THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS
The 2017 Health Plan Rates
The new rates have been approved by the Board of Supervisors and are posted on our website. Click on the Health Plan and Rates tab to see the new rates for 2017.
CalPERS Long Term Care Class Action Lawsuit Update
Please see the message below from the website of the attorneys representing the class members in this lawsuit.
The lawsuit generally alleges that it was improper for CalPERS to impose an 85% rate increase on individuals who purchased LTC1 and LTC2 policies issued through CalPERS’ Long Term Care insurance program. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that in October 2012, CalPERS adopted an 85% rate increase for certain policy holders that was allegedly necessitated by investment losses in the LTC Program and CalPERS’ decision to change its investment strategy. The plaintiffs assert that under the contracts between CalPERS and Class Members, CalPERS is not permitted to increase premiums for these reasons. The lawsuit also alleges that the 85% premium increase breaches the fiduciary duty CalPERS owes to Class Members. Plaintiffs also allege that the Towers Watson Defendants negligently performed actuarial services in and before 2004 relating to the LTC Program and that this also caused the 85% increase adopted by CalPERS in October 2012. This lawsuit seeks a recovery only with respect to the 85% rate increase implemented in 2015 and 2016 and does not seek a recovery relating to earlier premium increases that occurred in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Both CalPERS and the Towers Watson Defendants deny that they have done anything improper and deny that anything they may have done caused the injuries claimed by the Class.
The content of the class notice was approved by the Court on June 21, 2016. We will begin sending out notice on or around July 5, 2016. Importantly, because there are over 122,000 potential class members, the class notices are being mailed in groups of about 20,000 each mailing. This process will take several weeks to complete, so please be patient if you do not receive your class notice immediately. We will provide an update on this website once mailing is completed. If you have not received a notice by that time, you can contact us at 1-877-959-1926. If you would like to view the class notice, please click here: http://www.calpersltcclassaction.com/
The Orange County Council on Aging
The Orange County Council on Aging provides many resources to seniors who live in the Orange County/Inland Empire communities. This Council is an excellent resource to REAOC members and their families. These services include Advocacy & Protection, Education and Outreach and Socialization.
Please click on this link to see their website and services offered.
Scam Alerts from the Tustin Police Department
Please read the information below provided by the Health and Safety Community Service Program Chairs, Louise Davy, Health and Jan Kelch, Safety within the Tustin Police Department. This information is helpful to all of our retirees.
The Edison Scam – Imposters call business owners or residents saying they are past due on their electricity bill and must pay immediately using a prepaid cash card, such as “green dot”. The reason the caller wants payment in the form of prepaid credit cards is because of the ease of transferring money – all they need is the card number and no ID is required upon use.
The IRS Back Tax Scam – The caller identifies themselves as an IRS representative and leaves a message insisting, in a threatening manner, that the victim call back and this is a time sensitive matter. The victim returns the call and is accused of tax evasion and money laundering. The victim is advised that this can be settled “out of court” on the telephone as they speak, and they come up with a fee, that must be wire transferred – using the victim’s bank account. In some instances, the caller also requires the payment be made in the form of a prepaid credit card, again such as “green dot.” The caller may even threaten to have the local Law Enforcement Agency come out and arrest the victim.
The Attorney General Office Scam (similar to the IRS Scam) – The caller leaves a message instructing the victim to call back regarding a bank fraud in which the victim is the suspect. The victim is told to pay restitution in the form of a green dot money pack or the police would be sent out to arrest the victim.
**Important: In the event someone shows up at your door claiming to be an Officer and wanting payment, call your local Law Enforcement Agency or the Agency they claim to represent and verify they are in fact an Officer.
The Cryptolocker Ransomware Scam – A CryptoLocker attack may come from various sources; one such is disguised as a legitimate email attachment. When the victim downloads the attachment a virus then encrypts files on the victim’s computer. A display message appears offering to decrypt the data if a payment (through either “Bitcoin” or via “green dot”) is made by a stated deadline.
The Free Medical Alert System Scam (targets older adults primarily) – These are Robocall messages telling the victim that they will be provided a free medical alert system, or that someone purchased this as a gift for them. Upon callback, they learn they will have to pay a fee for activation.
Remember:
•Never give out personal information to anyone over the phone.
•Any call that demands immediate payment or payment by way of a gift card, prepaid card, money pack or money gram should be considered suspicious.
•Customers suspecting a fraudulent call should ask for the caller’s name, department, and business phone number. If the caller refuses, terminate the call.
•Verify your account balance by calling the respective company directly.
•Report your experience to the FTC online at ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS – WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
Each ballot proposition explained
You may find this web site useful as you try to understand the various propositions on the California ballot. Presented is a brief summary of each proposition, as well as how it got on the ballot, who is paying for campaigns for and against it, and other considerations. While any site like this probably has some biases your Editor thinks it provides useful information. (More)
New ruling called ‘existential threat’ to pensions
This article by Ed Mendel at Calpensions quotes pension attorney Harvey Leiderman as telling the California State Teachers Retirement System (CALSTRS) Board that the recent State Court of Appeals decision in the Marin County case poses a threat to public sector defined pension plans. (Leiderman is also special legal counsel to the Board of the Orange County Employees Retirement System – OCERS. The OCERS Board next meets on October 17.) (More)
LA Times pension article author radio interview
This approximately 20 minute KABC talk radio interview of Jack Dolan, the LA Times reporter who the story mentioned above, focuses on Dolan’s L.A. Times’ piece on “California’s fat pensions costing you billions.” (More)
OC Supervisors respond to Grand Jury on pensions
The 2015-2016 Grand Jury analyzed the County of Orange pension system and issued a 36-page report titled “Orange County’s $4.5 Billion Unfunded Pension Liability and Retirement Plans.” On August 23 the Board of Supervisors approved a response to the Grand Jury. Find these and other documents at this site (Note: Some have to be downloaded in order to read them.) (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
The Mile Square Park Banquet Facility located at 10401 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley, California, 92708. For directions, call the Mile Square Banquet Facility at (714) 962-5541 or 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
Luncheons are held the 4th Wednesday of January, March, May and September, and on the first Wednesday of December at Noon. To ensure a parking spot please arrive by 11 a.m. Please carpool.
Luncheons for 2016 are listed below:
January 27 March 23 May 25 September 28 December 7
Please Note: Reservations by phone or mail for the September 28th luncheon must be at the REAOC office by Wednesday, September 21, 2016.
COST
Cost for the luncheon is $17.00 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).
HEMET CHAPTER LUNCHEONS
Luncheons in Hemet are held on the second Tuesday during the months of February, April, June, October and December. Attendees arrive around 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church located at 515 E. Kimball Avenue in Hemet and lunch is served between 11:45 and noontime. The cost is $9.50 per person. The Hemet Chapter would like new members and encourages all REAOC members who live in the area or within driving distance to join them for the luncheons.
REAOC’s Hemet Chapter will hold its next luncheon on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 11:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church located at 515 E.Kimball in Hemet.
Make your reservation by calling Jeri Maupin at 951-672-4594 or Joyce Emery at 951-658-2549 by no later than October 4, 2016.
Luncheons for 2016 are listed below:
February 9 April 19 June 14 October 11 December 13
MAP TO MILE SQUARE PARK
Below is a map showing the general location of the Mile Square Park Banquet Facility located at 10401 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley, California 92708.
If you need exact directions from your house you can go to MapQuest and click on “driving directions.”
HEALTH PLANS FOR 2017
At the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, the new Health Plan Rates were approved on a 5-0 vote by the Board members. There are some plans that will have increased rates for 2017 as well as some plans that will have the same rates for 2017 as in 2016.
Please click on the links below for the charts provided by the County for the 2017 Health Plan:
Retiree PPO Health Plan Rate Tables for 2017
Retiree Insured Health Plan Rate Table for 2017
HEALTH PLANS FOR 2016
If you have any questions regarding your health plan, please contact the County’s Employee Benefits section at (866) 325-2345.
Please click on the links below for the charts provided by the County for the 2016 Health Plan rates:
2016 Rate Tables – non PPO
2016 Rate Tables – PPO
For information about the supplemental insurance including dental and vision coverage, please click on the link below.
Supplemental Insurance Benefits
