SAN DIEGO, Jan. 31, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its commitment to help Medicare beneficiaries live healthier lives, Coventry Health Care, an Aetna company, is now offering American Specialty Health's Silver&Fit® Exercise and Healthy Aging Program to Medicare Part D members in its First Health Part D Premier Plus Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). Coventry Health Care has been offering the award-winning Silver&Fit program to select Medicare Advantage members in three states since 2010. Starting January 2014, the program is available nationwide to 80,000 members in the First Health Part D Premier Plus PDP.
The Silver&Fit® program is one of the nation's leading exercise and healthy aging programs, providing low-cost and no-cost gym memberships, fitness programs and healthy aging activities for Medicare Advantage members. The program contracts with more than 10,000 fitness facilities nationwide, offering members a broad choice of memberships and access to all of the standard gym amenities, including weight training and cardiovascular equipment, classes, pools, saunas and whirlpools. Select fitness facilities also offer exercise classes especially tailored for older adults. Members who are not able to participate at a fitness facility, or simply prefer to work out at home, may choose to receive exercise kits through the Silver&Fit Home Exercise Program instead.
According to a survey from American Specialty Health, as compared to national benchmark data of similarly aged older adults studied by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,* the Silver&Fit population was both healthier and more physically active and fit. In the survey of nearly 2,000 randomly selected Silver&Fit members, respondents reported that they were in better health than they were one year ago, and also reported increased activity levels and reduced health care utilization.
"We're pleased to expand our Silver&Fit program to Coventry's First Health Part D Premier Plus Medicare members," said George DeVries, CEO and chairman of American Specialty Health. "The program provides exceptional services to help keep individuals more active, healthy and independent as they age."
About the Silver&Fit Exercise & Healthy Aging Program
The Silver&Fit program is an exercise and healthy aging program providing unique, evidence-based fitness, health education and healthy group activities for Medicare beneficiaries and group retirees. Founded in 2005, the program serves more than 1.6 million eligible members and provides low cost or no cost access to more than 10,000 participating fitness facilities nationwide. Members unable to participate at a fitness facility or who prefer to work out at home have access to the Silver&Fit Home Fitness Program. Membership also includes access to: SilverandFit.com, The Silver Slate® newsletter, and a toll-free customer service hotline. Follow Silver&Fit on Twitter @SilverandFit, Instagram @SilverandFit, YouTube at www.youtube.com/silverandfit, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SilverandFit. The Silver&Fit program is a product of American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH).
About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is one of the nation's premier independent and privately-owned specialty health services organizations, providing specialty health care networks and programs, fitness and exercise programs and population health solutions for health plans, insurance carriers and employer groups. Operating from offices in San Diego, CA, Southlake (Dallas), TX, Carmel (Indianapolis), IN and Columbia, SC, ASH has more than 1,100 employees and administers services for nearly 34 million members nationwide. Additional products offered through ASH and its subsidiaries include Healthyroads®, FitnessCoach™, Active&Fit®, ExerciseRewards™ and others. For information, visit www.ashcompanies.com or call 800-848-3555. Follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter at @ASHCompanies.
*Results were compared to national benchmark data points from the 2009 National Health Information Survey (NHIS) conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the State of Aging and Health in America (SAHA) report, and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), as well as baseline data from the same 2009 survey. As compared to the national benchmark populations, the Silver&Fit population is slightly older, averaging 72 years.