When Pam showed up on the first day of the LAFRA health fair, she made a bee-line for the Express Scripts table. Married to a firefighter and a Medical Plan member for more than a decade, she was having a problem with her prescription benefit and wanted answers. “This was really great,” Pam said later. “I was able to meet face-to-face with the Express Scripts rep and finally get this problem worked out. I had been working on this over the phone for months.”
On April 20 and 21, the Relief Association gathered all of its Medical Plan vendors under one roof for the first ever LAFRA Health and Wellness fair. The more than 12,000 family members and firefighters covered by the plan were invited in for one-on-one consultations and much more. Members received benefit updates, coverage information, and like Pam, were able to discuss personal issues and problems directly with vendors.
Center for Heart and Health provided health screenings and information on their comprehensive annual physical that is covered by the plan. Medical Imaging of SoCal explained their array of state-of-the-art body scans and the enhanced benefit that plan members can utilize after July 1st. The VSP rep let members know that there will also be an enhanced vision care benefit come July. Dozens of members signed up with Anthem’s Live Health Online program so that they can make virtual doctor visits from their devices and laptops.
Ron and Darlene Curtis, retirees on Medicare were impressed with multitude of vendors. “The health fair was really informative,” said Ron, “and the breakfast was great. Whenever I have a health insurance problem, LAFRA always helps me straighten everything out even though I am on Medicare.”
Many members used the health fair to improve their “health literacy.” Health literacy is learning about yourself and your choices, rather than having someone tell you what you should do. It means asking about exams, medications and treatments which you do not understand. You should also be asking “why” and “how” you can make changes and improvements in your lifestyle, habits or care that you are receiving.
“I know active firefighters have to really stay on the ball,” remarked Matt Mickey, who provided personal training advice and tips to fair attendees. “I met a lot of guys (at the fair) who are eating clean and training regularly – and it shows. And the vast majority of the retirees that I spoke with are still very active. There was one couple in their 90’s that had been skiing up until a few years ago. They are still in great shape.”
Most visited at the fair was LAFRA’s own HealthSCOPE table. Members were finally able to put faces to the helpful voices that have been assisting them with their medical coverages and benefits. Wayne Sherman, Denise Schelgel and company are a big part of what makes the LAFRA Medical Plan the very best available.
According to LAFRA Executive Director Todd Layfer, “The Medical Plan is here to serve the firefighters and their families. The plan is run by firefighters for firefighters so we’re always willing to make changes based on the feedback from our members. Third party insurers won’t do that.”
In addition to the free massages and breakfast bar, members were treated to an array of health related prizes in the hourly raffle. Dan Mattera was the lucky winner of a Garmin VivoActive Sport Watch in the RSVP raffle. He said, “The Relief Association does so much for me already and the Medical Plan is second to none. To win this raffle prize now too is just incredible.”
If you are not currently utilizing the LAFRA Medical Plan, do yourself a favor and contact a Relief Trustee to find out exactly what you are missing. Or visit lafra.org for more information. You’ll want to be ready for the next open enrollment period when you can sign-up for the best Medical Plan offered to LAFD members and their families.
By Dave Wagner
Photos by Lloyd Payne