EVENT SPOTLIGHT: Health First Health Plans ‘Senior Safety Day’ Draws a Crowd
By Space Coast Daily // July 24, 2024
Health First Health Plans hosts dozens of events throughout the year for its 35,000 Medicare Advantage members
From cuts and falls to heat awareness and identity theft vigilance, members left with valuable information – while looking forward to the next event.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The coffee and juice were flowing, plenty of tasty breakfast items were available on demand, and the ballroom at the Hilton Rialto hotel in Melbourne was a cool and comfortable reprieve from the sweltering outside temps – already nearing 90 on this late July morning.
Nearly 100 Health First Health Plans Medicare members arrived individually, in couples, and even in groups, to take part in a Senior Safety Day event, geared toward educating members on everything from heat exhaustion and treatment of cuts and burns – to cyber safety and how to be aware of and avoid many elaborate scams affecting Americans of every age and income bracket.
Health First Health Plans President and CEO Matt Gerrell said these member events are all important to him, but this senior safety event was “particularly personal” to him – relaying a recent experience with his own mother who was targeted by identity thieves.
“I make it a high priority to join as many of these member events as I possibly can, because it’s important to me to chat with our members and their families about the services we provide, and answer any questions they may have. But just as importantly, I truly love seeing the joy they experience networking and engaging with their friends, neighbors and one another. This is one of the perks we are honored to offer our members as a locally owned and operated not-for-profit health plan – we’re more than just a health insurance company with a phone number leading to an out-of-state customer service representative. Here with us today, we have over a dozen of our member engagement associates at every corner of this ballroom answering questions and providing information. These are the people our members speak with when they call us. So, when we say ‘we’re local’ … we’re really local,” said Gerrell.
“I particularly wanted to make sure I did not miss today’s event, as my own parent was recently the target of an identity theft criminal. It’s sad and disgusting that these individuals prey on the emotions and finances of our seniors, as I have seen personally. And so today we have a variety of topics to highlight – from personal physical safety to financial and emotional. Crime can impact all levels of wellbeing, so when we talk about wellness at Health First, these events are designed to really cover what we think folks can really use the second they leave here.”
Health First Health Plans hosts dozens of events – both large and small – throughout the year for its nearly 35,000 Medicare Advantage members – including seminars, walks, luncheons, movies, a recent day at the Brevard Zoo, and scavenger hunts – all at no cost to members.
“It’s an excellent way to build upon Health First Health Plans’ vision of enhancing wellness in our community, and building that community of togetherness, which today’s event underscores,” said Gerrell.
A trio of attendees arrived together – Billie Matlow, Suzan Hill and Charles Shrewsbury, say that they try not to miss an event, which is as much fun and togetherness as it is important information about their health plans and personal wellness.
“We never miss these events,” said Matlow of Palm Bay. “Not only are they a lot of fun, but they also really force – or encourage – me,” she said with a grin, “to get out of my house, away from my TV, and interact with other people. It feels nice.”
“I think it’s great that Health First has these sorts of events,” Hill said. “We went to the Brevard Zoo event a few months ago and really had a lot of fun there, as well as a recent movie night and bingo event, but we’re expecting to learn a lot of different safety tips today.”
“I’ve got VA benefits and Social Security, but Health First Health Plans really beats it all in what it offers,” added Shrewsbury. “ When you add the way they communicate with us, and the special events they provide, it is really something special.”
Launched in 1996, Health First Health Plans has provided a variety of high value, low-cost services, including a network of more than 4,000 providers and dozens of acute cares and office-based medical services throughout Central Florida. Health First Health Plans currently serves; Brevard, Indian River, Volusia, Flagler, Hardee, and Highlands counties
The organizations offer a variety of health insurance plans such as Medicare Advantage and Individual & Family (both on and off the Marketplace exchange). Health First Health Plans are designed to manage healthcare needs with access, ease, and excellence, with plans to fit every budget, wellness goal, and lifestyle. Depending on the chosen plan, physical and mental health benefits include fitness benefits, pediatric dental care, mental health treatment, and even virtual health and urgent care options.
With more than 84,000 members and nearly three decades of local customer-centric experience, Health First Health Plans in 2023 expanded its low-cost Individual & Family Plans to five new Central Florida counties – including Lake, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, and Polk.
