Contributor ⭐

Silver Sneakers

Forum|Forum|10 years ago
July 2, 2016
75 replies
74759 views

I live in California and am covered by Medi-Cal. Is there anyone that has experienced any coverage problems?

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lindaj333186

Contributor ⭐

I'd like to ad my voice to those who are VERY disappointed in AARP for dropping/changing the Silver Sneakers program.

United Health Care should be smart enough to know that they are saving money by having as many seniors as possible involved in healthy workouts.

I heard or read that not that many AARP members were using the benefit. That hardly seems to be reason to chop the program up. That means to me that it's not costing United as much as it could. It also indicates maybe some more promotion might be in order.

There will always be those who are couch sitters. It seems to me a much better approach is to pass the word and encourage everyone who can to get out there and exercise!

Perhaps United and AARP would like us all to just sit of the couch! I wonder how their expenses would increase then???

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mgrier1

Contributor ⭐

One of the reasons I signed up for the AARP United Health Care plan was that it included the Silver Sneakers program. I was very disappointed to receive a letter in December announcing the change in the program. The program seemed to me to be a win-win for all concerned--the gyms (because seniors are more likely to use them during the daytime hours when they are less busy), the seniors (whose health is improved) and the health care plans (who presumably pay fewer medical costs when seniors are healthier). AARP should reconsider requiring this benefit to be included, or seek out a partner that will include it in future bids.

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LindaNelsonLaird

Contributor ⭐

I was told by an United Healthcare rep when I changed over to their insurance for 2019 that they no longer offered Silversneakers BUT they offered another fitness program, Renew Active, that will be honored at my local fitness facility. Needless to say, I went in to resign up and I was told, yes they honor it but... it is a 50/50 plan!! Yes, I now have to pay half the monthly fitness plan fee! I was never told this. I had to call United Healthcare customer service to get a PIN number in order to activate my membership with the club. I voiced my opinion and he really didn't have anything to say about it but.."I'm sorry." Well, guess who has to wait another whole year to look for another insurance company...Not a happy customer.

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CherylB116334

Contributor ⭐

I am terribly disappointed inAARP UHC. I have been a member for 8 years and brag to everyone about how wonderful they are. This year 2 of my friends signed up on my recommendation. I'm very embarrassed now, that the promised Silver Sneakers is gone. The very worst part is the sneaky, underhanded way it was done. So no one had a chance to choose for themselves.

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jmoon222

Contributor ⭐⭐

Yes, agree, and one other thing people might like to know. they are limiting how many replies get posted so it appears that not a lot of interest....thats a lie. Everyone I talk to that has insurance through UHC/AARP, is unhappy about the loss of Silver Sneakers benefit, but word isn't getting out though this medium. You need to go to facebook and instragram and post there for people to here.

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pammysu48

Contributor ⭐

Am also upset with AARP. I sure hope they are happy with their 'belt tightening' initiative, concerning Silver Sneakers; looking at the response from AARP members... (my wife and I are also members... this may be our last year.) it seems AARP may be seeing a large exodus of members at the end of this year. Not very good PR for either AARP and UHC.

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jmoon222

Contributor ⭐⭐

Agree 100%.....Bring Back Silver Sneakers.

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Leo99123

Contributor ⭐

When AARP/UHC cancelled the free Silver Sneakers program, what they did was to DISCOURAGE seniors exercising, as many seniors could no longer afford a gym membership. Without access to gym facilities, regular exercise almost always goes by the wayside.

Meanwhile, the prestigious Cleveland Clinic published the results of a ten year study on over 120,000 participants. Their conclusion, published in the also prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is that a sedentary lifestyle (lack of regular exercise) was MORE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH THAN SMOKING.

Said differently ( a little tongue in cheek), you would be better off starting to smoke than to quit regular exercise.

AARP is a wonderful organization. But even wonderful organizations make mistakes. AARP...PLEASE BRING BACK FREE SILVER SNEAKERS PROGRAM. IF UHC WONT AGREE, FIRE THEM AND FIND A DIFFERENT PARTNER TO MARKET MEDICARE supplement and advantage programs.

AARP members....if you agree with this post, please send me an email at shamoo11111@yahoo.com.

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Leo99123

Contributor ⭐

I forgot to mention that in 2018, UHC is estimated to earn over $12 billion dollars ( that’s Billion with a B) of net income. This is an increase of about 120% in the last five years, so UHC is certainly not hurting financially.

i just don’t understand why UHC would anger such a large number of their customer base which has given them record profits over the past few years.

They have replaced the free Silver Sneakers program with access to a wellness coach. I am pretty confident that the first recommendation of a fitness coach to stay healthy would be regular exercise, and would probably quote the Cleveland Clinic study as proof of the benefit of regular exercise.

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jmoon222

Contributor ⭐⭐

AGREE!!! The new wellness program called HealthYourWay only pays one half of the enrollment fee and is not usable when traveling. A big loss and I also intend to look for other coverage in October 2019

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p107249l

Contributor ⭐

I am very disappointed in AARP and United Healthcare regarding Silver Sneakers. At the next open enrollment, I will be looking for a new insurance carrier.

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AW342900

Contributor ⭐⭐

@p107249I, are you in a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement Plan? If the latter, there's no need to wait - you can to switch to another company's Medicare Supplement Plan at any time if you are in good health (as discussed in my prior post). ...unfortunately, that's not the case if you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan. 😞

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DennisP669524

Contributor ⭐

As a physician, I have read the studies over and over and over that exercise, great nutrition, and connections - both social and spiritual - contribute to one's health benefit. Speaking with a nurse on the phone, however, or receiving counseling about a condition and how to improve one's health actually does not. So why in the name of heaven would they drop an exercise program designed to be of benefit to one that has shown to be of no benefit? Let's just follow the money shall we? Of course the obvious one is the fact that that UHC/AARP pays a fee to Silver Sneakers (well not any more). But the less obvious is that insurance companies in most states are allowed to charge premium based on their cost plus a profit. So if people's health deterioriates because they are not exercising, their health will inevitably decline and they will need to use medical services more often. So that cost increases SUBSTANTIALLY. So if the allowed profit is 10 percent, they get an increased profit. Example: Cost = $1000, + profit @10% = $1100 with $100 profit. If the cost is $1250, add the same allowed profit of $10% = $1375 total with $125 profit. The fact that there is no gym not a silver sneakers within 20 miles of my home that I can join is of no interest to the greedy folks at UHC/AARP.

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s809426o

Contributor ⭐

It's a real shame that AARP pushes United Health Care and they drop silver sneakers. I have only joined Medigap for the last year and half and find that I need a program like silver sneakers now. I have been an aarp member for the last 16 years and have registered for the next 5. I think I may have to reconsidered the benefits of AARP since they do not caree who they sponser for seniors.

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GailL1

@s809426o wrote:
It's a real shame that AARP pushes United Health Care and they drop silver sneakers. I have only joined Medigap for the last year and half and find that I need a program like silver sneakers now. I have been an aarp member for the last 16 years and have registered for the next 5. I think I may have to reconsidered the benefits of AARP since they do not caree who they sponser for seniors.

Seems to me, there is a disconnect between what people think is the correlation between AARP and UHC -

I guess I don't consider a "name royalty" as an endorsement. I guess I don't consider any membership based benefit as being the best for me - it is just another to evaluate within the whole of whatever it might be - a Medicare plan, a life insurance policy, auto insurance, car rental, a health and fitness program, etc.

Actually, the way I understand it from my readings is, the ONLY place where membership is required with an AARP "branded" Medicare plan is for Medicare Supplemental policies (Medigap). I believe the reason for this is because they are written under a (AARP-UHC)Trust with a Master Plan which crosses over states. The Master Plan contains all those things which a Medigap plan MUST cover per Medicare (the law) - to which any "extra benefit" like a health and wellness plan, dental, vision - don't have to be covered and thus are deemed "extra" and can be cancelled or modified at any time.

If people would read their (Medigap) Evidence of Coverage explaining the plan which they have, they would see that any of these type of "extras" can be cancelled or changed at any time under whatever insurer.

You don't have to be a member of AARP to buy an AARP - Medicare Advantage plan. Since they can change every year, people should make sure they know the changes BEFORE reupping yearly. . Medicare Advantage plans cover the same things as traditional Medicare but in a different way. Medicare Advantage plans can also offer different and extra benefits - but here again, since people have to re-up them yearly, these too can change on a yearly basis. This is doubly important if their Medicare Prescription Drug coverage is also included within the MA plan (MAPD).

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s809426o

Contributor ⭐

You make it sound like it is easy to change Medigap coverage or who covers it. If you really did any research you will know that you only have the right to get coverage without examination on your initial inrollment. After that if you try to change, the insurance company has the right to deny or raise your rate based on your health. So to say just change coverage because you are not happy with the insurance company is not easy or even possible for alot of seniors. I found this out and did my due diligence and made my decision based on alot of factors including the fact that AARP endorsed it. If you look up Medigap programs this one is called "AARP United Health Care Medigap". I thought at the time when I made my selection that AARP would endorse the best for seniors, not have a company that builds up clients based on extras and then drops them after many can not change insurance companie easily or at all. "Extras" and trust count when you are making up your mind. All insurance companies have to follow the "Requirements" of Medicare. It can be the extras that make the difference.

Either you are not on medigap or you are one of the fortunate that can change medigap programs because of excellent health or are not aware of the restrictions that caused by trying to change programs after the initial windows. The open window every year allows you to change but it does say any company can not deny or raise your rates if you try.

If you are saying the AARP endorsed Unitited Health Care because they follow the required guidelines of Medicare, then that applies to all insurance companies So the endorsement is worthless. You are quite wrong if you think that an endorsement from AARP is not powerfull. One of the main reasons you would select AARP is because you trust that they doing the best for seniors. Why would you belong to the organization if it were not.

So based on what you are saying, all products that are endorsed by AARP are not really checked by AARP and probably not the best for seniors. If this is the case and you believe it, why are you a member? Just for the discounts? Which are no better then AAA. I would hope that you belong to AARP because it is an organization that is there to help seniors, not to sell to them.

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pfwest

Contributor ⭐

Silver Sneakers is a well needed program for seniors. Seniors like myself cannot afford to pay for a gym. Please have some compassion and restore this program.

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GailL1

@pfwest wrote:
Silver Sneakers is a well needed program for seniors. Seniors like myself cannot afford to pay for a gym. Please have some compassion and restore this program.

What about seniors that can't afford a Medigap plan?

What about seniors that only have traditional Medicare?

What about seniors that depend on Medicaid to pick up some of their Medicare.

Some seniors might say, if you "need" it, you pay for it -

If (any) exercise and wellness program is a "needed" program for seniors - shouldn't it just be added to the traditional Medicare benefit for coverage for everybody since it is a "need".

Yes, exercise, wellness, comraderie, etc. are all important to seniors to stay fit or just to keep moving and not isolate - but a "need" - not so sure it is that high up on the scale especially when compared to other things.

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km97129347

Contributor ⭐

Medi-Cal (Medicaid) offers Silver Sneakers....Medicar Advantage Plans offerSilver Sneakers. It's the Plan F and G that they dropped SS off of. I live on SS alone and know the importance of good medical coverage so I give up certain things to pay the extra premium. Medicaid patients have more benefits than we ever will get on Medi Gap plans. Transportation, eye coverage, dental, braces, etc. Theyjust can't go wherever they want. I use Doctors and Hospitals by their skills and education wherever I want and get better care because the reimbursements are higher. To take Silver Sneakers away from Medi Gap and not Managed care. Plans is prejudice. I tried to change to a plan F plan that offered silver Sneakers and was subject to a physical and possible denial of coverage. Am cancer pt. The middle man gets hammered again.

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DennisP669524

Contributor ⭐

Changes to supplement or Medigap plans vary by state for some reason. AARP makes money off endorsements. Those are fees paid to AARP. Supposedly they are looking out for the best interests of its members. To be honest, I haven't actually seen that happen now for some time. They are in bed with who is sending them the endorsement money from what I can tell. I think they used to lobby on behalf of the members but it appears now they lobby on behalf of its endorsers. But you can make changes depending on where you live. In California, right now and up until 4/15/19, you can make a change to Blue Shield of California Plan F Extra without underwriting, and for my family, it's about $40 a month cheaper, and it includes Silver Sneakers. Our application is underway. I'm just an old retired doctor and as such I can tell you there are no organizations looking out for doctors or for patients. We are on our own. So take the time to read up. If you live in a state that likes to reduce and restrict access, you may have to deal with it at the ballot box. With people calling for Medicare for All, we are seeing the insurnace companies fighting back with their purchase of congressmen and other legislators. This is the time to get aggressive back.

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td546

Contributor ⭐

I had Silver Sneakers with AARP-United Health for a few years and today I went to the gym and was told my memebership had been cancelled. AARP-United Health informed me that they had cancelled (without informing me) Silver Sneaker program. The new program was called health and wellness which only covers 50% of membership fee. I thought AARP wants us to be healthy, hence Silver Sneakers. I guess not.

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DennisP868028

Contributor ⭐

Actually, UnitedHealthcare switched to Renew Active (www.renewactive.com) for the gym memberships. The main reason, as far as I can tell, is that Silver Sneakers only contracts with national chain gyms and does not contract with regional or local gyms. Renew Active contracts with both the same national gyms as Silver Sneakers, but also INCLUDES local & regional gyms that Silver Sneakers will not contract with. And it's still at no cost to me through my UHC / AARP Medicare health plan. Actually seems like a better deal to me than Silver Sneakers...

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jk51166343

Contributor ⭐

I am an individual fitness instructor who is a Silver Sneakers provider. I am not a national chain. I teach Tai Chi for Arthritis in senior centers, senior residences, and on the Internet (Zoom). Our senior center water aerobics teacher, who teaches at a local resort indoor pool, is also not a national chain and she is a Silver Sneakers provider. I don't know where you got your information, but it is false.

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