A Step Ahead in Hawley
Added to Fit ChoicesSM by Medica Network
MINNETONKA, Minn., June 4, 2007 — Medica members in the Hawley area now have a new opportunity to improve their health and save money. Effective June 1, 2007, A Step Ahead in Hawley has joined Medica’s Fit Choices by Medica network.
The program is designed to help members improve their health and save membership and health care dollars. Fit Choices by Medica members get a $20 monthly membership credit just for exercising at a participating health club eight or more days per month.
“We are delighted to partner with A Step Ahead,” said Dr. Ted Loftness, M.D., Medica’s vice president of regional health services. “This is an important addition to the Fit Choices by Medica program because it provides easy access to our members in the Hawley area. A Step Ahead is very supportive of our mission to engage our members in greater amounts of physical activity and fitness programs.”
“We’re thrilled with the partnership and the opportunity this program provides our members to increase their level of fitness and improve their health. The program has proven to be a great motivator to get people started on a fitness routine and keep them active,” said Paul Malakowsky, owner of A Step Ahead.
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.
For more information, contact:
Greg Bury, Medica
952-992-8437
Cellular: 612-810-4556
E-mail: greg.bury@medica.com
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