SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new partnership between San Diego State University’s Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity and Wellcare By Health Net will provide seniors with a holistic approach to navigating the current and emerging challenges faced by older adults and their families. These barriers include social determinants of health, social isolation, and the need to return to a focus on general health and wellness following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Central to the partnership is the launch of the “Wellness Club,” an inclusive, community-based approach to inform, engage, empower, and inspire older adults.
“The Wellness Club is not about talking at seniors, but doing things with seniors. We believe many seniors are active and experienced people. They can help their peers in wellness and work to optimize aging and longevity together,” said Karen Johnson, Wellcare’s Medicare lead in California.
The partnership has three key objectives:
- Improve the overall wellbeing of older adults and caregivers;
- Identify and share useful information from trusted sources to empower older adults; and,
- Present innovative, community-based approaches to current and emerging issues in aging.
SDSU’s Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity launched in 2021 to address emerging opportunities and challenges for California’s aging population surge. The Center is funded by philanthropic, public and private partnerships, including Health Net.
In collaboration with the Wellness Club, SDSU’s Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in experiences beyond the classroom to enhance a healthy aging perspective and career trajectory.
“As an age-friendly university, connecting SDSU students with older adults is an inclusive approach to address intergenerational needs and opportunities on campus and in the community,” said Steve Hooker, SDSU’s Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
The logo for the Wellness Club is represented through a compass-like image, reflecting the inclusive, community-based approach. This visual represents the four core areas of focus:
- Navigating the healthcare system;
- Excellence in aging, with a focus on what matters – mobility, mentation, and medication;
- Social connections through civic participation, peer-coaching, and bridging generational gaps; and,
- Health and wellness, including preventive health, fitness, and a sense of belonging.
About Wellcare
For more than 20 years, Wellcare has offered a range of Medicare products, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP), which offer affordable coverage beyond Original Medicare. Today, the company offers benefits with every Medicare beneficiary in mind, such as dental, hearing and vision services; Flex cards to assist with co-pays; transportation services; telehealth visits; wellness and fitness programs; in-home support services; and special supplemental benefits for the chronically ill. Wellcare is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, Centene’s Medicare brands, including Allwell, Health Net, Fidelis Care, Trillium Advantage, ‘Ohana Health Plan, and TexanPlus will transition to the Wellcare brand. For more information about Wellcare, visit www.wellcare.com.
About Health Net
At Health Net, we believe every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status, or current state of health. Founded in California more than 40 years ago, we're dedicated to transforming the health of our community, one person at a time. Today, Health Net's 2,600 employees and 90,000 network providers serve 3 million members. That's nearly 1 in 12 Californians. We provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size, and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare — Coverage for Every Stage of Life™. Health Net also offers access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services, employee assistance programs, and managed healthcare products related to prescription drugs. We offer these health plans and services through Health Net, LLC and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company, and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a Fortune 25 company that offers affordable and high-quality products to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation. For more information, visit www.HealthNet.com.
Wellcare is the Medicare brand for Centene Corporation, an HMO, PPO, PFFS, PDP plan with a Medicare contract and is an approved Part D Sponsor. Our D-SNP plans have a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal.
