(NewsUSA) - Joanne C. was 74 when she had a stroke two years ago that left her paralyzed on the entire right side of her body. She refused to

accept that she'd end up in a wheelchair and began rehabilitation, determined to get her life and

body back to where it was before her stroke.

Joanne's hard work paid off. She has regained much of her strength and movement and

can walk again. In large part, she credits her SilverSneakers exercise classes - offered through

her HumanaChoice® PPO, a Medicare Advantage preferred provider organization (PPO) health plan - as key to her successful recovery.

Being a SilverSneakers member helped keep Joanne in good physical condition before

her stroke. "SilverSneakers helped me be familiar with many of the exercises they had me do in

physical therapy and gave me the confidence and strength to persevere through a difficult rehab

process," Joanne says.

Numerous studies, including Tivity Health's SilverSneakers Annual Member Survey of 2016,

confirm that exercising, especially with others, improves older adults' physical and mental

health.1,2, 3

However, there are challenges that prevent many Medicare beneficiaries from joining gyms and

fitness classes.

By offering SilverSneakers through its Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, Humana is

working to overcome those barriers so more people with Medicare can benefit from

exercising.

For those on a fixed income, joining a gym can be expensive. SilverSneakers

provides gym access at no additional cost to many of Humana's MA members across the country,

including those in Florida and Texas. SilverSneakers has partnered with almost 14,000 fitness and

wellness centers around the U.S. and, with national reciprocity, SilverSneakers members can go to

any one of those facilities.

The program is designed with the Medicare population in mind and taught by

certified instructors who offer classes and modifications for all fitness levels. These instructors

are specifically trained to help members avoid stress-related injuries to muscles and

joints.

There's also a wide variety of classes offered, including circuit training, yoga,

Latin dance and even an outdoor boot camp. SilverSneakers members also have access to all of a

facility's amenities, which can include a range of exercise equipment, weight rooms and swimming

pools.

"According to Tivity Health's annual survey, SilverSneakers has made a significant

difference in the lives of many of our Medicare Advantage members, not only in their physical

health, but also in their social life," says Lauri Kalanges, M.D., Humana's Medical Director

of Medicare Products for the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Tivity Health's Annual Member Survey of 2016 found that 91 percent of SilverSneakers

participants reported an improved quality of life. SilverSneakers has had a substantial impact on

the health of its participants, reducing hospitalizations and the risk of depression.3

For more information about SilverSneakers, go to www.silversneakers.com.

Humana is a Medicare

Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization with a Medicare Contract.  Enrollment in any Humana plan

depends on contract renewal.  This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact

the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits may

change each year.  SilverSneakers is not offered on all Humana MA plans in all areas.