RYE BROOK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 10, 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
CollaborationSM 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.”
About Universal American Corp.
Universal American, through our family of healthcare companies, offers
benefit plans designed to promote collaboration among our members and
their healthcare professionals. This Healthy CollaborationSM
improves, each day, the health and well-being of more than two million
older and disabled Americans. For more information on Universal
American, please visit our website at www.UniversalAmerican.com.
About Nifty after Fifty®
Nifty after Fifty® operates health and wellness centers
focusing primarily on the senior community. Nifty after Fifty’s®
specially trained fitness coaches and physical therapists evaluate
member needs and create personalized fitness and wellness programs for
members. Nifty after Fifty® currently operates ten centers in
California. For more information about Nifty after Fifty®,
please visit its website at www.niftyafterfifty.com.
Matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from
time to time by representatives of Universal American may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Federal securities laws. Although
Universal American believes that the expectations reflected in any
forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can
give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved.
Forward-looking information is subject to risks, trends and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those projected. Many of these factors are beyond Universal American's
ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially and could impact Universal American and the
statements contained in this news release can be found in Universal
American's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K
and annual reports on Form 10-K. For forward-looking statements in this
news release, Universal American claims the protection of the safe
harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Universal American assumes no
obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Source: Universal American Corp.
Universal American Corp.
Robert A. Waegelein, 914-934-8820
Chief
Financial Officer
or
Investor Relations Counsel:
The
Equity Group Inc.
Linda Latman, 212-836-9609
