These Parkinson’s patients say boxing therapy is a big help. Now their coverage is ending

Note: This story originally published on July 26, 2026. The Buffalo News is republishing the story as part of a no-paywall event for Labor Day weekend.

Linda Kozlowski, 68, Carrie Beaver, 75, and Carl Patterson, 69, are all Parkinson’s patients who live in Western New York.

They all believe that their battle with the illness has been helped tremendously by twice-a-week, noncontact boxing therapy sessions. They enjoy their time at Parkinson’s Boxing in the Town of Tonawanda, where they work on strength, balance, mental focus and other issues.

But all three were distressed to learn recently that their health insurance provider, Univera Healthcare, has decided that it will stop offering coverage for boxing therapy for Parkinson’s.

Adding to their consternation, the insurance company declined to give any reason for the change.

Parkinson's Boxing (Copy)

Linda Kozlowski stands outside Parkinson’s Boxing in the Town of Tonawanda. Kozlowski, a Parkinson’s patient, is upset that Univera Healthcare plans to eliminate health insurance coverage for her twice-weekly boxing therapy sessions at the center.

“I absolutely love going to the boxing center. I’ve been there for five years, it absolutely helps me,” said Kozlowski, a retired supermarket employee who lives in Amherst. “I can’t believe Univera would back out of coverage that brings happiness and hope to so many people with Parkinson’s.”

Beaver and Kozlowski said they currently pay a minimal copay for each of their 50-minute therapy sessions. They said they were told by the boxing center that it will cost $60 per session – $480 a month – after Jan. 1, when Univera ends its coverage of the program.

Patterson said he recently switched over to Univera from another health insurance provider, only to find out that Univera would not cover his boxing therapy.

Univera, part of a massive family of companies called Lifetime Health Companies, is one of the region’s largest suppliers of health insurance. In response to questions from The Buffalo News, Univera spokeswoman Kimberlee Hickock sent a statement confirming the company’s plan to drop coverage of Parkinson’s boxing therapy, but the company declined to give its reasons.

“Univera Healthcare previously collaborated with the Parkinson’s Boxing Gym to explore new ways to support a group of Medicare Advantage members living with Parkinson’s disease. With the collaboration approaching its conclusion, Univera Healthcare has made the difficult decision to not continue its relationship with the Parkinson’s Boxing Gym,” the statement reads.

“We understand that members and their families may be disappointed by this change and appreciate how meaningful these experiences have been to those who participate. Any members who have any specific questions about this change should contact our Customer Care team at 1-877-883-9577. We remain committed to helping members access programs, services, and resources that support their health and well-being.

“We are grateful to the Parkinson’s Boxing Gym community for its partnership and for the impact the program has had on participants.”

Univera would not answer any follow-up questions from The News about its collaboration with Parkinson’s Boxing or its reasons for ending the collaboration.

Officials of the company, which operates gyms in Tonawanda and Hamburg, told The News they could not discuss the situation, citing legal restrictions on what they can say publicly about an insurer.

While the three boxing center clients who spoke to The News said they are aware of other insurers that still cover the program, managers of the boxing center declined to speak about its other insurers.

Experts tell Parkinson’s patients to keep moving

Parkinson’s is an incurable disease that inhibits the body’s ability to control its movements. About 1.2 million in the U.S. have the disease. Health experts advise patients to walk, swim, exercise and engage in habits that keep them moving.

“The therapy helps me a lot, and I’ve seen it help a lot of others, including people a lot older than me,” said Patterson, an Akron retiree who worked for 50 years at the Perry’s ice cream company. “For me, hitting a boxing bag is just one part of the therapy. We do all kinds of exercises that help with balance, strength and movement.”

Kozlowski said she was shuffling her left foot when she walked when she began working out at the boxing gym five years ago.

She said one of the many exercises she does is to multitask by walking on a pattern of blue dots on the floor, while clapping her hands.

Taking the fight to Parkinson's disease, one jab at a time

Jack Quinn, the former congressman-turned-college president, might be the most well-known person finding relief for his Parkinson’s symptoms through working out at Parkinson’s Boxing in Kenmore, but he’s not the only one.

“Now, the shuffle is gone, and my balance and strength are much better,” Kozlowski said. “My primary doctor is the one who recommended that I go there. Now, I feel like Univera is telling my doctor, ‘You’re full of it, she doesn’t need this!'”

According to Beaver, when she was diagnosed 18 months ago, her doctor told her, “Your first priority is to keep moving.”

“That’s what I get at the boxing gym. Everything we do there is tailored to keeping you active and moving,” she said. “For me, it’s beyond wonderful. It also helps me with my attitude toward Parkinson’s, my confidence in myself.”

She said she was “in shock” when she spotted a sign in the gym, informing clients of Univera’s plan to drop coverage.

“I filed an official grievance with Univera, and I’m waiting to see what happens with that,” Beaver said.

The News asked the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research whether boxing therapy can help patients.

"Exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have to support overall health. For people living with Parkinson's disease, it can help reduce symptoms, improve the effectiveness of medications and may even help slow disease progression," said Dr. Rachel Dolhun, the foundation’s principal medical adviser. "The best exercise is the one you'll enjoy and stick with. For some, that may be noncontact boxing; for others, it could be water aerobics, dancing or playing pickleball. The key is finding a routine that works for you – because any movement is better than none.”

Jack Quinn Portrait (copy)

Jeff Quinn, right, helps his brother, former Congressman Jack Quinn, put on boxing gloves at Parkinson's Boxing gym in 2022. “I worked out at the gym for about 10 years, and it really does help,” he said.

A News story in April 2019 focused on how many Buffalo area people with Parkinson’s – including Jack Quinn, a former congressman and college president from Orchard Park – have benefited from boxing therapy. Quinn was diagnosed with the illness in 2014.

“Quinn is one of about 100 clients who train at Parkinson’s Boxing, which is owned by Dean Eoannou, a 65-year-old former Ford plant shift manager and longtime boxing trainer. The results achieved by Eoannou and his staff over the last four years are stark: Clients who could barely stand are now walking on their own. Many have dramatically reduced their daily pill consumption. An octogenarian just signed up for a 5K race,” The News wrote.

Quinn, at age 75, is no longer able to participate in the boxing program, he told a reporter last week.

“I worked out at the gym for about 10 years, and it really does help,” Quinn said.

In the long run, Quinn believes that Parkinson’s boxing programs save insurance companies money. Kozlowski, Beaver and Patterson expressed the same belief in interviews with The News.

“The boxing therapy program keeps you moving,” Quinn said. “And movement is what delays you from winding up in a wheelchair.”

"It also delays you from going to a hospital or nursing home," Beaver added.

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