AARP UHC Medicare Supplement Renew Active Benefit

[cf3613]

 United Healthcare Supplement Renew Active Benefit premium gym memberships are dropping popular services such as Orange Theory, Exercise Coach, Stretch Lab, etc. and did not have the courtesy to send letters informing members of the change. This is a huge takeaway and shows UHC and AARP is not concerned about Medicare recipients wellness and physical health.  This benefit needs to be restored for 2025 until such time as proper notice is given to all participants during open enrollment period so that other Medicare supplement plans can be considered that may offer better auxiliary benefits.  It is very unprofessional and tone deaf for UHC and AARP not to communicate this material change.  Where is AARP in advocating for this benefit for their membership?

[JudyF379446]

I am also extremely disappointed that United Healthcare declined to renew contracts with the premium gyms they have dropped, my biggest criticism is that they were not replaced by comparable products.  I am trying out the SolidCore option and find that it is not geared for seniors, and possibly could be dangerous.  This program requires a high level of flexibility, balance and the ability to move quickly between moves, with no rest periods or water breaks. The Pilates option was so much better for a senior body, and geared to all levels of fitness.  AARP should require a senior focus group to try out these workouts before they get added to the list.  I do appreciate having the option of some premier gyms, but in my area they cater to boxing which doesn’t interest me.  It would be so much better to have premium options that include different forms of exercise and classes.  I would think that putting times when these gyms are not busy anyway could be an option to include more programs.

[AARPConsumerCare]

 I can understand your disappointment with United Healthcare Renew Active not renewing contracts with premium gyms, JudyF379446!  I will be happy to pass on your feedback and comments. You may be interested in checking out AARP's Fitness videos, that may suit your fitness level here: https://videos.aarp.org?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=15921973552 scroll down, click on Health, then Fitness. ~ Diane B.

[JeffreyB893177]

I am unhappy.  Yesterday, I found out that my Lifetime benefit was canceled without notice.   I pay an extra fee for extended hours, and Lifetime has not responded to my email trying to find out what happened.  I recommended my United AARP supplement to everyone, but now I feel betrayed.

[AARPConsumerCare]

This is certainly not the experience we want you to have, @JeffreyB893177. We are listening and would like to hear more about your experience. When you get a moment, please send me a private message with more details, so I can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. They act as liaison for AARP service providers. Here is an article that will show you how to activate Private messages: https://aarp.info/47hWcl7. I look forward to assisting you soon. - Daniela R. 

[AlexD604365]

Access to these gyms was the primary reason I joined United Healthcare and have now I've opted to go go elsewhere.  My understanding is that too many AARP members accessed this benefit and rather than expanding this extremely popular program, UHC decided to unilaterally and shortsightedly, eliminate the benefit for reasons that were never explained. Though one can imagine that it was likely part of some sort of a cost slashing effort undertaken to increase the profitability of an already HIGHLY successful organization. 

As far as I can tell, AARP's response to the elimination of this wonderful benefit for it's membership has been, at best, ambivalent. And please don't respond to me with a "we're listening" comment, it's not enough.

As an aside: This benefit is available through certain Silver&Fit programs when accessed through health insurance carriers other than UHC.  HOWEVER, if you access the Silver&Fit program through AARP's portal the list of participating gyms does not include the premium gyms that were available through the UHC's Renew Active program.  I'm sure AARP can easily have these gyms included and allow it's membership to gain, at the very least, discounted access. Very frustrating!

[sb16728052]

If you compare UHC medgap plan F or G with other different plans offered elsewhere you may well discover the cost of a standalone gym membership is much less expensive. The benefits really aren’t free.

[TRL1111]

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@sb16728052 wrote:

If you compare UHC medgap plan F or G with other different plans offered elsewhere you may well discover the cost of a standalone gym membership is much less expensive. The benefits really aren’t free.

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As with all things Medicare, it depends on the person and the plan. And honestly, there's no way to understand any of the pricing.  Right now, my UHC Plan G with wellness benefits is $8/month more than if I had UHC's Plan G without wellness benefits.  Seems like a no-brainer, but nobody knows what will happen to either plan's premium next year.  It's all a crapshoot.

And in fact, when I price these plans for people over 80, the Plan F or Plan G with wellness benefits is actually $15-$20 cheaper than the one without.  Go figure.

I chose UHC's Plan G over any other company's plan G specifically because of the gym benefit (gym benefits aren't common with supplements, so there aren't a lot of choices), but that's because I travel and it allows me to get memberships all over the country.  If I wanted to belong to just one local gym or national chain, then I'd probably change to a different company's Plan G and pay for the gym out of my own pocket.  Unless it was Life Time, which is around $150-$250 a month depending on the location (although Medicare memberships have restricted hours)--that's still a really good benefit under Renew Active.

Fortunately I'm healthy and can switch supplements whenever I want, and if I quit traveling and no longer need to belong to a bunch of different gyms, I can switch my supplement.  And if I get cancer or something that would prevent me from changing supplements, then...oh well. 

Much of success with picking the "best" Medicare option depends on being able to accurately predict the future--the future of your own health and the future of premiums charged by insurance companies.  Good luck with that.

Although one thing that is pretty easy to predict is that Plan F premiums are going to rise a lot, as the members of that plan age and there are no younger people joining that plan.  In my area, if someone who was born in 1954 switches from UHC's Plan F to UHC's Plan G, they'll save money because the premium for G is $600/year lower, and even if they end up meeting their $257 Part B deductible, they're still saving $343.  And that's without even changing companies.

[TRL1111]

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@AlexD604365 wrote:

HOWEVER, if you access the Silver&Fit program through AARP's portal the list of participating gyms does not include the premium gyms that were available through the UHC's Renew Active program. 

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Actually, if you look carefully you'll see that what you get when you go through the AARP site is Active & Fit, not Silver & Fit. They're run by the same company, but operate differently and have different gyms, especially at the premium level (and in both Active & Fit and Silver & Fit, you have to pay extra for premium memberships). Silver & Fit is what's offered through Medicare plans.

[m825995g]

 I'm new to Medicare and had been enjoying the benefits at Stretch Lab and The Bar Method and was looked forward to trying Club Pilates. when I went to schedule my next stretch today I saw that the Stretch Lab benefit is no longer available, nor is Club Pilates.  I'm VERY disappointed and also upset that we were never informed of these changes! 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hello @m825995g, I can understand how disappointing that can be. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. Thank you. - Daniela R. 

[KerryH155737]

I was just informed today at The Exercise Coach, 1/28/25, that my policy no longer participates with this program.

I also never received any notification from the insurer or AARP that this benefit was going away in 2025.

This was a very shortsighted decision and one that will cause me to change insurers. I am in perfect health, take no medications and barely use my supplemental policy. I will switch to one that is much less costly as there is no benefit to me remaining with a company that doesn't value wellness and prevention.

I also think with the recent election, people made it loud and clear they feel our present healthcare system is sick in every way and they are tired of it.

I always spoke highly of this insurer due to this benefit. I realize it is not a revenue-generating benefit in the short-term but the long-term benefits are great. In the time I have gone to the Exercise Coach, I have measurable improvement in my strength (as recorded on the machines), agility, and balance. I will continue to go to this premium gym, using the savings I will have by switching plans. I will openly express my sincere disappointment in not being notified and also in the short-sighted decision to eliminate a benefit that contributed to my ongoing health and well-being. 

[GailL1]

As long as you're enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, you can apply for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan anytime.  Now if you have extra Medigap protection coverage as to the need for underwriting or when you have more freedoms and rights to change Medigap plans, your state rules may give you extra protections over the Federal rules.

Buying or switching Medigap coverage doesn’t have a Federally legislated rule outside of the initial enrollment period.

Check your state law (usually under the Dept of Insurance or Finance) as to any special rights you have to switch your Medigap policy otherwise you may have to go thru underwriting to change plans - may or may not be a big deal depending on your current health or any pre-existing conditions.

Actual Medigap coverage is based on Federal law - each of the plans are described as to how they work with Traditional Medicare - Parts A & B.  A Medigap policy is not health insurance, it is financial protection insurance that works with Traditional Medicare and covers some or most all of your out of pocket cost that Traditional Medicare does no cover - nor is there an annual or lifetime limit to these out of pocket cost under Traditional Medicare.  A Medigap policy will prevent a Traditional Medicare beneficiary from experiencing a financial catastrophic medical event up to the limits of the Medigap policy which they have chosen to protect them.

Auxilliary benefits may be offered by the insurer of the plan but they are not contractual and the disclosure in each policy that contains them should be read very carefully.  These auxiliary benefits could include some dental, vision or hearing benefits or health and wellness like gym memberships and usage.  The AARP/UHC Medicare Supplemental Plan contains the following language:

DISCLOSURES

AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.

These offers are only available to insured members covered under an AARP Medicare Supplement Plan from UnitedHealthcare. These are additional insured member services apart from the AARP Medicare Supplement Plan benefits, are not insurance programs, are subject to geographical availability and may be discontinued at any time.

[cf3613]

Unfortunately, your response does not address my question and comment.  AARP is paid a large royalty and therefore has the ability to find out from UHC about their decision to exclude certain benefits.  Why didn't I receive formal notification of the change in coverage?

[AARPConsumerCare]

We're sorry to hear United Healthcare didn't notify you about the change on your coverage, @cf3613. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[GailL1]

@cf3613 wrote

“This benefit needs to be restored for 2025 until such time as proper notice is given to all participants during open enrollment period so that other Medicare supplement plans can be considered that may offer better auxiliary benefits.”

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I was addressing this part of your comment.  Medigap plans, past the initial enrollment period, don’t have another “open enrollment” period.  The Annual Enrollment Period that just passed was ONLY for changing a Medicare Advantage plan with or without drug coverage OR for Medicare Part D free-standing plans.  

Your state would be the source to find out if you can switch your Medigap plan to another insurer or switch plans WITHOUT UNDERWRITING.  

So the notice really had no time cut off for you to select another Medigap carrier or plan - just don’t cancel the one you have until you have the next one in hand and you have paid at least a month’s premium - just in case underwriting or a pre-existing condition delay is necessary and you agree to the new premium amount which could also be higher if underwriting is necessary.

[cf3613]

As you state, you only answered one part of my question  When will I receive a complete answer?

[GailL1]

I guess when AARP.org wants to give you one.