FIRE AND POLICE HEALTH FUND
AUGUST 1, 2020
The Board of Directors of the Fire and Police Retiree Healthcare Fund has extended the Telehealth Benefit due to the COVID‒19 Pandemic. The benefit change will apply to Telehealth visits with a date of service of 3/23/20 to 2/28/21. The benefit will only be considered for payment if the service is provided by Aetna Signature Administrators physician to an established patient.
It’s been hard changing the way we used to live. Not being able to hug your grand kids; difficult to come together to celebrate a birthday or an anniversary; prayers and goodbyes to a love one. When is this all going to end? When are we going back to normal?
I myself thought that after two or three months everything would get back to the way it was. I was terribly wrong. It’s now going on 9 months. Hopefully, we can soon start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. We may be close to a vaccine; maybe we will have it by the end of the year.
All this will come to pass. We must be ready when that time comes. We have to continue living and working. We must continue striving and paving the way for our young generation that is coming to take our place. The important thing is to keep busy and our bodies healthy so we can welcome our upcoming generation.
Now is not the time to give up. Let’s talk about exercise. Don’t miss your daily walk or run. While you’re doing cardio exercise, you must walk or run fast enough to increase your pulse rate. After you stop or slow down your heart rate will revert back to its normal beat.
While doing cardio exercise you’re strengthening your heart. Over time, as your heart gets stronger it will work more efficiently. It will pump more blood with less beats per minute. As you exercise you will breathe faster and your lungs will expand. Your heart will distribute oxygenated blood throughout your body faster and more efficiently.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle. The body constantly absorbs and replaces bone tissue. With osteoporosis, new bone creation doesn't keep up with old bone removal. Many people have no symptoms until they have a bone fracture.
Osteoporosis onset usually starts after the age of 50. Both men and women are prone to this malady. Women, especially, suffer from Osteoporosis earlier than men. Women start losing bone mass after menopause. This does not have to be in your future if you eat wisely and exercise regularly.
Borrow or buy a few light weights. Exercising with weights helps you in many ways. It strengthens your muscles, gives you flexibility, and helps solidify your bones. Elderly people are very prone to falls. Broken bones are extremely debilitating and they take a long time to heal.
Watch where you walk; get rid of all your throw rugs; get rid of all furniture that you never use; get rid of all clutter around the house. Have small lights on all rooms that you go to at night.
Continue having your physical exams. The new clinic on Tezel road is now open. If you need some service from a Health Fund Clinic, be sure to call the clinic first. They will help you make an appointment and tell you what procedures will be necessary while visiting one of the clinics.
Henry Trevino
Fire and Police Health Fund Trustee