2025 OPEN ENROLLMENT

The following information is provided by the County of Orange, Employee Benefits:

The 2025 Open Enrollment period is from Wednesday, October 16, 2024, through Tuesday, November 5, 2024.  Elections made during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1, 2025. 

Starting October 1, 2024, County of Orange retirees can visit the Employee Benefits website, hrs.ocgov.com/retiree.benefits or click here, to review the 2025 health plan rates and access other helpful resources to assist you in making an informed decision.

In early October, you will receive a Retiree Open Enrollment packet to your mailing address on file with the Benefits Service Center. A Confirmation of Benefits (COB) is included in the packet to detail your coverage and cost for 2025.

If you would like to speak to a representative about your current coverage, want to make your Open Enrollment election, or schedule an appointment, contact the Benefits Service Center at (833) 476-2347. During Open Enrollment, the Benefits Service Center will be available to answer your Open Enrollment questions Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

To ensure you receive all vital information, take a moment to verify your communications preferences on the Benefits Service Center website: mybenefits.ocgov.com. Please ensure that you report any change of address
with the Benefits Service Center in a timely manner.

Carefully review your COB notice(s) if you make elections during Open Enrollment. The allowable correction period is Wednesday, November 6 through Friday, November 12, 2024. In addition, make sure you check your email or mailbox for any follow-up actions from the Benefits Service Center. 

If you receive a monthly Medicare Part B Reimbursement, please make sure you submit your 2025 Medicare Part B premium statement by January 15, 2025, to the Benefits Service Center.

Retirees can learn about other supplemental benefits by calling the Retired Employees Association of Orange County (REAOC) at (714) 840-3995 or the labor organization they were affiliated with when employed. As a reminder, if you retired from anywhere besides the County of Orange, please contact your former
employer to see if you are eligible for any post-employment medical benefits. 

Please be aware that REAOC does not administer the health plan program. For more information, go to: hrs.ocgov.com/retiree.benefits or click here.

OCERS ASSISTANT CEO IS RETIRING

Suzanne Jenicke, the Assistant CEO at OCERS, will be retiring in September after a career of 25 years of dedicated service.  REAOC’s Past President, Linda Robinson, REAOC Director, Sara Ruckle Harms, and REAOC Vice-President Dot Ronan share in the celebration of Suzanne’s retirement.  REAOC congratulates Suzanne on her dedication to OCERS and all retirees and her exemplary service and partnership with REAOC. Click here to read the article celebrating Suzanne’s years of service in OCERS At Your Service publication.

COUNTY OF ORANGE HEALTH PLANS 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.  These agenda items (items 46-49) were approved unanimously.  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.

If you have questions, 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 September 25, 2024!  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 on the 2nd Wednesday of each month via the online Zoom platform.  If you have any issues or questions you would like to have us discuss, please contact the REAOC office at (714) 840-3995.

NEWS WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

This is what Southern California wildfires destroyed in 7 days 

This story in the Orange County Register on Thursday provides a summary of the extent of damage wrought by the three fires this week.  It is not pretty. (Read More)

Study – CalPERS’ political agenda puts taxpayers and retirees at risk with low returns, higher unfunded liabilities 

The Pacific Research Institute study concluded:  “CalPERS – which adheres to a politicized Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) agenda – is generating lower returns in its investment strategies compared to a more typical investment strategy, finds a new brief released today by the Pacific Research Institute, a non-partisan California-based free market think tank.- – – – – CalPERS Generates 7.1% Average Annual Return Versus 7.9% for Typical Portfolio.” (Read More)

Orange County leaders look to censure Supervisor after FBI raid 

On Monday, the Voice of OC reported:  “Orange County Supervisors are looking to censure their colleague Andrew Do and strip him of all his other titles as some continue for his resignation, marking the first time in over 20 years that the board has formally condemned a member. – – – – – While censures don’t carry any official penalties, supervisors are also considering stripping Do of his various appointments to county boards, including the Orange County Transportation Authority.” (Read More)

OC Leaders strip embattled supervisor of positions amid FBI investigation 

On Tuesday, the Voice of OC reported:  “Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do was stripped of all his committees and boards representing Orange County besides his supervisor seat on Tuesday morning.  It marks the first formal action his colleagues have taken against him after his home was raided by the FBI on Aug. 22.  The raid came after a county lawsuit alleging a nonprofit his daughter helped lead embezzled over $10 million from the county. Over half of the nonprofit’s funding came from Do’s discretionary funds as county staff were raising questions about the nonprofit’s work. (Read More)

How states gamed billions from Medicaid 

Governing reported:  “As they expanded eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, some skirted the law by misclassifying new enrollees to maximize revenue from Washington while doing little to help those who need care. It will take federal legislation to end this behavior.” (Read More)

IRS says it has recovered 1.3 billion in unpaid taxes from rich Americans 

CBS News reported:  “The IRS said Friday that it has recovered $1.3 billion in unpaid taxes from high-income Americans who had either failed to file their returns or who hadn’t fully paid what they owed. The announcement, made jointly with the U.S. Treasury Department, is aimed at highlighting the agency’s ramped-up enforcement efforts against tax cheats, which have been funded under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.” (Read More)

The cost of aging in place can be ‘crushing’ 

Aging in place continues to be the preference for the vast majority of older Americans. But the financial and emotional ramifications of staying in one’s current home, rather than moving to a nursing home or assisted-living facility, can be a heavy burden. – – – – – His wife tried caring for him on her own, but after that became too much, she brought in help. She has since hired and fired a string of home health care workers and now relies on a team of five aides who work round the clock. The yearly cost of care is $240,000 – – – – – at a staggering monthly cost of about $6,300 for a home health aide, it isn’t feasible for many Americans.” (Read More)

Senior Americans are moving in with ‘boommates’ to counter the housing affordability crisis and loneliness epidemic 

So says this article on Moneywise. (Read More)

California man loses life savings, owes more than $30K in taxes after falling prey to sophisticated scam 

Moneywise reported this story:  “On top of losing his life savings to scammers, Chester Frilich of Concord, California is facing a tax bill of over $30,000 which could end in him losing his home.  As reported by ABC7 News, his problems began when he received a call from somebody claiming to be from Xfinity, who claimed his account was used to upload pornographic videos. An hour later, he heard from “Jason Brown” with the Federal Trade Commission, listing all of his credit cards and telling him he was under investigation for wire fraud. In order to clear the issues, the scammers posing as the FTC said they would help him move his money to a “secure account,” which involved him sending thousands of dollars of gold and cash through couriers and UPS.” (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.

WHEN

For 2024, the luncheons will be held on Wednesdays on the dates listed below:

January 24, 2024

March 27, 2024

May 22, 2024

September 25, 2024

December 4, 2024

To ensure a parking spot please arrive by 11 a.m. Please carpool if possible.

Cost for the luncheon is $20.00 per person. A reservation form is provided in The Informer (on the current Luncheon page), in the “Forms” section of the REAOC web site or you may email the REAOC office of your request (reaoc@reaoc.org). 

Reservations for the September 25, 2024 luncheon must be received by no later than September 18, 2024.

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