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.

[TRL1111]

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@SandraH34897 wrote:

I hope UHC is ready to pay for the consequences of all these seniors becoming stiff and inactive.

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Oh, please.  That's like saying if a buffet stops offering prime rib, the customers will starve.  No--the customers will just eat something else from among the dozens of other dishes available. 

And as I've noted, the gym network starting 1-1-25 for supplement holders who have Renew Active will closely resemble the network for Silver Sneakers, and Silver Sneakers is considered a perfectly acceptable program to keep seniors from becoming still and inactive.  

You even acknowledged that having access to these particular gyms seemed too good to be true.  I thought so, too, and that was when I was thinking they were paying something along the lines of $10 per class, not the $30 they actually pay.  So I was disappointed but not the least bit surprised when these very expensive locations got dropped.  I'll miss them, but not enough to accept an increase of hundreds of dollars in my premium to cover them.

[KathrynH488719]

At least UHC will still make at least the $22 Billion they made in 2023!  We can be thankful for that!

[GailL1]

@KathrynH488719 

Is that for all of their insurance products?  Medicare, Employer Health Coverage and all of their other products like Optum Rx.  I think they even own ReNew Active.  

[GailL1]

@SandraH34897 

ALWAYS read the mouse print - the disclaimer is there for these auxiliary benefits - they can cancel them at any time since these are not part of the Health plan or the Suipplemental plan - they are just “loss leaders” - to reel you in - I mean on a Supplemental plan, there is NO difference in the actual plans from one insurer to another so all they have to lure you in are

(1) cheaper premiums or (2) auxiliary benefits.

Down the road , I can assure you, you will begin to complain about the premium cost of the [whichever] supplemental plan - or Medigap plan.  

The program of Traditional Medicare does not include anything like gym participation in their program - if it was deemed to be high on the preventative measure, it would be rated as either A or B and then covered in the program of Medicare.

I would never buy a health care product based on auxiliary coverage - there are other things that are more important in an health insurance policy like the coverage one is getting on their medications, meds that are their formulary or even if my provider of choice is within their network.  

Pure and simple, the Inflation Reduction Act put more liability on the insurers and on the drug manufacturers and it also limited the amount that premiums could rise - so they were stuck between a rock and a hard place in where they could make up these lost revenues - auxiliary benefits were the place where they could cut back.  

[KathrynH488719]

Yeah, that $22 billion in profit in 2023 was just NOT ENOUGH!!!

[LisaT742060]

my facility is going to be discounting the very large plans that you sign up for for six months or a year. Mine offers group classes I might switch to that because it’s affordable

[TRL1111]

But the Exercise Coach is listed on Renew Active's location search page in the same sentence as Xponential, Orange Theory, etc.--the ones that are leaving and have been deleted from the list of locations.  (The ones I suspect couldn't come to an agreement with Renew Active.)

But that's not the same category as places that are still on the list, but identified as "premium" locations.  Those are the ones that Advantage members appear to definitely be excluded from starting in 2025, but whether supplements will still have access to them is unknown.

[js22]

I have a supplement and lost access to the exercise coach starting 2025. I did finally receive a letter from UHC about that. I also belong to a YMCA that is listed as premier gym. I did not receive a letter from UHC about that, but the YMCA sent me a letter that my fee will go up 4%! Not quite sure what thet mean by that unless it’s a letter that goes to all their members.

[sm13058948]

suit yourself and, as I stated last week - don’t sign and move on. Please stop sucking all of the air out of the room and find another issue to insert yourself. Done 

[TRL1111]

What you consider "sucking all of the air out of the room" I consider "providing facts and perspective, and offering possible solutions." 

[LisaT742060]

Where did you find out? Premium gyms are covered under supplemental plants

[sm13058948]

A text from my Agent

[WebWiseWoman]

Don't want to be accusatory but watching coverage of AP: "Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s masked killer after ‘brazen, targeted’ attack on NYC str... 

[TRL1111]

You think it was somebody here?

[LindaP54583]

I am disgusted by the decision by renew active to remove pilates and stretch labs. Pilates is essential to core strength and balance and keeping your feet flexible so you do not fall. It is also not high impact. It also helps you recover faster from any falls. Stretch Labs has also been incredible! By the way, Kaiser One Pass is picking these up, so I might leave United Healthcare behind for 2025. What is wrong with you guys, smarten up and keep us healthy, strong, centered, and balanced

[JaimieE831259]

thanks for sharing about kaiser, @LindaP54583! i was actually thinking of checking them out b/c, in the aftermath of the ceo's assassination yesterday, i saw a report that said united's rate of disallowing medical services is twice as much (32%!!!) as the industry average. that means, a third of what might be medically necessary—like an ambulance to the hospital if you have a heart attack, which was disallowed as per someone's facebook post on united's site—might be considered not necessary. shocking! & scary!

[KathrynH488719]

UHC is probably distracted today as their CEO was gunned down in NYC this morning.

[DavidG962812]

Very unfortunate that this happened. I feel bad for his wife and kids.  Apparently, he had been receiving threats. More to come, I'm sure. 

He was the CEO for the insurance business, which I assume is or includes health care (not parent company The UHC Group).

[DavidG962812]

Regardless, I think it is unrealistic to expect that protests from us about Renew Active dropping Premium Gyms will change anything for 2025.

[KathrynH488719]

Yeah, nothing will change.  

[SusanG74782]

Upset stretch lab no longer covered under UHC aarp benefits. After 2 injuries stretch lab sessions has improved by health more than any other therapy who do I contact. 

[SherryB50529]

I am so disgusted with UHC Medicare Advantage for dropping Renew Active Stretch Lab from the gym Membership program here in Idaho. Another rip-off for seniors. I never use medical benefits because I am healthy and at 67 yrs old still work part time as a housekeeper. This is very very physically demanding and I absolutely loved my once a month covered appt to help me recover physically. UHC is extremely short-sided in not covering this type of benefit to help working seniors and those trying hard to stay fit and healthy. I do not use medical benefits and this type of benefit is very proactive in helping us seniors avoid needing medical benefits by staying healthy, working, and fit. I will be looking to see what other plans are available. I am so tired of healthy seniors getting the short end of things. We paid into Medicare our entire working years. It's a sad state of insurance greed. 

[JeffG242897]

 I spent a long time today with a UHC agent, who eventually talked to a manager. Their only suggestion was for me to send a paper letter to UHC. Of course, open enrollment will be over by the time they receive my letter. Useless. I am researching other plans. Does anyone know of a plan G in Florida that has a fitness component that includes Club Pilates?

[TRL1111]

If you currently have a supplement and are looking to change, open enrollment doesn't affect you at all.  You can change supplements any time of the year.  Look for a post from me from a couple of days ago where I explained what open enrollment means to supplement holders wanting to keep their supplement (hint:  nothing) and what open enrollment means to Advantage members (hint: there's another open enrollment period for them starting in January, so the only thing missing the current open enrollment means is that your change will be effective February 1 instead of January 1).

[CherylA596421]

I was Supplement G in Florida and moved to NM temporarily and will be back in FLA. The way the Renew Access worked use to work (until Jan 1, 2025) is that you could participate in any Club Pilate across the USA as along as it was affiliated and listed on Renew. I had access not only to FLA Club Pilates but also the ones in New Mexico. UHC really let us down and kept it quiet during open enrollment. I don't know of any other Insurance companies that are offering Club Pilates. One of the Florida studios reached out to me to offer a discount for 3 months in 2025 -- but -- that does not seem to really help long term. 

[GailL1]

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@JeffG242897 wrote:

 I am researching other plans. Does anyone know of a plan G in Florida that has a fitness component that includes Club Pilates?

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I misread your post so I am adding the Medigap plan locator: 

MEDIGAP PLAN LOCATOR:  Here is the link for finding Medigap plans (Supplemental) that are available to you at your location:

Medicare.gov - Find a Medigap Policy That Works for You  

The one below is for Medicare Advantage Plans or Free standing Prescription Drug Plans.

You can go to the Medicare.gov compare site and by entering your zip code you can find all the Medicare Advantage plans that are available to you in your location.

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN AND FREE STANDING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN LOCATOR:

Medicare.gov - Explore Your Medicare Coverage Options 

But as far as knowing what extra benefits they may have and at what location,  you will have to research that plan by plan.

Don’t forget to make sure they also cover any meds or medical providers you may also want -

[LisaT742060]

He was asking about a supplement plan G. I have not been able to find any yet, but I have an appointment with EXERCISE COACH tomorrow. I will update if I find out any information.

[GailL1]

@LisaT742060 

Whoops - Sorry -For a Medigap plan available in your location - 

(Medicare Supplemental Plans)

Medicare.gov - Find a Medigap Policy That Works for You  

[JeffG242897]

 Thanks @GailL1 . The trick is triangulating which of those policies have fitness plans, if so, which plans, and does the plan include club pilates. So far, at least in my area, silver sneakers does not. Silver and fit does, as a premium, but don't know cost yet, even after many calls, chats, and much waiting.

[TRL1111]

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@JeffG242897 wrote:

 Thanks @GailL1 . The trick is triangulating which of those policies have fitness plans, if so, which plans, and does the plan include club pilates. So far, at least in my area, silver sneakers does not. Silver and fit does, as a premium, but don't know cost yet, even after many calls, chats, and much waiting.

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Silver&Fit is incredibly secretive about what premium locations cost--all they say is that you get a discount.  Maybe that's warranted, because maybe each one is different.  But if you're interested in what a discounted membership at Club Pilates would cost under Silver&Fit, I'd suggest you call the Club Pilates location you're interested in, because different locations have different membership costs.

And please report back if you find out something solid.  It's maddening how hard it is to get any actual numbers.