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 September 17, 2025. The Elks Lodge will be serving a main dish, salad, rolls and dessert. Coffee, tea, and ice water will also be available. Reservations for the September 17, 2025 luncheon must be received by no later than September 10, 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 MAY 12, 2025
In wake of recent wildfires, lawmakers jockey to sweeten firefighter pensions
Southern California News Group and Orange County Register columnist Teri Sforza writes: “Supporters of AB 1383 want a return to pension practices that put the state and local municipalities in fiscal peril. – – – – – A parade of barrel-chested firefighters and police officers lined up, scores deep, at the microphone. Yes! they said, over and over again. Give public agencies the power to sidestep pension reforms and sweeten our retirement formulas! – – – – – Naturally, the bill is passionately supported by California Professional Firefighters and Peace Officers Research Association of California, its co-sponsors, as well as firefighters from all over the state. Opponents? The organizations that employ them and foot much of the bill, including the League of California Cities, California Special Districts Association and California State Association of Counties.” (Read More)
California budget is $12 billion in the red amid Trump tariffs and rising costs
CalMatters reports: “Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced that California is facing a $12 billion budget deficit, spurred by soaring costs for social services as the state’s economy teeters from President Donald Trump’s chaotic tariffs strategy.” (Read More)
Why aren’t Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have?
One of the reasons the President gives for his proposed tariff policy is to incentivize the return of manufacturing jobs to the United States, thereby reversing the development of such jobs in foreign countries that have lower wages. Yet we read about a very low unemployment rate which raises the question of where the workers are to come from to fill these new jobs. This article from NPR sheds some light on the current ability of our economy to provide enough workers to fill available jobs. “But there’s something a bit weird undercutting this movement to reshore factory jobs: American manufacturers say they are struggling to fill the jobs they already have. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly half a million open manufacturing jobs right now.” (Read More)
Married couple, daughter accused of ‘severe and prolonged’ torture of 6 foster children
Multiple media throughout the nation reported on this sad case. USA Today: “Southern California authorities this week announced the arrest of three family members who they accuse of repeatedly torturing six foster children, one as young as age 5, for years. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, in mid-February, the agency began an investigation into the ‘severe and prolonged abuse and neglect’ of six children, ages 5 to 16, at a home on Helena Drive in Victorville.” (Read More)
California released 15,000 prisoners early during COVID. New data reveals what happened to many of them
CalMatters reported: “Nearly one-third of California prisoners released early during the pandemic by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration ended up back in prison, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation data.” (Read More)
State Farm approved for unprecedented rate hike
According to this CalMatters article: “State Farm can raise homeowner and other rates starting next month, becoming the first insurance company to win approval to do so on an emergency interim basis in California. The state’s largest insurer made the unprecedented request for emergency rate hikes earlier this year, after it said it was in financial distress and expected more than $7 billion in claims because of the Los Angeles County fires in January. (Read More)
Trump to sign executive order to lower prices of drugs
Forbes reported “On Truth Social, President Trump posted yesterday that the United States “will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World.” He wrote that prices would drop from 30% to 80% off of their current levels, adding that he would sign “one of the most consequential executive orders in history” this morning. But the order raises more questions than it answers. And potential logistical and legal challenges loom. Trump is resurrecting a plan from his first term in office to peg prices paid in the U.S. to those in other comparably wealthy countries in terms of gross domestic product per capita. Specifically, the then envisioned most favored nation model would pay (reimburse healthcare providers) no more for high-cost physician-administered drugs than the lowest price drug manufacturers receive in other peer nations.” (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 about your reservation (reaoc@reaoc.org).
Reservations for the September 17, 2025 luncheon must be received by no later than September 10, 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
