ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Silver Sneakers program has been covering the cost of YMCA memberships for seniors on certain Medicare Advantage plans for years but come January 1, 2026, that will end.
Inez Burns, a Silver Sneakers member says the program means a lot to her and her senior friends. “It’s the friends you meet, you go to peoples’ weddings and birthdays and you give each other gifts at Christmas, it’s a whole lot that goes on in the program, It’s more than just going to work out,” Burns says.
But as News10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke first reported last week, a dispute over reimbursement rates has the YMCA dropping Silver Sneakers in 2026. Those members will either have to find another gym in the Silver Sneakers network or pay a monthly membership fee to stay at the YMCA. “So, you want me to pay an extra $50 a month to keep myself healthy when it should be free because a healthy community is the best community to be in,” Burns says.
During an event on Tuesday, Lewke was able to speak with the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Rochester about the situation.
Jennifer Lewke, News10NBC: “Are you still negotiating? Is it a done deal? And will you be offering anything for these folks who are really kind of panicked about losing this benefit?”
Ernie Lamour, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Rochester: “Well, what I can say is this. We’ve been working extremely hard and diligently behind the scenes to make sure that we come up with a solution to have all of our members participating in the life of the Y, we know and understand how much they value the organization and we love all of our members who support our Y and we want to see them at the Y. At this time, I can’t provide any additional information but just to share that we are working extremely hard at getting something done.”
Jennifer Lewke: “Do you have any idea how many members might be impacted by this in the Greater Rochester area?”
Ernie Lamour: “Yes, there’s about 7,500 members that we are again, making sure that we take care of this for them.”
Burns hopes that if the YMCA can’t make a deal with Silver Sneakers, it can at least make a deal with seniors to make it more affordable for them to stay. “You expect somebody to take the money out of their limited social security check which is not enough to live on in Monroe County to pay, even a dollar out of that check is going to be detrimental to somebody, we’re on a set income!” Burns says.
Lamour assured News10NBC that if there are any updates to the Silver Sneakers situation, he’d let members know as soon as possible.
It’s important to note that the YMCA will still accept Silver and Fit which is offered through Excellus Medicare Advantage plans. Right now, only Silver Sneakers is on the chopping block.
Other local SilverSneakers options in the Rochester area:
-Adams Street Recreation Center, 85 Adams Street
-Exercise Express Fitness Spinning Studio, 10 Cady Street
-Ubiquity Lifeball Center, 1096 Joseph Avenue
-Team LIFT Fitness Wellcomess Center, 2 Mt. Read Blvd
-Irondequoit Fitness, 471 E. Ridge Road
-LA Fitness – Rochester East Ave, 78 Rockwood Street
-Irondequoit Community Center, 450 Skyview Centre Pkwy Ste 200
-LA Fitness – Irondequoit, 1600 E Ridge Road
Jewish Community Center – 1200 Edgewood Avenue Rochester
To search for locations near you, click here.
YMCA of Greater Rochester ‘working extremely hard’ to find solution for seniors losing Silver Sneakers benefit WHEC.com.
Hence then, the article about ymca of greater rochester working extremely hard to find solution for seniors losing silver sneakers benefit was published today ( ) and is available on News10NBC ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( YMCA of Greater Rochester ‘working extremely hard’ to find solution for seniors losing Silver Sneakers benefit )
Also on site :