Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Area YMCAs to offer free memberships
Through new partnership, 7 Y’s in Chester County will offer the fitness plans through Health Partners Plans program
A Philadelphia-based health benefits provider is expanding a program that encourages its members stay healthy to Chester County.
Health Partners Plans, or HPP, recently announced it is partnering with the YMCA of Greater Brandywine in a program to allow Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP recipients to receive free memberships at seven branches in the county.
The new benefit will be available for members of the YMCA’s Oscar Lasko, Upper Main Line, Brandywine, Lionville Community, Kennett Area, West Chester Area and Jennersville branches, HPP representatives explained.
“I’ve been here 10 years and we’ve been doing it longer than that (in other areas),” said Jorge Parra, manager of health and wellness at Health Partners Plans. “It’s a pretty popular benefit because it allows them to be active and take control of their health.”
The organization said its Medicaid and CHIP members under 18, after completing six gym visits (paying no fee) within the first three months, can enjoy a oneyear membership. Medicaid members over 18 can take advantage of the free membership after completing 12 visits, at $2 per visit,
in the first three months. Medicare members need only show up and sign up for the free year-long membership, courtesy of HPP and the Greater Brandywine YMCA.
“Increasing the ease of access to facilities our members can use to improve their health outcomes is a top priority for Health Partners Plans,” said Michelle Davidson, vice president of communications and marketing. “This unprecedented partnership with YMCA of Greater Brandywine allows us to further ensure our members in Chester County have access to wellness programs and other community resources.”
Members will now have easier access to free weights and machine weights, cardio equipment and fitness classes to control weight, get stronger and help prevent life-threatening medical conditions. Many locations also have swimming facilities, playing fields and athletic courts.
Joyce Williams, director of community engagement, said the free Y memberships complement other programs Health Partners Plans provides, such as Healthy Kids Day.
“We approach it from the whole educational perspective,” Williams said.
Kim Cavallero, director of marketing and communications for the YMCA Of Greater Brandywine, said the Y welcomed the offer from Health Partners Plans when they were approached.
“We were really excited when they came to us,” Cavallero said. “It’s an extension of our mission of building a stronger community.”
The program has added 16 memberships since it started at the end of March, Cavallero added.
Monet Trent Irving, director of corporate communications at Health Partners Plans, said the organization has for years had partnerships with several fitness providers in the region, including the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA, which has a Chester County location in Phoenixville.