A MESSAGE FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM (OCERS) – Understanding Stock Market Volatility and Your Pension
With recent headlines highlighting stock market ups and downs, it’s understandable to feel a little concerned. At OCERS, our message is simple: your pension is safe—just as it has been for the past 80 years. Click here to read the entire article on the OCERS website.
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA)
The OCERS Board of Retirement approved a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all retirees and eligible beneficiaries, with an extra 0.5% credited to a “COLA Bank” for future use. For 2025, the COLA is 3%. This is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) being reported as 3.3 rounded to 3.5% as is required by statute. For all benefit recipients, who began or will begin receiving benefits on or before April 1, 2025, this adjustment will increase their allowances by 3% with the remaining 0.5% added to their “COLA Bank.” The COLA adjustment will appear on the May 1st check as benefits are paid in arrears. To read additional information about the COLA, click here.
2025 HEALTH PLAN INFORMATION
If you have any questions about your coverage for 2025, County of Orange retirees can visit the Employee Benefits website, hrs.ocgov.com/retiree.benefits or click here.
The 2025 rate charts can be accessed by clicking here for the Excel charts or here for the PDF version.
If you have questions regarding your health plan, contact the Benefits Service Center at 1-833-476-2347 or they can be reached on-line by clicking here. Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
LUNCHEON REMINDER
Our luncheons are held at the Elks Lodge located at 1751 South Elks Lane, Santa Ana, CA 92705. All the luncheons will provide a main dish, a salad with vegetables, rolls and dessert. Coffee, tea, and ice water will also be served.
The Elks Lodge is next to the OC Credit Union building on St. Andrews Place. The major cross streets are Grand Avenue and Edinger in Santa Ana. You will find plenty of parking spaces!
We hope to see you at our next luncheon on May 7, 2025. The Elks Lodge will be serving a beef tri-tip with potatoes, salad, rolls and with chocolate mousse cake. Coffee, tea, and ice water will also be available. Reservations for the May 7, 2025 luncheon must be received by no later than April 30, 2025.
For more information, please click here.
MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAMS
If you or someone you know is having trouble paying for healthcare costs, there may be ways to save money on Medicare premiums and other costs. You can get help from your state paying your Medicare premiums. In some cases, Medicare Savings Programs may also pay Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments if you meet certain conditions. Please click here for additional information.
REAOC BOARD OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The REAOC Board monthly meetings are held monthly via the online Zoom platform. You may see the meeting dates by clicking here. If you have any issues or questions you would like to have us discuss, please contact the REAOC office at (714) 840-3995.
WHEN YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES
If you move, get a new or change your e-mail address or telephone or if you have a name change, there are actions that are necessary so that you continue to receive your benefits, newsletters, e-mails, etc.
If any of the above pertains to you, you need to notify REAOC, the Orange County Employees’ Retirement System (OCERS) and the County of Orange Employee Benefits Center with the new information.
To contact REAOC – call (714) 840-3995 or go to http://reaoc.org/email-us/ to e-mail the new/changed information.
To contact OCERS – call (714) 558-6200 or go to https://www.ocers.org to go to their website and sign-into “MyOCERS” to update your information.
To contact the County of Orange Employee Benefits Services Center – call (833) 476-2347 or to go to the benefits website by contacting My OC Benefits™ directly through IntraOC, or on the internet at mybenefits.ocgov.com.
NEWSLETTERS
Click here to read the latest Informer newsletter.
Click here to read the latest CRCEA Intercom newsletter.
NEWS WEEK OF APRIL 14, 2025
Social Security’s new anti-fraud measures start Monday. Here’s what you need to know (According to CNN)
On April 14 CNN reported: “The Social Security Administration is set to implement on Monday new anti-fraud measures that have sparked widespread concern and confusion, heightened by the agency’s repeated changes to one of the new policies. Social Security will now conduct an anti-fraud check on all phone applications for benefits and flag claims that could be fraudulent. Those who are flagged must verify their identity in person. The agency is also implementing a new policy barring beneficiaries from changing their direct deposit information by telephone.” (Read More)
US consumer sentiment plummets to second-lowest level on records going back to 1952
According to this April11th article from CNN: “Consumer sentiment plunged 11% this month to a preliminary reading of 50.8, the University of Michigan said in its latest survey released Friday, the second-lowest reading on records going back to 1952. April’s reading was lower than anything seen during the Great Recession. President Donald Trump’s volatile trade war, which threatens higher inflation, has significantly weighed on Americans’ moods these past few months. That malaise worsened leading up to Trump’s announcement last week of sweeping tariffs, according to the survey.” – – – – – “This decline was, like the last month’s, pervasive and unanimous across age, income, education, geographic region and political affiliation,” Joanne Hsu, the survey’s director, said in a release.” (Read More)
OC Registrar of Voters responds to the SAVE Act
The Voice of OC relayed a press release from the Orange County Registrar that presented the logistical and cost challenges of implementing the SAVE Act in Orange County. The workload and associated costs are major, and the Registrar asks if the federal government will provide the needed funding to do the work that would include serving over 2,000 members of the public on a daily basis. (The SAVE Act is proposed Congressional legislation that proponents say will stop non-citizens from voting by requiring everyone registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship.) (Read More)
Trump administration restores dementia research it gutted as part of its DEI purge
CalMatters reported: “The National Institutes of Health restored a leading University of California researcher’s $36 million grant studying dementia on Friday after terminating it three weeks ago as part of the Trump administration’s DEI purge. The UC says others were restored, too.” (Read More)
Orange County’s community health clinics begin feeling Federal cuts
The Voice of OC reported: “Orange County’s community health clinics are getting downsized as their funding dries up, with plans to cut half of the medical services it offers for residents by the end of June. The services in question all come from the county’s clinic on 17th Street in Santa Ana, which will no longer offer emergency dental services, a children’s clinic or a family planning clinic according to county spokesperson Ellen Guevara. That means services like physicals for kids, infected teeth removals and vaccines will no longer be available by July. – – – – – The drop off comes after President Donald Trump’s administration suspended billions of dollars in healthcare grants to states alongside another $2.9 billion in cuts at the CDC.” (Read More)
More immigrants opt to self-deport rather than risk being marched out like criminals
So says the Los Angeles Times. (Read More)
ABOUT OUR LUNCHEONS
WHY
REAOC luncheons are held for the purpose of bringing Orange County retirees together for an afternoon of camaraderie, entertainment, and information. Friends and family are always welcome! Each luncheon features a different theme, with door prizes, and special gifts. As an added bonus, there is a valuable Progressive Drawing. They also serve as a general meeting for the membership.
WHERE
Please note that we have a new venue for our REAOC luncheons. We will hold our luncheons at the new Elks Lodge in Santa Ana! The Elks Lodge is located at 1751 South Elks Lane, Santa Ana, CA 92705. All the luncheons will provide a main dish, a salad with vegetables, rolls and dessert. Coffee, tea, and ice water will also be available.
The Elks Lodge is right next to the OC Credit Union building on St. Andrews Place. You will find plenty of parking spaces! Attend and have fun visiting with your friends and guests at the Elks Lodge. Please see your upcoming Informer newsletter for additional information.
For directions, see map below showing where the Facility is located. Please DO NOT call the Facility to make reservations. Reservations are made by sending in the reservation form in The Informer or by calling the REAOC office at (714) 840-3995. You may also make reservations and pay for your luncheon by sending the form found in the Informer newsletter along with your payment via Zelle.
WHEN
For 2025, the luncheons will be held on Wednesdays on the dates listed below:
January 22, 2025
March 19, 2025
May 7, 2025
September 17, 2025
December 17, 2025
To ensure a parking spot please arrive by 11 a.m. Please carpool if possible.
We hope to see you at the REAOC luncheon!
Cost for the luncheon is $20.00 per person. A reservation form is provided in The Informer (on the current Luncheon page),or you can click here to obtain a reservation form to mail into the REAOC office or you may email the REAOC office of your request (reaoc@reaoc.org).
Reservations for the May 7, 2025 luncheon must be received by no later than April 30, 2025.
HEALTH CARE PLANS AND RATES FOR 2025
The County Board of Supervisors were presented with the proposed new Health Plan Rates for 2025 at their July 23, 2024 Board meeting. The 2025 rate charts can be accessed by clicking here.
REAOC prepared comparison charts comparing the 2024 rates to the newly approved 2025 Health Plan Rates. You may review these comparison charts by clicking here. Please note that the worksheet has several tabs on the bottom that will show all of the comparisons by health plan type.
HEALTH CARE PLANS AND RATES FOR 2024
The Board of Supervisors approved the new Health Care Plans and Rate for 2024 at the Board meeting on July 18, 2023. The rate charts can be accessed by clicking here.
THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS RESOURCE LINE – MY OC BENEFITS™
Call the My OC Benefits™ Line toll-free at (833) 476-2347 or they may be reached at mybenefits.ocgov.com
SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE BENEFITS
For information about the supplemental insurance including dental and vision coverage, please click on the link below.
Supplemental Insurance Benefits
