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, plus activity that works the muscles in the legs hips,
back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms on two or more days per week.1
Your patients may not be that active, and they may have questions about
their ability to exercise. Encourage them to talk with you at their annual
exam. Your answers to their questions can help them decide how to improve their
fitness levels. Here are a few questions you can anticipate:
- 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?
To get your patients moving, recommend that they participate in the
SilverSneakers® Fitness program. Encourage
patients to track their activity and energy level and then provide you with an
update at their next visit.
SilverSneakers can help patients get active
An excellent way for IBC Medicare Advantage members to get the activity they
need is to use their fitness benefit ? Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness
program. With nearly 20 years of performance-based programming experience,
SilverSneakers delivers innovative physical activity and social interventions
to attract members 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;
- take signature SilverSneakers group fitness classes designed specifically
for active older adults and led by certified instructors;
- learn about relevant health topics;
- participate in fun social activities and events;
- receive guidance and assistance from a SilverSneakers Program
AdvisorTM, a dedicated staff member at the fitness location.
SilverSneakers makes it easy for members to enroll and start using the
program. Each eligible Keystone 65 Select HMO, Keystone 65 Preferred HMO, and
Personal Choice 65SM PPO member receives a mailing from
SilverSneakers that includes their personal member ID card and a list of the
four fitness locations closest to their home. Members can simply take the ID
card to the location of their choice and present it at the front desk. Members
who have either not received an ID card or may have misplaced it can call
1-888-423-4632 (TTY: 711), Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, to request that a new ID card be mailed and to
obtain their SilverSneakers ID number, which can be used at the location until
the new ID card arrives in the mail.
Note: SilverSneakers is a benefit offered to Keystone 65 Select
HMO, Keystone 65 Preferred HMO, and Personal Choice 65SM PPO members
at no additional cost.
1www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/olderadults.html.
SilverSneakers® is a registered mark of
Healthways, Inc., an independent company.