SAN DIEGO, Oct. 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH), one of the nation's leading health services organizations, announced that ODS Health Plan has selected its Silver&Fit exercise and healthy aging program for 32,000 Medicare plan members in Oregon.
The Silver&Fit program offers memberships at one of more than 11,000 participating fitness facilities and exercise centers. The Silver&Fit membership includes all of the amenities included with a standard membership, such as access to weight equipment, cardiovascular equipment, and where available, pools, saunas and whirlpool facilities.
Medicare members who are not able to participate at the fitness facility or simply prefer to work out at home may participate instead in the Silver&Fit Home Fitness Program. Upon enrollment, members receive a home fitness kit that may focus on strength and exercise, walking, aqua aerobics, Pilates, yoga, tai chi, dance or stress management. Each kit may include items such as DVDs, booklets and Quick Start guides to help members perform exercises at home. Members are also offered online healthy aging classes for home-based health education.
All Silver&Fit members receive The Silver Slate® quarterly newsletter, access to the SilverandFit.com website and a toll-free hotline to provide information and answer questions about the program.
The Silver&Fit program was developed to assist Medicare beneficiaries in beginning or continuing a regular exercise program. Regular exercise has shown to be an important element in preventing some medical conditions, including high blood pressure and heart and lung disease. Cardiovascular and strength training can also help members improve their balance and become more flexible, preventing common slips and falls and speeding up the recovery period from such injuries. Access to the network of exercise facilities is provided through ASH subsidiary American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc. Follow Silver&Fit on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SilverandFit.
About ODS Health
ODS Health is a multifaceted organization that provides medical, dental, pharmacy, vision and professional liability insurance products, along with a variety of business services including benefits administration. ODS Health serves more than one million members. Founded in 1955, ODS Health has been a pioneer in health and health benefits for the Pacific Northwest. ODS Health is headquartered in Portland and has offices in Medford, Ore., Milwaukie, Ore., Bend, Ore., and La Grande, Ore., as well as in Seattle, Wash., Spokane, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska. For more information, visit www.odscompanies.com.
About the Silver&Fit Program
The Silver&Fit program is a product of American Specialty Health Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH). As part of the Silver&Fit program, members have access to: no-cost or low-cost memberships at a comprehensive network of contracted fitness clubs and exercise centers; the Silver&Fit Home Fitness Program for those unable to participate at a fitness facility or who prefer to work out at home; SilverandFit.com, a website with a variety of health tools and resources specifically designed for older adults; The Silver Slate®, a quarterly newsletter; and a toll-free customer service hotline.
The Silver&Fit logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13048
About American Specialty Health Inc (ASH)
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is a national health services organization that provides fitness and exercise programs, population health solutions and specialty health care programs for health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Headquartered in San Diego, with an operations center in Dallas, ASH has more than 900 employees and administers services for more than 31 million members. Additional products offered through ASH and its subsidiaries include Silver&Fit®, ExerciseRewardsTM and others. For more information about ASH, visit www.ASHCompanies.com or call 800-848-3555. Follow us on Twitter at @ASHCompaniesor @Healthyroads and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Healthyroads or at http://www.facebook.com/SilverandFit .