To: Medicare Reimbursement System
Medicare Will Save Money & Improve Health by Covering Group Exercises, Like Silver Sneakers
Dear Medicare Decision Makers:
Repeated studies of the effect of exercise on Alzheimer's, injuries due to falls, and many other physical ailments have not caused Medicare to cover group exercising, like Silver Sneakers. We are signing this petition to Medicare in recognition of the excellent research they are conducting (AHRQ) AND to let them know not to ignore the beneficial effects of exercise, benefits so real and established that Medicare needs to pay the costs. Some insurance companies do cover the cost of exercise completely but most do not and will not until Medicare pays for it. Reimbursing those who exercise in a group program is a necessary first step in increasing the numbers of people exercising.
Why is this important?
Before I started exercising, I was taking $300 dollar/month memory pills and $300 dollar breathing pills. After about 6 weeks of Silver Sneakers, I no longer have to take those pills. That is money saved by Medicare and all the people who use the system. As we sign the petition, please be aware that my first reaction to Medicare not covering exercise was to plan a class action suit to force Medicare to pay for the best evidence treatment, and in the case of Alzheimer's, the only effective method of delaying onset of symptoms. Why is Medicare ignoring the obvious?
Dwight Hine