THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS
New location for the future Hemet Luncheons
Please note that for the Hemet Luncheons will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall (please note the new location) located at 515 E. Kimball Avenue in Hemet.
Please click on this link for additional information.
IRS warns of new twist to old phone scams
Below is an article found at the MSN Money section of the Internet (click here to read the entire article on line).
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean that scammers are taking a break. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a warning about a new telephone scam.
In the scam, callers posing as IRS representatives advise potential victims that two certified letters were sent to the taxpayer in the mail but were returned as undeliverable. The callers then threaten to arrest the potential victim if a payment is not immediately made through a prepaid debit card. The scammer also tells the victim that the purchase of the card is linked to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) system: it is not.
To ensure that the potential victim doesn’t back out, the caller warns the taxpayer not to contact their tax preparer, an attorney or their local IRS office until after the tax payment is made. This should be a red flag. You should always have the opportunity to contact your tax professional before resolving a tax dispute. Additionally, if you’re not sure that you owe taxes, you always have the opportunity to hang up and call the IRS directly (1.800.829.1040) for more information. Don’t be pressured into making a spur of the moment payment.
To continue to reading this article, click here..
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS – WEEK OF JUNE 19, 2017
Top paid public employees in 2016
This story in the Orange County Register reports on top paid public employees in California in 2016. Heading the list are medical personnel – surgeons, physicians, psychiatrists, hospital directors – and a few investment officers from CalPERS. Not too far down the list are public safety employees, including an Orange County Fire Authority Captain who had base pay of $116,846, and overtime of $245,350, for a total of $412,689 (Editor’s Note: These numbers do not add up, but that is what the story says). Other firefighters there exceeded $300,000 that year. (More)
Chapman University says OC economy to slow in 2017
The highly touted (but in this Editor’s opinion frequently wrong) Chapman University economists predict that the economy in Orange County will slow down in 2017.to below the pace of the rest of the state or the nation, according to this story in the Orange County Register newspaper. (More)
Pension cuts have public employees worried
This story at the Plan Sponsor web site says that according to a survey by Prudential Retirement only 17% are very confident that they will have enough money to last them in the future. The survey found that less than 1/3 have money stored away for an emergency. (More)
Public pension plans not gaining on funding
Bloomberg News says, “The vast majority of large public pension plans are losing the battle to keep pace on funding, showing deficiencies despite a substantial uptick in contributions in” a story that seems to focus on state public sector pension plans. (More)
Times columnist blasts Senate health bill
Los Angeles Times Reporter Michael Hiltzik begins his column with these words – “It’s a rollback of health coverage for millions of Americans that could cost the lives of tens of thousands a year.” He follows with “But make no mistake: This is not a healthcare bill. It’s a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, paid for by a reduction in government funding for health care.” (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 2017 are listed below:
January 25 March 22 May 24 September 27 December 6
Please Note: Reservations by phone or mail for the September 27th luncheon must be at the REAOC office by Wednesday, September 20th, 2017.
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 have been traditionally 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 in the Fellowship Hall (please note the new location) 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 10, 2017 at 11:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall (please note the new location) located at 515 E.Kimball in Hemet.
Make your reservation by calling Joyce Emery at 951-658-2549 or Jane Pabitzky at 951-237-3240 by no later than October 2, 2017.
Luncheons for 2017 are listed below:
February 14 April 11 June 20 October 10 December 12
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
If you have any questions regarding your health plan, please contact the County’s Employee Benefits section at (800) 858-7266.
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
Below is a link to the County PPO Blue Shield website. It’s a great website, retirees can track their claims (once they register), find network providers, get plan information, price prescriptions, etc.
Please click here to go to the website.
On the bottom left corner of the find a provider page is a place to check the network outside of Ca.
Blue Shield of Ca contracts for the Blue Cross Nationwide network so the provider options outside of CA are very good.
The County of Orange also provided this Retiree Services and Resources for REAOC. Please click here to access this document.
For information about the supplemental insurance including dental and vision coverage, please click on the link below.
Supplemental Insurance Benefits
