Stretch lab no longer a covered benefit ?

[SusanG74782]

I am shocked to find out AARP UHC will no longer cover visits in 2025. After 2 injuries the stretch lab has been my greatest success towards healing and improving my health. Please reconsider this benefit. It’s better than taking drugs. The benefit offered 2 25 min sessions or 1 50 minute session per month. I am committed to this treatment. Help reinstate in 2025, now. SG

[GailL1]

1st - this is a special benefit - “Stretch Lab” that is NOT based on medical necessity

Medical necessity is still covered but not in this same way in number or how paid.  The doc has to prescribe it as part of the overall care plan to be medically necessary, code it property for the insurer and get any pre-approval that might be necessary.

Medicare.gov - Physical Therapy Services 

Medicare may cover

Stretch Lab Therapy if it is provided as part of a physical therapy treatment plan and is deemed medically necessary by a qualified healthcare professional to treat a specific illness or injury. Coverage is determined by the specific medical necessity of the service, not the venue (a "Stretch Lab" facility) where it is provided. 

AARP does not have any say in what a AARP-UHC Medicare Advantage plan may or may not cover in additional benefits - it is completely left up to the actual insurer. What is covered and how is left up to the insurer and that is the way they build their plans - they HAVE to cover what Medicare covered, albeit in a different way but outside of that, they can if they want, build in or remove other coverages that are not founded in medical necessity.  Although preventive health is great for the beneficiary, it is still a choice for most - whether the preventive care is covered or not by the program of Medicare - currently only a few specifics of Preventive care is covered by Medicare with no out of pocket cost and these are the one that have been rated as either A or B by the USPSTF.  Current there are none for orthopedic measures in this category.

All AARP does is sell their branded name to UHC as a form of royalty payment - the name AARP has value in the form of name recognition.  Don’t make it into something that it is not.  Too many seniors are already into this areas of misunderstanding.

You have some options - 

• You can change to another Medicare Advantage plan from another insurer in your area that may still have this benefit.
• You can contact UHC to see if they have any other MA plans in your area that may still have the benefit so some version of it.
• You can look for information on other programs the plan may cover, such as One Pass, Silver&FIT, or Active&FIT, as these might provide access to similar or alternative wellness options.
• OR you can just follow your docs orders for medical necessity and it will be covered under the medically necessity protochols of the plan you have chosen.

[PattiT941448]

Guess I missed that boat. Was waiting for my knee to get better before I went! Very disappointed,

[TRL1111]

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@PattiT941448 wrote:

Guess I missed that boat. Was waiting for my knee to get better before I went! Very disappointed,

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You missed the boat by almost a year.  StretchLab was included in the "gym benefit" that comes via Renew Active with most (or even all?) AARP/UHC Advantage plans and some AARP/UHC supplements (those with "wellness extras," and some (all?) Plan F supplements included a Renew Active membership automatically). 

StretchLab quit participating in Renew Active as of January 1, 2025.

[GailL1]

@PattiT941448 

If your doctor prescribes this type of PT treatment as being medically necessary, codes it correctly and follows whatever the insurer may need to begin this like prior approval, then it will be covered as it should be within the policy under just the regular coverage.   It is then a medically necessary treatment rather than just a free-bee benefit.