Massachusetts Older Adults Make Impact on State's Health Ranking.

BOSTON -- Fallon Senior Plan(TM) SilverSneakers(R) Members Exercising Their Way Toward Better Health

Massachusetts older adults are making an impact on the state's health ranking. A 2005 study by the United Health Foundation ranked New Englanders the ninth healthiest in the country. Although the ranking was an accomplishment achieved by the whole population, members of the Fallon Senior Plan(TM) SilverSneakers(R) Fitness Program believe their healthy, active lifestyles are making a difference.

In 2005, New Englanders reported a low prevalence of obesity at 18.3 percent of the population, as well as a low prevalence of smoking at 18.4 percent of the population -- down from 28.2 percent in 1990 (United Health Foundation State Rankings). Why have these percentages seen such a decrease? One possible reason is that older adults are staying active with the SilverSneakers Fitness Program -- the nation's leading fitness program designed exclusively for older adults.

Eligible members of Fallon Senior Plan(TM) receive a free basic membership at one of 20 fitness centers in central Massachusetts (see www.silversneakers.com for complete list) where they can enjoy specialized non-impact SilverSneakers classes focusing on improving strength, flexibility, balance and coordination.

"Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP) is proud to offer older adults a program that will help increase their level of physical activity and encourage a healthy lifestyle," said president and CEO Eric H. Schultz. "The SilverSneakers Fitness Program shares in our mission of making our communities healthy." Added Mary Swanson, vice chairman of Axia Health Management -- the company that designed and manages the SilverSneakers program -- "We are extremely pleased to work with FCHP to improve their members' health."

Fallon Senior Plan, one of the nation's oldest Medicare Advantage plans, is offered in Worcester County and portions of Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and Norfolk counties. To date, there are approximately 32,000 Fallon Senior Plan members. In 2004, Fallon Senior Plan received the Senior Choice Gold Award in recognition of its cost-sharing effectiveness and value for the fourth consecutive year, and has been awarded "Excellent" accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For more information, visit www.fchp.org.

About Axia Health Management

With an integrated suite of prevention programs, Axia Health Management is leading the way in preventive health care by incorporating personalized solutions that help healthy individuals stay healthy and improve the health of those already affected by disease or disability. This is accomplished through a high-touch delivery system of over 10,000 fitness center locations, 4,000 Axia-certified health improvement instructors and over 40,000 chiropractic and whole health network providers. The cornerstone of Axia's suite of products is the SilverSneakers Fitness Program, a unique physical activity program offered to more than 2.4 million Medicare-eligible members in 48 states at over 1,600 fitness centers and class sites. For more information, call 480-783-9555 or visit www.axiahealth.com.