IAFF Health & Wellness Trust

IAFF Financial Corporation

Trust Medical Plans

The IAFF Health & Wellness Trust (Formerly Northwest Fire Fighters Benefit Trust) – also referred to as the IAFF HWT or “the Trust” – was designed by fire fighters, for fire fighters, and our plans are built to be responsive to the needs of our members. The Board of Trustees of the IAFF HWT strives to provide our members with the best value possible. IAFF HWT has a large menu of medical plans to choose from, including some custom options available by state. Deductibles range from $50 per person to $5,000 per person. All medical plans include virtual care office visits, planned surgery travel benefits, hearing benefits and more!

To learn more about replacing your existing medical and prescription drug coverage for your members (and other eligible department staff), please contact our Trust Consultants at DiMartino Associates at (206) 623-2430 or email the Trust Consultant Team: Chris McKeon, Kimberly Beahler, and Becky Wallen.

Click through the below drop-down menu to learn more about our partners.

IAFF HWT utilizes the Regence BlueShield network. Outside of Western Washington, your network is the National Blue Card PPO network aka the BlueCross BlueShield network in any geographic area in which you find yourself.

To find a provider, visit www.regence.com and use instructions below.

Guest Search Instructions for WA, OR, ID, & UT

Guest Search Instructions outside WA, OR, ID, & UT

Note: Regence handles provider services only. There is rarely a reason for a Trust member to call Regence directly. Member service regarding medical claims is handled by the Trust’s claims administrator, MagnaCare.

MagnaCare administers medical claims on behalf of the Trust. Once Regence receives and prices a claim, it’s sent to MagnaCare for processing. MagnaCare also handles all member service calls and all prior authorization requests that must be made on your behalf. For example, if you need to be pre-certified for a surgical procedure, your provider should contact MagnaCare to initiate that process. All phone numbers can be found on the back of your IAFF HWT Member ID Card.

Trust members also have access to MagnaCare’s online portal, MyCreateHealth. Once registered for the portal, you will have access to all of your claims detail, benefit information, accumulator info and more. MagnaCare also has a mobile app which can be utilized to access all the same information available through the online portal, including a virtual Member ID Card.

Sav-Rx administers the Trust’s prescription drug benefits. They are a national pharmacy benefit manager with more than 65,000 network locations and employ an entirely Union workforce, making them a perfect partner for IAFF HWT. Their track record for serving Union Health & Welfare plans is unparalleled. All IAFF HWT medical plans include prescription drug benefits administered by Sav-Rx Prescription Services.

For your convenience, everything you need to access your pharmacy benefit can be found on your IAFF HWT Member ID Card. The Trust Consultant can assist prospective members with verifying covered drugs as part of the fact finding and onboarding process.

With MDLive, you can access a doctor from your home, office, or on the go – 24/7/365! MDLive’s Board Certified doctors can visit with you either by phone or secure video to help treat non-emergency medical conditions. MDLive doctors can diagnose your symptoms, prescribe medication and send prescriptions to your pharmacy of choice, subject to state law and regulations.

Trust Vision Plan

All IAFF HWT plans include vision benefits through Vision Service Plan (VSP). VSP allows members and their dependents to access vision care from any provider they wish, however, the benefit will be maximized when utilizing the VSP network of providers and retailers.

To find a VSP provider go to www.vsp.com.

Trust All-Inclusive Benefits
(unless otherwise noted)

Planned Surgery Benefit

The IAFF Health & Wellness Trust (IAFF HWT) expands your options with the Transcarent (formerly BridgeHealth) surgery program at no additional cost to you. Transcarent saves you money and gives you access to top-rated hospitals, surgery centers and doctors for planned non-emergent procedures. Your Transcarent benefits are optional to use and are separate from your medical plan.

Transcarent negotiates bundled case rates with surgical Centers of Excellence. The case rates include all medical costs of surgery from start to finish – no separate bills from the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, or the hospital. All the patient’s expenses, from the preoperative appointment to the postoperative appointment, are covered in the bundled case rate. (Note: This benefit is subject to deductible for members enrolled in a Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)).

Transcarent’s preferred pricing means that IAFF HWT can reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket costs, connect you with a high-quality provider with proven outcomes, and helps reduce the Trust’s long-term spend.

Virtual Physical Therapy Benefit

Transcarent also offers a virtual physical therapy benefit program that is more convenient than in-person physical therapy and that is proven to work as well or better. Skip scheduling appointments, travel and waiting in crowded waiting rooms. There is no cost to members and dependent family members age 18+ who are enrolled in traditional plans (for those in a Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HSA eligible plan), services are covered at 100% after your deductible has been met.)

Oncology Care

The Oncology Care program through Transcarent is designed as an end-to-end experience for members and caregivers that provides access to valuable resources like the Expert Advisory Review team, who provides members with reviews of diagnosis and treatment plans, and local treating oncologists with ongoing peer to peer guidance. Members and caregivers with questions can connect with experienced oncology nurses who can answer all questions related to diagnoses and treatment.

Through Oncology Care, members can expect live, human support from the moment of beginning their journey. Health Guides are there to make the process as easy and as seamless as possible.

Call a Health Guide to connect with the Oncology Support team of experienced oncology nurses for ongoing guidance during and after cancer treatment. Members can also communicate via in app messaging to learn about the program, to receive support for treatment, and to understand the steps through the treatment journey.

Everyday Care

The Everyday Care program allows members to access information through the Transcarent app or by phone. Members also have 24/7 access to a Health Guide to find quality providers, aid with acquiring second opinions, get them started with other Transcarent programs or assist with wellness goals like smoking cessation or weight loss. Health Guides are a central point of contact to help members navigate anything related to the Transcarent health benefits, giving them the support they need to prioritize taking care of themselves and their families.

The IAFF Health & Wellness Trust covers Regenexx under your plan. Regenexx is a non-surgical alternative that uses your body’s natural healing agents and may be a solution in lieu of more invasive surgery options. Regenexx procedures use your own stem cells and blood platelets to treat damaged bone, cartilage muscle, tendon, and ligament tissues.

No cost, confidential access to counseling for members and their eligible dependents.  Members can meet with a counselor for up to five (5) visits per issue. If additional sessions are needed, Health Advocate will work with you to find a professional who can coordinate with your health plan to determine further coverage.

Virtual visits are available through the BetterHelp app. The app allows you to send messages to a counselor when you have time, or you can schedule virtual visits by phone, video, or live messaging. To access 5 sessions (virtual session = one week), call Health Advocate and, if you are a good candidate, you will receive information to access the BetterHelp at no cost.

All active employees covered by an IAFF HWT medical plan are also enrolled in a $20,000 Life and AD&D benefit offered through Union Labor Life Insurance Company (ULLICO).

If you do not receive a beneficiary form, the Trust Office can provide you with one. Upon completion, it should be returned to the Trust Office. If you do not complete a beneficiary designation, your benefit will be distributed based on the order of beneficiaries as stated in the coverage certificate.

All active employees enrolled in a Trust medical plan are automatically enrolled in a base Critical Illness plan through Aflac at no cost to members. The benefit pays in whole or in part when a member receives a diagnosis for a covered condition. Covered conditions include, but are not limited to, heart attack, major organ transplant, kidney failure, stroke, and cancer.

The policy covers the employee at $5,000 and dependent children at $2,500. Additional Critical Illness coverage, including coverage for a spouse, is available through Trust Voluntary Benefits.

The IAFF Health & Wellness Trust (IAFF HWT) is proud to partner with Life Scan Wellness Centers to bring active Trust members an early detection medical screening program that can detect major diseases before symptoms even arise.

As a participating fire department, you have the option to participate in this comprehensive program. Here are a few important details:

  • Life Scan Wellness Center staff will visit your department to perform NFPA 1582 and NFPA 1582 physical exams. All they need is three (3) separate rooms and a treadmill – they’ll handle the rest!
  • Each Participating Group must enter into a separate agreement with Life Scan Wellness Centers, which will include scheduling, as well as “no-show” provisions.
  • IAFF HWT will cover the full cost of the NFPA 1582/ NFPA 1583 exams for eligible fire department employees as determined by your agreement with Life Scan Wellness Centers.
  • Additional services above and beyond those included in the NFPA 1582 and NFPA 1583 are available and can be billed directly to the fire department upon request.

For more information please contact our Trust Consultants at DiMartino Associates at (206) 623-2430 or email the Trust Consultant Team.

Trust Voluntary Benefits

While the Trust includes a modest Critical Illness benefit for you and your children, you may want extra coverage for yourself, your spouse, or your children. The group Critical Illness plan from Aflac pays you a cash benefit when you are diagnosed/treated for covered illnesses like heart attack, stroke, or cancer.

Accidents can happen in an instant affecting you or a loved one. Aflac is designed to help families plan for the health care bumps ahead and take some of the uncertainty and financial insecurity out of getting better. The group Accident plan through Aflac pays you a cash benefit when you receive initial treatment for a covered accidental injury received under the care of a doctor.

Trust Dental Plans

Comprehensive dental coverage is offered through Delta Dental of Washington. This is a PPO plan and although you may access dental services from any licensed dentist, you will get the most benefit out of your plan when you see a Delta Dental PPO dentist.

Dentists who participate in the Delta Dental network as either a PPO or Premier dentist agree to accept discounted, negotiated fees. If you use a non-participating dentist, your charges will be based on the maximum allowable fee for your area, as determined by Delta Dental. This may result in a difference between the maximum allowable fee and the dentist’s billed charge that you would be responsible for paying.

 Please contact DiMartino Associates for more information on available plans and pricing.

To find an in-network provider visit www.deltadentalwa.com.

Willamette Dental offers a unique, HMO-style dental care solution where out-of-pocket costs for covered dental services are taken care of with predictable copays. There are no deductibles and no annual maximum.

Under this option, you must seek care from a Willamette provider. No services will be covered when treated by a non-Willamette dentist, except in an emergency: when you are “out-of-area”, you will receive up to $100 in reimbursement for services by a non-Willamette dentist.

Please contact DiMartino Associates for more information on available plans and pricing.

 To find a Willamette Dental dentist near you, please visit: www.willamettedental.com.

Comprehensive dental coverage is offered through Ameritas Dental. This is a PPO plan and although you may access dental services from any licensed dentist, your out-of-pocket expenses will be lower when you see an in-network dentist. Dentists who participate in the network agree to accept discounted, negotiated fees. If you use a non-participating dentist, your charges will be based on the maximum allowable fee for your area. This may result in a difference between the maximum allowable fee and the dentist’s billed charge that you would be responsible for paying.

Please contact DiMartino Associates for more information on available plans and pricing.

To find an in-network provider please visit: www.ameritas.com

VEBA Plan Administration

BPAS offers a Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) plan which allows an employer to contribute money to a tax-exempt trust on behalf of their employees. The funds in this account can be used to help pay for eligible medical expenses through a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). The HRA gives employees more control over health care purchase decisions by:

  • Helping pay for eligible expenses
  • Giving employees online access to information and tools to monitor their account and make more informed decisions
  • Providing employees the convenience of debit cards for purchases, which means no extra paperwork
  • Allowing employees to receive reimbursements tax-free

To learn more about BPAS, contact DiMartino Associates at 206-623-2430.

Retiree Medical Plans

Locals with active members on the IAFF HWT medical plans can offer medical coverage to Retirees and their eligible dependents. Retirees may continue the coverage they were offered as an active employee or choose a lower premium plan with a higher deductible. These plans can be continued until the retiree is enrolled in Medicare.

Trust Non-Medicare Retiree plans are not available to retirees who are not from a Local participating in an active Trust medical plan.

For more information please contact our Trust Consultants at DiMartino Associates at (206) 623-2430 or email the Trust Consultant Team.

All retired IAFF members and their spouses who are entitled to Medicare benefits under Part A and enrolled in Part B, have the option to enroll in the Trust’s Medicare Advantage Plans (MAPD) offered through Humana, or a standalone Medicare Supplement plan.

RetireeFirst (formerly Labor First) is a Retiree Benefit Manager who specializes in providing customized group health benefits and advocacy services specifically to the retirees of Organized Labor. They also have a dedicated advocacy team that is just for members of IAFF HWT to help members with any of the Rx, medical, vision, or hearing plan needs.

For more information please contact:
RetireeFirst (formerly Labor First) – for plan coverage related questions
Monday-Friday: 8:00am-7:00pm EST
(360) 205-1415 or Toll Free at (844) 818-1088

Trust Office – enrollment and billing questions
Monday-Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm PST
(866) 265-5231 or at IAFFHealthTrust@vimly.com

Trust Contacts

If you’re interested in learning more about providing the IAFF MERP benefit for your Local, we suggest visiting IAFFMERP.org and using the Trust Consultants as a resource to help you through the following steps:

  • Set up a meeting with the Trust Consultants and your Local Executive Board to review the plan.
  • Determine what contribution strategies will work best for your Local and whether any carve-outs of your membership would be beneficial.
  • Draft the proposed contract language or a Memo of Understanding (MOU) for upcoming negotiations.
  • Develop a plan for educating members on the program and its benefits. This can include virtual and/or in-person meetings, station visits, and more.