EAGAN, Minn. — About 50 seniors braved a single-digit wind chill in front of the Eagan headquarters of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota to protest the loss of coverage for YMCA and Lifetime metro location memberships through the SilverSneakers program.

Terre Thomas helped organize carpools from multiple YMCA locations after many learned of the changes in the middle of Medicare open enrollment.

The change affects about 26,000 older adults who rely on the benefit for fitness classes, social connection and affordable access to exercise.

When Thomas began SilverSneakers, she said, she was grieving the loss of her husband.

“I was exhausted with grief, and the only thing I could do was a 45-minute SilverSneakers class,” she said. “It made a huge difference in my life.”

Protesters ste

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