Next year, seniors using Medicare benefits seeking a pickleball game, laps in the pool or just a walk on the treadmill at Life Time will have fewer hours to do so.
Currently, seniors enrolled in Medicare health insurance plans don't face time limitations and can visit any Life Time club at any time without paying individually. But starting in January, the Chanhassen-based fitness chain will restrict Medicare members to visiting between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays and after 2 p.m. on Saturdays. There won't be restrictions on Sundays.
Gym industry experts said while it's a bit unusual, Life Time's decision reflects the growing challenge fitness centers face in trying to accommodate discount memberships while preserving their bottom line.
Life Time said the changes came after negotiations with Medicare fitness program administrators about the rate the programs will pay the company on behalf of Medicare members. The rate Medicare providers pay is significantly discounted from the standard membership, which can be as high as $299 a month.
"Ultimately, as opposed to not renewing agreements and providing no further membership options for Medicare enrollees, we aimed to create a solution that could continue to serve a large and rapidly growing Medicare population and do so with a continued, significant price advantage," a Life Time statement said.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica and UCare said about 18,000 seniors — mostly Minnesotans — work out at Life Time as part of their Medicare coverage.
Money matter
Access to fitness centers is not a standard benefit in Medicare, which provides health insurance for seniors and certain special populations. But a growing share of seniors opt to receive the coverage through Medicare Advantage plans from private insurers, which routinely include access to gyms as an extra benefit. The fitness benefit also is a part of a few Medicare supplemental policies, which private insurers sell to round-out benefits in original Medicare.
To administer fitness benefits, health insurers hire third-party companies such as SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit and Renew Active/One Pass, which is part of Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group.