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Are your IBC Medicare Advantage patients getting enough physical activity to
stay healthy and fit? According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, older adults should get at least two hours and 30 minutes of
activity, such as brisk walking, every week as well as activity that works the
muscles in the legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms two or
more days per week.1
Your patients may not be that active, and they may have questions about their
ability to exercise, including the following:
- How do I start to increase my activity?
- How often should I work out?
- What can I expect at a gym or fitness center?
- Are there any restrictions on what exercises I can do?
Encourage them to talk with you at their annual exam. Your answers to their
questions can help them decide how to improve their fitness level.
SilverSneakers® can help
An excellent way for your IBC Medicare Advantage patients to get the activity
they need is to use the fitness benefit provided by their health plan ?
Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness Program. With nearly 20 years
of performance-based programming experience, SilverSneakers delivers innovative
physical activity and social interventions to attract older adults and keep
them engaged in improving their health. The program provides a basic fitness
membership that allows participants to:
- access more than 11,000 fitness locations nationwide, including women-only
sites;
- use exercise equipment and other amenities, such as pools and walking
tracks;
- participate in signature SilverSneakers group fitness classes, designed
specifically for active older adults and led by certified instructors;
- learn about relevant health topics;
- join fun social activities and events;
- receive guidance and assistance from a SilverSneakers Program
AdvisorSM, a dedicated staff member at the fitness location.
SilverSneakers makes it easy for members to enroll and start using the
program. Each IBC Medicare Advantage member receives a mailing from
SilverSneakers that includes their personal SilverSneakers ID card and a list
of the four fitness locations closest to their home. They simply take the ID
card to the location of their choice and present it at the front desk. Members
who haven?t received a card or who have misplaced theirs can call 1-888-423-4632 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8
a.m. to 8 p.m., ET. Using this number, members can request an ID card to be
mailed and get their SilverSneakers ID number, which can be used temporarily
until their card arrives in the mail.
Recommend the SilverSneakers Fitness program to your IBC Medicare Advantage
patients. Follow up with them during their next exam to see if they are getting
enough physical activity and to discuss strategies to overcome obstacles they
mention.
Note: SilverSneakers is offered to Keystone 65 Select HMO, Keystone 65
Preferred HMO, and Personal Choice 65SM PPO members at no cost. For
more information on the program, members can visit www.silversneakers.com or call 1-888-423-4632 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8
a.m. to 8 p.m., ET.
1cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/olderadults.html
SilverSneakers® is a registered mark of
Healthways, Inc., an independent company.
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