MINNETONKA, Minn., Nov. 7, 2007 —Effective December 1, 2007, Medica members throughout Minnesota will have additional facilities at which to improve their health and save money. Curves health clubs in Minnesota have joined Medica’s Fit Choices by Medica network. All franchises in the state -- 185 in total -- now are available to Fit Choices by Medica participants.
Fit Choices by Medica, the first program of its kind in Minnesota, is designed to help members improve their health and save membership and health care dollars. Medica members who participate in Fit Choices get a $20 monthly membership credit just for exercising at a Curves location eight or more days per month. A link to club locations is available on Medica’s website at www.medica.com.
Curves health clubs offer 30-minute fitness and commonsense weight loss with the support of a community of women. The Curves workout allows women of all ages and fitness levels to combine strength training with a cardio workout through safe, efficient hydraulic resistance, making it possible to work every major muscle group while keeping the heart rate at a cardio training level.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to make a positive impact on our members’ health,” said Dr. Charles Fazio, chief medical officer at Medica. “Curves has demonstrated a strong appeal to people who have previously not belonged to a health club and so they may have some health risk factors. Our data show that members who begin a new regular program of exercise can make an improvement in health status which may in turn lower their health care costs. At the same time, Curves improves health club access for our members who already are very active.”
Said Mark English, director of healthcare and wellness partnerships for Curves: “Curves and Medica share a commitment to empower individuals to take charge of their health and achieve their health and fitness goals. Increasing our outreach to Medica’s membership is a natural extension of that mission.”
Studies show that helping people stay healthy not only saves lives, it controls health care costs. An estimated 70 percent of all illnesses are due to lifestyle-related causes such as obesity and physical inactivity, and one-half of all medical costs are attributable to illnesses that could be prevented. Fit Choices by Medica is now a standard component of Medica’s offerings to fully insured employers and is being offered as an option for self-insured groups.
About Medica Serving more than 1.3 million members, Medica is a health insurance company headquartered in Minneapolis and active in the Upper Midwest. The non-profit company provides health care coverage in the employer, individual, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Part D markets in Minnesota and a growing number of counties in North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who also have employees outside the Medica regional network.
Medica has the highest accreditation status, Excellent, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA®) for its Minnesota Medicaid HMO plans and commercial health plans in Minnesota and North Dakota. Medica’s vision is to become the community’s health plan of choice, trusted for its integrity, respected for its service, and admired for its commitment to innovation and efficiency.
About Curves Curves offers a 30-minute workout that combines strength training and sustained cardiovascular activity through safe and effective hydraulic resistance. Curves also offers a weight management program based on a groundbreaking, scientifically proven method to raise metabolic rate and end the need for perpetual dieting. Founders Gary and Diane Heavin are considered the innovators of the express fitness phenomenon that has made exercise available to more than four million women, many of whom are in the gym for the first time. Gary Heavin is the author of numerous books including The New York Times bestseller Curves, which is revolutionizing America’s approach to dieting. With more than 10,000 locations in 57 countries, Curves is the world’s largest fitness franchise and the ninth largest of all franchise companies in the world. For more information, please visit: www.curves.com.
For more information, contact:
Greg Bury, Medica
952-992-8437
Cellular: 612-810-4556
E-mail: greg.bury@medica.com
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