WellPoint Renews Agreement with Healthways to Continue SilverSneakers® Fitness Program

INDIANAPOLIS & NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

SilverSneakers^® Fitness program will continue to be available to most members of WellPoint, Inc.'s WLP affiliated Medicare Advantage plans as a result of its renewed agreement with Healthways HWAY, which administers the popular program.

“In 2015, WellPoint affiliated Medicare Advantage plans, like most, are facing significant financial pressures for the third consecutive year because of reimbursement reductions in the program,” said Marc Russo, president of WellPoint's Medicare programs. “Facing these challenges requires making difficult decisions about the most important aspects of our product offerings. But we concluded, without hesitation, that programs that promote wellness, like SilverSneakers, needed to be a priority for us so Medicare beneficiaries can enjoy healthier, more productive lives.”

“Providing benefits, services and programs like this, which are not available in the basic Medicare fee-for-service program, has been, and needs to continue to be, a cornerstone of the Medicare Advantage program,” Russo added. “I sincerely hope that other plans make such programs a priority. It's good for Medicare Advantage – and it's good for members.”

SilverSneakers offers fitness programs geared toward older adults, including strength training and aerobic and flexibility exercises. The program offers WellPoint affiliated Medicare Advantage members full memberships at participating fitness facilities nationwide at no extra cost.

“Healthways is honored to collaborate with WellPoint in delivering the SilverSneakers Fitness program to its affiliated members,” said Ben R. Leedle Jr., Healthways president and chief executive officer. “Together, we are providing a caring health solution that addresses the physical and social needs of WellPoint's Medicare members and, subsequently, continuing to build a community around health and well-being.”

The SilverSneakers Fitness Program was founded in 1992 and serves more than 11 million eligible members.¹ The Healthways fitness center network offers convenient access to more than 16,000 participating fitness and wellness facilities nationwide.

About WellPoint, Inc.

WellPoint is working to transform health care with trusted and caring solutions. Our health plan companies deliver quality products and services that give their members access to the care they need. With nearly 69 million people served by its affiliated companies, including more than 37 million enrolled in its family of health plans, WellPoint is one of nation's leading health benefits companies. WellPoint companies serve members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; and as the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensees for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In most of these service areas, WellPoint does business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). It also serves customers in other states through its Amerigroup, CareMore and UniCare subsidiaries. To find out more about WellPoint, go to wellpoint.com.

About Healthways

Healthways HWAY is a global provider of well-being improvement solutions. Dedicated to creating a healthier world one person at a time, the Company uses the science of behavior change to produce and measure positive change in well-being for our customers, which include employers, integrated health systems, hospitals, physicians, health plans, communities and government entities. We provide highly specific and personalized support for each individual and their team of experts to optimize each participant's health and productivity and to reduce health-related costs. Results are achieved by addressing longitudinal health risks and care needs of everyone in a given population. The Company has scaled its proprietary technology infrastructure and delivery capabilities developed over 30 years and now serves approximately 68 million people on four continents. Learn more at www.silversneakers.com or www.healthways.com.

¹ Healthways internal data, 2014

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