Category: Health Care Fund News

TO MEMBERS OF THE FIRE AND POLICE HEALTH FUND

I received an irate call from one of our Health Fund members a couple of weeks ago.  The member could not understand why the doctor’s bills were not being paid by the Health Fund.

        Whenever I get a question like this, I ask the member if he or she had called the staff at the Health Fund office.  Usually the answer is; “No, I have not called the Health Fund.”

        The staff at the Health Fund are the only ones that can view your personal medical account.  Nobody, including the CEO, is privy to your personal medical accounts.  The privacy of our members’ medical accounts is one of the reasons I always ask the members if they have called the Health Fund Staff.

        Back to our irate member: I told the member I would call the staff at the Health Fund and find out why the member’s doctor bills were not being paid.  The problem was quickly solved.  The member had not opened the packet that the Health Fund sends to our members every year in November.

        The member had not opened a packet in three years.  The member had not been to a doctor in three years and had no reason to open the packet.  For our members information, the packet contains vital information about our Health Fund.

        The problem with our member was that the claim’s form had never been signed and returned to the Health Fund.  The claims form is always included in the packet that our members receive every year.  If that form is not signed and sent back to the Health Fund, no medical bills will be paid.    

        The informational packet will be sent out in November; look for it and don’t forget to open it.  Aside from the claims form, other information is included; deductible expenses, out of pocket expenses, children’s rates and changes to medications.  Please don’t put the packet aside and forget it; as soon as you receive the packet, please open it and read it thoroughly.  

        If you have a problem with anything pertaining to the Health Fund, the first call should be to the Health Fund.  You may call me at any time, (210-710-7378).  Still, I suggest that you call the Health Fund first (210-494-6500).

        Let’s go back to exercise.  Getting old is inevitable.  You can pray, you can wish and you can cry; old age will continue to march towards you forever.  You can’t stop old age from taking over; however, you can stall old age by decelerating the speed of old age.  Can this be done: Yes, it can be done.

        As we get older, our bones get brittle, our joints lose the synovial fluid, muscles lose their strength and elasticity, and eyes start to weaken causing people to fall.

        Body movement is the best medicine that helps to decelerate the speed of old age.  Make it a rule to walk around the block at least one time; use light weights every day for at least 15 minutes; do toe raises and leg squats, and when you go to the grocery store, park the car at least 100 yards from the front door.  Good luck!

Henry Trevino

August 1, 2021
I know there are a lot of folks that don’t believe that Covid-19 is dangerous, they don’t believe that it is necessary to wear a face mask, they don’t believe that a vaccine shot will help prevent infection by the Coronavirus, and they don’t believe distancing will help stave off Coronavirus.

Now we have the Delta variant that has swept through the unvaccinated South that hospitals in the region are unable to keep up. Patients with non-COVID health conditions are in major jeopardy too. It seems that the pandemic is now at our footsteps.

We now have a vaccine, which is the key to ending this pandemic and people just refuse to take it. I have heard friends and loved ones say it’s not dangerous; it’s just a little like the flu. Others have said: I’m not worried; I already have been infected by the Coronavirus; or I will not get it again. Please don’t believe those negative statements; protect yourself.

I just received my third booster shot. I do not want to get infected with the Covid-19 or the Delta Variant. Worse than dying is the after-effects of catching Covid or the Delta Variant. Fatigue, headaches, brain fog, loss of smell and taste, muscle aches, shortness of breath, chronic cough and heart damage have been reported.

The Coronavirus vaccine is available, also the booster shots are available at pharmacies throughout San Antonio. Please don’t take a chance that could infect your family, especially your children. I have personally talked to friends and loved ones that have told me how sorry they were that they did not heed the warnings. Countries throughout the world wish they had the privilege of having the Coronavirus Vaccine; here in our country, we have all the vaccine we need.

I would like to share with all our RETIRED AND ACTIVE FIRE AND POLICE the “SURVIVOR’S PREPAREDNESS LIST.” I hate to bring this subject up, but we do have to be pragmatic about our lives. I had a member call me late one night; he wanted me to tell him what to do. He was quite distraught. I could hardly understand him.

I calmed him down, and finally I was able to ask him what I could do for him. He told me that his wife had died, and he did not know what to do. I thought that his wife had died at the hospital. I told him that the Mortuary would take care of doing what his desires were. He said, “well, who do I call.” I asked him where his wife was: his reply was “she is here in the house, and I don’t know what to do.”

After talking to my friend, I decided to write a SURVIVOR’S PREPAREDNESS LIST. It contains very basic information: guidance at time of death, information of documents, and important telephone numbers of people who would be able to help. If anyone would like to get a SURVIVOR’S PREPAREDNES LIST, I would be glad to send you a copy if you would send me your email address.

My email address is: htre2003@aol.com
My telephone number is: (210) 710-7378

Two minutes after I finished this article, I received a telephone call with sad news. A very young man got infected with Coronavirus. He is in the hospital in critical condition and has a very injured lung. His wife had her two vaccine shots and she is o.k. The young man had not received any vaccine shots and is in the hospital.

Henry Trevino

TO MEMBERS OF THE FIRE AND POLICE HEALTH FUND
JANUARY 1, 2020

I hope all our members made it through the New Year celebrations in good health, good spirits and ready to take on the New Year, 2021. We have always tackled the birth of New years with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. This year is going to be different. This past year has been a devasting year to say the least.

Thousands upon thousands of loved ones were lost throughout the world. Immeasurable hardships fell upon all of us during the whole 2020 year. Small and large businesses were lost, thousands of our friends and neighbors lost their homes and thousands were left with scars from the Coronavirus pandemic. We have lost much; we have a lot to remember about the suffering that befell upon us during the year 2020.

The next ensuing years are going to be very different. We have learned how to protect ourselves from the virus that caused such ravage and destruction. Yes, we have learned; for the next few years we will continue to watch our backs; probably we will continue to use our masks and we will continue to shun large crowds. The year 2020 has indeed changed us.

The American people are immensely resilient; we have gone through wars, and pandemics much worse than what we are suffering now. We will survive this tragedy; we will continue living and we will continue doing good for the rest of the world. We will assuredly come through this, but we will carry scars that we never had before.

It seems that a vaccine has been developed to contradict the Coronavirus epidemic. This is like coming out of our houses after a rainy storm. Let’s survey the damage; check the welfare of our families; our neighbors, especially the elderly and most of all volunteer yourself where you could be needed.

I know it has been very inconvenient not being able to go to the Fire and Police Health Fund clinics for physical exams and illnesses that have to be looked at. We are doing everything we can to help our members stay well and to continue our relationships with the clinics and the doctors. As soon as the Health Fund receives the Coronavirus vaccine and as soon as we get any information, we will immediately disseminate it to our members.

The year 2020 has been a year if inconvenience. The habits that we were so used to having have changed. Many of our members have been sequestered in our homes; going to the grocery store is frightening, our churches and synagogues are out of the question and seeing our grandchildren and loved ones has become very difficult.

This coming year will be a year of change. Be patient; things are going to change for the better. For now, our members should be physically active. You can go outside and walk around the block; if you have some bar bells, use them at home. Invite someone to walk with you; you will be doing good for yourself and for someone else.

If you want important information to help you maneuver through the last days of sickness or the death of a loved one, feel free to call me at any time: (210)-710-7378. You can also send me your email and I will send you important information on final preparations. htre2003@aol.com.

TIME AND HEALTH ARE TWO PRECIOUS ASSETS THAT WE DON’T RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN DEPLETED.

by Denis Waitley
Moral of the story: Our time on earth is a very precious gift that comes directly from God. The health of our body is also a gift from Almighty God. As we have received these gifts directly from our creator, we have a mandate that we must cherish and shelter what God has lent us. Our responsibility is to nourish, protect and exercise the beautiful gift from God.

The Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund, San Antonio announced on July 1 that it has extended the Telehealth benefit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The change applies to Telehealth visits from March 23 through August 31. Read more about coverage, copays, and the Alternative Therapy Program by clicking below.