San Antonio Fire and Police Pensioners' Association

This June, we’re coming together to talk about duty-related stress and trauma in a meaningful way.   Mental health significantly impacts all areas of life, including physical health, relationships and overall wellbeing.  First responders are at a higher risk for mental health issues. In an effort to understand this better, please join us for a discussion about duty-related stress and trauma. Our amazing retirees are prepared to share what they have experienced and learned to help enhance your ability to thrive in retirement.

Join us for a series of Mental Health Awareness Events, where a panel of peers will lead discussions on the challenges first responders face.

Event Details:
📍 5 June – Westover Hills Clinic, 5230 Rogers Road (10-11:30 AM)
📍 10 June – Fair Oaks Clinic, 7926 Calle Rialto (10-11:30 AM)
📍 18 June – Roosevelt Clinic, 11851 SE Loop 410 (10-11:30 AM)
📍 25 June – Schertz Clinic, 5009 Schertz Parkway (10-11:30 AM)

Your well-being matters, and we encourage everyone to take part. For more information, contact your care navigator at 210-202-9384.

This week, we honored the legacy of the brave men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting and serving our community by gathering at our pension fund office and offering prayers and thoughts in their memory. Our memorial service was a moving tribute, capturing the spirit of service and sacrifice that defined these heroes.

The following video offers testament to the event’s reminder of our members’ unwavering commitment, their courage, and their enduring impact on San Antonio. Those in attendance felt their presence, their dedication, and the deep gratitude we all share for their contributions.

To all those who served and are no longer with us—you are remembered. You are honored. You will never be forgotten. 🙏

Join us for the monthly member meeting of the San Antonio Fire and Police Pensioners Association. This meeting brings together retired fire and police personnel to discuss important updates, reports, and community matters.

📅 Date: May 13, 2025
🕜 Time: 1:30 p.m.
📍 Location: San Antonio Fire and Police Pension Fund Office
11603 W. Coker Loop, Suite 201, San Antonio, TX 78216

🏛 Meeting Agenda:

1. Invocation – Led by Chaplain Rev. Smoot or Deacon Jerry Whitley
2. Pledge of Allegiance – United States of America and Texas Flag
3. Roll Call of the Executive Board – Attendance confirmation
4. Speaker of the Month – No speaker this month
5. President’s Report – Includes details on the May 13 Memorial Service, to be held immediately following the meeting
6. Reports from Board Members – Updates from the Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Corresponding Secretaries for Fire and Police
7. Committee Reports – Family Assistance, Pre-89ers Health Care, PAC Fund, Pension Fund, and Retiree Health Care Fund updates
8. Members to Be Heard – Open floor for discussions
9. Door Prizes – Exciting giveaways!
10. Adjournment

This gathering is a great opportunity to stay informed, voice concerns, and connect with fellow retirees. We look forward to seeing you there!

The San Antonio Fire and Police Pensioners’ Association (SAFPPA) is hosting a heartfelt memorial service to honor the brave first responders who passed away in 2024. Join us as we pay tribute to their service, courage, and dedication to our community.

📅 Date: May 13, 2025
📍 Location: SAFPPF Headquarters
11603 W. Coker Loop, Suite 201
San Antonio, TX 78216

Program Highlights:

• Invocation: Deacon Jerry Whitley.
• Prayer for First Responders: Offering gratitude for their sacrifice.
• Bagpipes Performance: Featuring Amazing Grace and The Bells of Dunblane.
• Roll Call: Honoring the names of our departed firefighters and police officers.
• Lighting of the Eternal Candle: In memory of those we have lost.
• Speaker: Billy Anders
• Benediction: Reverend A. D. Smoot

This memorial service follows the regular member meeting, which starts at 1:30 p.m., and is a special opportunity to come together as retirees of the San Antonio Fire Department and San Antonio Police Department. Let us remember and celebrate the lives of these extraordinary men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting and serving us.

The San Antonio Fire and Police Pensioners’ Association is providing the following message from the Healthcare Fund representatives. Please remember that SAFPPA has no direct relationship with the operation of the HeatlhCare Fund. We are providing this notice as a courtesy to our members.  Members,

I am writing to you today, to discuss changes that we are implementing that will directly benefit our membership.  Our prescription plan is currently managed by  “Capital RX.”   Our  mail order pharmacy  is subcontracted by Capital RX (our plan manager), to “OptumRx.”   We have been made aware of numerous member complaints, regarding OptumRx,  in filling member prescriptions.  Capital RX (our plan manager) has tried unsuccessfully to rectify those issues.  It is time for a change.  
 
OptumRx operates within a rigid business model that is problematic when it comes to serving our membership.  The unfortunate result of this inflexibility has resulted in our membership being under-served.  Capital RX has advised us that we have the contractual ability to “opt out” with regards to using OptumRx as our mail order pharmacy.  For the convenience and benefit of our members, we have decided to switch our mail order pharmacy to “Costco.” 
 
Costco is an American multinational corporation and is one of the largest retailers in the World.  They have a very customer service oriented approach to doing business; and we believe that they will be better suited to provide the kind of pharmaceutical service that our members deserve and expect.  Due to their strong local presence in the San Antonio area, they will be able to provide a more comprehensive form of service.  If you wish to go to their store, they have four (4) storefront locations here in San Antonio, where you can pick up a 90-day supply of your medications.  For any questions on the process for in-store pick up, contact a benefit specialist at The Retiree Healthcare Fund at 1-866-652-4237.  Otherwise your prescriptions will be mailed directly to you for convenience as is the current practice.  
 
Beginning June 1, 2025, our new mail-order pharmacy provider will be Costco Mail Order and Costco Specialty Pharmacy. CapitalRx will send letters with detailed information about the Costco Mail Order and Specialty Pharmacy.  New ID cards are scheduled to be mailed in May. Members can start registering on the Costco member portal at pharmacy.costco.com beginning May 1, 2025. There is no need to register with CapitalRx again. For assistance with registering on the member portal or for questions about our new mail and specialty pharmacy, please contact our Benefits Specialist at The Retiree Healthcare Fund at 1-866-652-4237. Please visit our website at www.thefundsa.org for information on mid-year changes to the medical plan regarding GLP-1 drugs.

In conclusion, we believe this move will benefit all of our members.  As always, we will continue to monitor our providers, to assure that your insurance needs are being met.           
 
As your representatives both myself and Frank Gutierrez are always open to meeting with you on any issues or answer any questions.
 
Michael Despres  mdespres@thefundsa.org
Frank Gutierrez  fgutierrez@thefunds.org