Universal American allies with Nifty after Fifty

Sep 11 2009

Universal American Corp. (NYSE: UAM) is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with Nifty after Fifty^® (“NaF”), a company that operates health and wellness centers focused primarily on the senior community. Together, Universal American and NaF will open several fitness and wellness centers in the Houston and Dallas markets over the next several months with expansion to additional states and locations planned in the near future. In addition, Universal American has made a minority investment in NaF to help fund its growth.

Nifty after Fifty^® currently operates facilities in ten locations throughout California that are specially designed to create a welcoming clinical, physical and social environment that meets the needs of older baby boomers and seniors, including those with physical limitations. Trained kinesiologists and physical therapists evaluate members and develop customized and clinically supervised programs that address the individual’s overall fitness and remedially address their specific areas of de-fitness. A variety of scientific advances are used, such as state-of-the-art air pressure machines as well as innovative low impact aerobic equipment that smoothly builds strength, increases bone density, and improves balance and endurance. The NaF programs also offer computerized brain exercises to decrease cognitive decline, driving simulator training to make better older drivers, personalized nutritional guidance and a variety of other wellness and social programs.

Aside from the benefits of improved fitness and well-being, NaF programs have the potential to reduce healthcare costs from all causes. For example, studies have shown that NaF’s unique balance training programs can reduce falls and fractures by as much as 80% in the frail elderly.

Richard Barasch, Chairman and CEO of Universal American, commented, “The Nifty after Fifty^® partnership is an exciting addition to our overall care management offering and further enforces our Healthy Collaboration^SM model. We share NaF’s belief that evidence-based wellness programs will significantly improve the health outcomes and the quality of life of our members. Universal American is delighted to join an organization which helps mature adults revive, refresh and enrich the quality of their lives.”

Sheldon Zinberg, M.D., founder of Nifty after Fifty^®, commented, “We are exceedingly happy to join Universal American in this endeavor. We feel confident that our physical therapy services and our individually customized, clinically supervised, and computer monitored programs will not only reduce falls and fractures, but, of equal importance, they will significantly reduce the overall healthcare costs in the mature population.”

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