UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This fall, Penn State will launch a new health benefit providing virtual physical therapy to benefits-eligible employees and their dependents.
Starting Sept. 1, eligible University employees and their adult dependents (ages 18 and over) enrolled in a Penn State medical plan will have access to Hinge Health’s virtual physical therapy and exercise programs at no cost to them. Hinge Health, based in San Francisco, is a leading digital clinic for joint and muscle care.
“The health and well-being of our valued employees and their families continue to be a top priority for us, and we’re always looking for ways to support them with new services and benefits,” said Jennifer Wilkes, vice president for Human Resources and chief human resources officer. “I think the addition of Hinge will give our employees another option when looking at physical therapy and exercise programs.”
Through Hinge Health, participants will receive:
- Personalized Care Teams: Patients with appropriate conditions can work directly with licensed physical therapists and dedicated health coaches for one-on-one guidance, motivation, and support.
- Custom Care Plans: Patients receive programs tailored to their unique lifestyle, long-term goals, and multiple areas of treatment.
- Flexible Exercise Therapy: All plan participants over 18 years old can access evidence-based exercise routines that fit busy schedules — sessions can be completed in as little as 15 minutes through the Hinge Health app, anytime and anywhere.
- Comprehensive Support: Whether recovering from an injury or addressing everyday aches, all members have constant access to resources and expert care at no out-of-pocket cost.
Additional information on the program will be mailed to employees’ homes later this summer.
“The addition of Hinge Health will provide our employees and their families another avenue to high quality musculoskeletal care to help them with injury recovery, reducing pain, and promoting overall physical health,” said Jill Musser, senior director of benefits at Penn State.
In addition to Hinge, Penn State recently announced a free prescription savings benefit called Scripta to University employees, which will also be available starting on Sept. 1.