THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS

ENJOY LUNCH CATERED BY CARL’S JR. FOOD TRUCK

For more information or to RSVP, contact Assemblyman Brough’s District office at: 949.347.7301 or  ASSEMBLYMEMBER.BROUGH@ASSEMBLY.CA.GOV

Approval of New Health Plan Rates for 2020

On July 16, 2019, the Board of Supervisors in their regular Board meeting passed agenda items 21 & 23 without any discussion on a 5-0 vote.  These agenda items were the approval of the Health Plan Rates for retirees for 2020. 

Click here for the retiree PPO rates

Click here for the retiree HMO rates

2020 Open Enrollment Message from the County of Orange

The Open Enrollment for the 2020 health plan year will be from October 25 through November 15, 2019. Your Open Enrollment package should arrive at your home mailing address just before Open Enrollment and will contain your 2020 health plans rates and options. If you have moved, please report your new address to the Benefits Center at 1-800-858-7266.

The Open Enrollment meeting on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at Mile Square Park will be hosted by REAOC and attended by Employee Benefits and representatives from the Retiree Health Plans for Non-Medicare and Medicare Retirees

Based on attendance this will be the only live Open Enrollment presentation for Non-Medicare retirees and we will be introducing recorded webinars

The schedule for remaining Medicare retiree live presentations will be in your OE package.

Some important things to be aware of while you await your OE package:

Changes to the Sharewell Retiree Health Plan

Beginning January 1, 2020, OptumRx will be the prescription claims administrator for the Sharewell Retiree Health Plan. Effective 1/1/20, this change will result in utilization management programs being added and a change in the list of covered medications (formulary). These changes are designed to provide members with clinically appropriate medication(s) while saving you and the plan money.

2020 Premium Rates for County Retiree Health Plans

Some plans will be experiencing significant increases for 2020. The retiree health plan increases will be addressed by the County in the upcoming Retiree Newsletter that will be delivered to your home address mid-October.

For more information about these changes you can attend an Open Enrollment Presentation. Additional communications with important details about these changes will be mailed later this year. Be sure to open and carefully read all the information mailed to you by Employee Benefits and OptumRx in the weeks and months ahead so you have all the information you need on resources and deadlines, especially if you want to consider changing plans.

The Benefits Center call center representatives will be ready to answer your detailed questions once Open Enrollment begins on October 25, 2019. Please hold your questions until that date so staff can be trained and provided all the details needed.

OCEA’S Annual Health Fair

OCEA’s annual Health Fair and Farmers Market, presented by OCEA Health & Welfare Trust, will return from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, at OCEA. It’s a great opportunity to learn about healthy living choices from experts and vendors at dozens of booths.  REAOC will also have a table at the fair; please stop by and see us too!

The Health Fair takes place during open enrollment so OCEA members can obtain in-person assistance with their dental, vision, and disability supplemental coverage options. County medical insurance representatives will also be at the Health Fair to answer your health plan questions.

Stay healthy with OCEA and take advantage of free blood pressure, glucose and bone density screenings and much more. Click here for the event flyer and check out a more complete list of offerings. This includes our Holistic Lifestyle area featuring things like herbal remedies, acupuncture, and vitamin B-12 shots ($15).

Flu shots! Don’t forget to bring your Blue Shield, Kaiser or Cigna health insurance cards to get a FREE flu shot.

OCEA’s Farmers Market also returns providing free bags of produce. A healthy lunch will be served, along with corn on the cob and  zucchini off the OCEA Hot Dog Wagon.

We’ll see you on Sept. 10!

When your contact information has changed

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 click here to e-mail with the new/changed information.

To contact OCERS – call (714) 558-6200 or click here to go to their website and sign-into “MyOCERS” to update your information.

To contact the County of Orange Employee Benefits Center – call (800) 858-7266 or click here to go to the benefits website.

REAOC Informer Newsletter

Click here to read the latest Informer newsletter.

NEWS WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

How Public Employee Benefits (Beyond Pensions and Health Care) Compare to the Private Sector’s

We will miss the publications and newsletters of Governing, which has announced they will soon cease publication. If almost as a parting gift it published this story this past week.  It says that public sector employees can count on more generous pension and health benefits, while private sector workers receive things like bonuses, free food or the ability to telecommute. (More)

Cities, counties to lose some land use control as state moves to increase housing

The Orange County Register reported on September 6 that a bill is headed to the Governor’s desk over the objection of many cities and counties that “would ban population and housing caps in “urban clusters,” ban housing construction moratoriums, forbid density reductions and allow demolition of affordable and rent-controlled housing only if the demolished units are replaced. It also includes anti-displacement provisions, requiring relocation assistance to tenants forced to move from affordable rental units and allowing them to stay in their homes until six months before construction begins.”   The story also says the legislation “blocks local governments from changing the rules on pending developments by hiking fees or changing permit requirements once a project applicant has submitted preliminary development plans.”  Not surprisingly, the article says that bill was backed by real estate interests including the Building Industry Association. (More)

Moorlach bill to help prevent financial abuse of seniors/dependent adults signed by Governor

A few days ago, an electronic press release from the office of Orange County State Senator John Moorlach says a bill he authored, SB- 496, has been approved by both houses of the State Legislature and sent to the Governor for signature.  Moorlach says the bill is intended to help protect elder and dependent adults from financial abuse.  This site says the bill has been signed into law. (More)

Some public agency retirees make more than they did when working

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on some high paid public sector employees, mostly former police and firefighter brass, who are making more in retirement than they did when working. And it’s not only in San Francisco. (More)

Rising angst over John Wayne Airport small plane improvements

The September 10 Orange County Register ran this story about new activity of Orange County to solicit bids to “overhaul the small plane facilities at John Wayne Airport.” Small private plane owners fear they will be squeezed out by a push to build more facilities for corporate jets (some of which regularly carry charter passengers), and residents impacted by airport noise fear more jet noise will result.  (See also next story.)  (More)

OC Supervisors appear to reverse filed on airport small plane improvements

The Voice of OC reports that Orange County Supervisors disappointed residents and Mayors in cities near John Wayne Airport when they approved bid documents for new operators of facilities for private plans by opening the airport up to more private jets after all.  (See previous story.)  (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 if possible as the parking lot at this facility can be quite busy.

Luncheons for 2019 are listed below:

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 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 15th at 11:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall located at 515 E.Kimball in Hemet. 

Luncheons for 2019 are listed below:

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 PLAN RATES FOR 2020

On July 16, 2019, the Board of Supervisors in their regular Board meeting passed agenda items 21 & 23 without any discussion on a 5-0 vote.  These agenda items were the approval of the Health Plan Rates for retirees for 2020. 

Please click on the links below for the charts provided by the County for the 2020 Health Plan rates:

Click here for the retiree PPO rates

Click here for the retiree HMO rates

HEALTH PLAN RATES FOR 2019

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 2019 Health Plan rates:

2019 Sharewell and Wellwise Health Plan Rates 

2019 HMO and PPO Health Plan Rates

For information about the supplemental insurance including dental and vision coverage, please click on the link below. 

Supplemental Insurance Benefits