November  2017
MEDICA's Senior Program is moving to SILVER SNEAKERS as of 1/1/18

Medica's  Senior Medicare members are switching over from Silver n Fit to Silver Sneakers.  Those senior members eligible through Silver n Fit are eligible through 12/31/17.  Starting 1/1/18, those Medica seniors would be eligible through Silver Sneakers only, not the standard Fit Choice program and not Silver n Fit. Tivity Health acquired Healthways and now is the managing company of Silver Sneakers (SS), Prime and Whole Health. As a club, to be a part of the Silver Sneakers program, each club would be required to sign a 1-3 year Tivity contract, depending on negotiations.  The Silver Sneakers program is for 65 and older eligible adults. Being a part of Tivity or Silver Sneakers is an individual, independent club choice. There is an application process, however Tivity explains it does take a couple of weeks.

The SS program requires you, the club, to waive all your enrollment and membership fees all together.  SS reimburses the club back on a per-time visit(s) up to $30-40 p/mo.  The "per time visit" fee will vary, depending on your negotiations and the length of the contract you sign.  To NIHCA's knowledge, Medica's senior group is the only provider moving to Silver Sneakers; we have not heard any other changes from any other carriers or providers.

Medica has advised if you, the club, have further questions, you may email:  Jackie Gross at Tivity Health:   Jackie.Gross@tivityhealth.com.  However, If YOUR MEDICA SENIOR MEMBERS have questions, they need to call the back of their Medica card and talk to Medica's Customer Service staff.

BCBSND HealthyBlue Update


BCBSND utilizes  an online portal called HealthyBlue for additional points and remediable gift cards and items that eligible members could receive ABOVE AND BEYOND the gym reimbursement of $20 p/mo.  Due to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Memo released in 2016, BCBSND has moved the annual HealthyBlue redemption deadline to 10/31/17. The new HealthyBlue incentive campaign will begin again on January 1, 2018. Some eligible BCBSND members of yours had received communication in October to redeem these HealthyBlue points prior to 10/31/17.  It is NIHCA's job to inform you, in case you have some BCBSND members asking questions. We will provide further information on how this IRS tax memo impacts BCBSND wellness programs in coming communications, however if you get inquiries, those members can call the number on the back of their BCBSND card and ask customer service. 


NIHCA REWARDS 101:
Let's Dig in and Learn More



Another opportunity to learn...     REGISTER HERE
INVALID BANKING:  What does this mean?

NIHCA's definition of a Return is a member that did not get reimbursed because their banking information is incorrect.  To alert you, the club, of these errors in banking information, we change those member status's to INVALID BANKING INFORMATION - which means your member's banking information is incorrect in some way.  YOUR JOB is to unmask the account number and double check the banking information.  YOUR JOB is to correct and update the banking information as well as change the Member Status to either an OK or ACTIVE Status, if it did not change when you click Update.  Within 10 business days, the member should get paid back their past reimbursed dollars.

Please call NIHCA with any questions you may have.
WE MOVED... so update your records!  
NIHCA is happy to announce that we have moved into our new office space!
Did you update your records??  Please note our new address for your records:
135 8th Avenue
Granite Falls, MN  56241
NIHCA Offices will be CLOSED
November 23 & 24
for the Thanksgiving Holiday

National Independent Health Club Association | 320-722-0084| EMAIL | WEBSITE

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