers to have their seniors unhealthy on more drugs. 

[TerriM890870]

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.

[CBtoo]

Premiums also go up each year for supplement because the discount you get is less. For those who turned 65, I think it is prior to 2020, we have 10 years of discounts before you pay full price. Those who turned 65 after that have 15 years of discounts before you pay full price. 

[RodolfoZ791829]

Here are the steps to submit an appeal online:

1) While logged on into your online account, click on the
COVERAGE AND BENEFITS tab
2) Click on PLAN DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES sub tab
3) Scroll down until you see the heading FORMS AND
RESOURCES
4) Click on the arrow to the right of OTHER RESOURCES
5) Here, you will see the first link is for the Appeals
and Grievances process information, but the second link,
Medicare Plan Appeals and Grievances Form (Online), is
to submit the appeal online. The third link is to print
and send in the form.

If you prefer to send in an appeal by mail, you will
print out the third link and send it to:

Appeals & Grievance Department
PO Box 6106
MS CA124-0157
Cypress, CA 90630
or fax to: 888-517-7113

Appeals must be submitted within 60 calendar days of the
denial notice or Cost Sharing Dispute. Requests for an
appeal must be sent in writing. A decision will be made
regarding your appeal within 60 days of the plan
receiving your request.

Submit an Appeal Online
https://memberforms.uhc.com/MR-AppealsandGrievance.html

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[2/24/25] Rodolfo @RodolfoZ791829 👍

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[*** @RodolfoZ791829 wrote:

Here are the steps to submit an appeal online:

1) While logged on into your online account, click on the
COVERAGE AND BENEFITS tab
2) Click on PLAN DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES sub tab
3) Scroll down until you see the heading FORMS AND
RESOURCES
4) Click on the arrow to the right of OTHER RESOURCES
5) Here, you will see the first link is for the Appeals
and Grievances process information, but the second link,
Medicare Plan Appeals and Grievances Form (Online), is
to submit the appeal online. The third link is to print
and send in the form.

If you prefer to send in an appeal by mail, you will
print out the third link and send it to:

Appeals & Grievance Department
PO Box 6106
MS CA124-0157
Cypress, CA 90630
or fax to: 888-517-7113

Appeals must be submitted within 60 calendar days of the
denial notice or Cost Sharing Dispute. Requests for an
appeal must be sent in writing. A decision will be made
regarding your appeal within 60 days of the plan
receiving your request.

Submit an Appeal Online
https://memberforms.uhc.com/MR-AppealsandGrievance.html ***]

---

[TM614020]

After enrolling in Life Time Fitness just a few days ago, I was told by the facility's manager today that UHC MA will be dropping Life Time for 2025.  LIfe Time is a Premium location according to UHC website.  I just started to believe that the program will be beneficial to me and now I am left wondering if UHC cares at all about its members or more about its bottom line.  I will sign the petition but can you please update it to include Life Time Fitness in the list of facilities being dropped for 2025?  Thanks.  TKM

[DavidG962812]

My wife and I left our UHC Advantage plans because we received letters from them stating premium gyms (like LifeTime Fitness) would not be covered in 2025. LifeTime confirmed that also. We changed our Advantage plan to Aetna whose Silver Sneakers does provide a LifeTime membership, and we have signed up. Interestingly, a friend at LifeTime left her Cigna plan that would no longer cover LifeTime for a 2025 UHC Advantage plan and got her LifeTime membership covered. So, I have no clue how Medicare Advantage plan providers determine who gets what covered. 🤦‍♂️

[sm13058948]

I don’t know if it will help but I created a Change.org petition- ashamed they did not let us know during Open Enrollment and I am sorry for studios and gyms - and us

Bring Back YMCAs and Other Premium Locations to Renew Active for 2025!

AARP @UHC UnitedHealthcare
Please sign this Change.org petition I just posted - and share https://chng.it/Lbnx9ZGJWc

[KarenG670834]

I've been following the other threads on this dropped coverage (RenewActive from the AARP/United supplemental plan) and haven't seen a single reply from AARP or any suggestions about getting one from them. This is a a huge hit to my wallet, health, and psyche. Those classes are vital to my health!!

If this multi-billion $ corporation is using AARP's good name/reputation/mailing list, it seems to me that AARP should be on top of the situation and, if not fighting for the benefit's reinstatement, at least negotiating on our behalf for some concession.

[LisaT742060]

I agree with you so disappointed with an organization who focused is to support seniors. Obviously, they don’t care either or they would be addressing and fighting for this

[TRL1111]

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@LisaT742060 wrote:

I agree with you so disappointed with an organization who focused is to support seniors. Obviously, they don’t care either or they would be addressing and fighting for this

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Well, to be fair, it's not like they're eliminating the gym benefit entirely.  When Renew Active gets rid of expensive gyms like Orangetheory and Club Pilates, their network is going to closely resemble Silver Sneakers, which concentrates on YMCAs, community rec centers, and big chains like LA Fitness or 24 Hour Fitness, and has as far as I know never offered access to places like Club Pilates. 

[TRL1111]

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@sm13058948 wrote:

Bring Back YMCAs and Other Premium Locations to Renew Active for 2025!

I can find no indication that all YMCAs are being removed from Renew Active, like is happening with Orange Theory or Stretch Lab. I've had a couple of YMCAs drop out of Renew Active over the past year (e.g. Metropolitan Washington, DC), but none of the other YMCAs I belong to through Renew Active have indicated they're leaving.  In fact, one of them just called me a couple of days ago to ask why I haven't been there lately.

Also, none of the YMCAs I belong to through Renew Active are listed as "premium" locations on the Renew Active website.  I assume you know of one (or more) that is listed as "premium" and you know it's leaving Renew Active, but I think it's very much an individual case. 

[sm13058948]

Every YMCA in my market is Premium Location as of 1/1/25 but it is not just what is affecting me - or you. 
I researched to make sure my Y was listed during Open Enrollment and it was.

Don’t like UHC sends a letter this late. 

I don’t know if this petition will help but I sign many petitions even if they do not personally affect me but mean much to others.

There was an article not long ago about denied insurance- 80% of people never fight it but I do. I am doing it for me and for others who don’t have the energy… or concern

[TRL1111]

The problem with referring to YMCAs is that as far as I can tell, the vast majority of them will still be included in Renew Active, so the petition is mentioning a concern that isn't necessary valid, which I think dilutes the value of the petition.

[CherylA596421]

The petition I signed was pretty clear that Renew Access is no longer covering the following: OrangeTheory Fitness, The Exercise coach, Club Pilates, Pure Barre, Yoga Six, CycleBar, StretchLab, and Rumble. Also, it included premium YMCA locations. It's don't believe it makes signing a petition to support others as not valid. It is valid -- supporting those of us who will be impacted. 

[sm13058948]

Hey Cheryl. Thx for signing and do appreciate the suggestion on clarifying the named inclusion of other gyms. 

The order of these replies seems like what I wrote about not signing was not directed at you and your comment but was not. I replied to a person that wrote several times that this did not pertain to them so I just asked that they move on. 

I took my flyer with QR code of my petition this morning to a seniors class I teach. One lady said well it probably will not help - arrrgh - then why try anything? 

Im just trying to channel this angst into a form we can cohesively share, even if it doesn’t help… 

[sm13058948]

Then don’t sign and move on because this does not pertain to you… but as I said, in Charlotte, all of my YMCAs will go away. 

The operative wording is “Premium Locations”

[TRL1111]

From what I can tell, the YMCAs in Charlotte aren't in Silver Sneakers, either.  That leads me to believe it's the Y in Charlotte that's deciding not to participate.

[sm13058948]

Not true -the Ys in Charlotte just found out and are not happy about their senior members they care about …

[TRL1111]

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@sm13058948 wrote:

Not true -the Ys in Charlotte just found out and are not happy about their senior members they care about …

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But if they care about their senior members, why don't they participate in Silver Sneakers?  Since Renew Active is available only through one insurance carrier, I would guess there are a LOT more Silver Sneakers members out there than Renew Active.  Its strange that they'd receive the same cold shoulder from Silver Sneakers that they're getting from Renew Active.

Who are you talking to at the Y about this?  They've said that Renew Active is dropping them and the Y has no say whatsoever in the decision?  Did they try to negotiate on the price?  It makes no sense for Renew Active to say to the YMCAs in Charlotte, "We hate you and refuse to let our members use your facilities, no matter what you do or say."

FWIW, a couple of years ago I talked to a membership director at a YMCA.  I'd scanned my key tag, but the class was cancelled because the teacher didn't show up, and I was concerned that Renew Active was going to have to pay for a visit I didn't actually do. 

He gave me some details about his Y's payment agreement with Renew Active, and it sounded like a terrible deal to me--Renew Active was paying for a maximum number of visits per Renew Active member per month, and anything over that the Y didn't get paid for, but they still let people come.  So I was not surprised when about a year later, I was notified that this YMCA was no longer participating in Renew Active. 

Maybe it was a situation like Renew Active offering Club Pilates and Orangetheory memberships, and later realizing it was costing them much more money than they expected.  The Y obviously agreed to be paid for only X visits per member per month, so they can't have been expecting people to be coming multiples of X times per month.  I would blame pickleball, but this location didn't offer it.  😀 

[DavidG962812]

My wife and I will have Silver Sneakers in 2025 in order to continue playing pickleball at Lifetime Fitness 😁. We also had memberships at the YMCA. I must check if Silver Sneakers covers them in 2025 also. I'm sure physical location has something to do with all of this. Obviously, locations in NY or DC would have much higher dues than others.