THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS

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

Introducing Live Web-Based Education Programs!

The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease^®.

We are excited to share that you can now join Alzheimer’s Association education classes from the comfort of your home or office, all you need is an internet connection! You can attend the webinars live and participate in Q&A or view recordings of past sessions at your convenience. Our live, webinars will be offered on an ongoing basis in addition to our In-Person and Over-the-Phone education programs. Choose whichever education option helps you learn best! 

Upcoming Webinar Classes

Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Learn the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia; Alzheimer’s stages and risk factors; current research and available treatments; and ways the Alzheimer’s Association can help.

Wednesday, August 7, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Please register online in order to receive log-in instructions. For questions or assistance registering, please call 800.272.3900. 

Dementia Conversations: Driving, Doctor Visits, Legal & Financial Planning
Conversations with family or friends who are showing signs of dementia can be challenging and uncomfortable. Please join us to discuss tips on how to have honest and caring conversations about going to the doctor, when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans.

Tuesday, August 20, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Please register online in order to receive log-in instructions. For questions or assistance registering, please call 800.272.3900. 

Click here to view past or additional webinar education programs! 

Visit our website for a full listing of free programs and services.

You can make a difference by being a Court Appointed Special Advocate!

There are approximately 443,000 children who are currently in the foster care system in the United States and approximately 23,000 youth emancipating (aging out) out of the foster care system every year. Only 58% of these youth are graduating with a high school diploma. Within a year 1 in 5 will be homeless and by the age of 24, less than half are employed. 74% of the prison population is made up of former foster youth. However, when a youth is assigned a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), the graduation rate increases from 58% to 92%.

On any given day there are over 3,100 children in the foster care system within Orange County. More than 2,300 of those children are living in out-of-home care; group home, foster home or with an extended family member. CASA-OC currently has over 500 matches between a trained and supervised CASA volunteer and a youth in the foster care system. CASA-OC currently has over 200 youth on a waiting list and is in need of more volunteers who are willing to step up to the plate to mentor and advocate for these vulnerable children and fight for their best interest.  

Learn more at casaoc.org on how you can make a difference by being the difference.  

CalPERS Long Term Care Lawsuit Update

A class-action lawsuit that could cost CalPERS $1 billion is headed to trial in June, and many of the 122,000 retirees who bought an insurance plan at the center of the case are receiving small checks from an agreement that settled a portion of the claims. The lawsuit stems from a series of rate increases that CalPERS adopted for long-term care insurance beginning in 2013, peaking with an 85 percent rate hike in 2015. CalPERS says in its most recent appeal that it would raise rates on the plan by 124 percent if it loses the lawsuit.

Mike Bidart, the lead counsel in the CalPERS LTC lawsuit, contends that the structure of the rate increases breached the contracts people signed when they bought the policies beginning in 2003. Those agreements included assurances that rate hikes would be spread among those who bought long-term care insurance, and that people who bought inflation protection policies would not see their rates increase because of expanded benefits, according to court documents.

The website to learn more about this lawsuit is: http://www.calpersclassactionlawsuit.com/

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 JULY 15, 2019

New CalPERS Board member from local government cautiously optimistic

The Desert Sun newspaper carried a column by Palm Springs City Councilwoman Lisa Middleton who was recently appointed to the CalPERS Board of Directors by Governor Newsom as a local government representative.  She writes to give her views on why the pension fund is underfunded and says that “with prudent, diligent efforts CalPERS can meet its obligations to retirees.” (More)

Recovery plan for formerly bankrupt San Bernardino not working

A few years ago, the City of San Bernardino filed for bankruptcy.  A former City Manager blamed several City Councils for refusing to spend within available funding. Now, a new City Manager reports in this story at Calpensions that “While the bankruptcy allowed the city to restructure and/or eliminate approximately $76 million in long-term obligations, it did not resolve the city’s structural annual operating deficit.” (More)

Unraveling the mystery behind one LADWP worker’s $313,865 in overtime pay

If you read the recent story about a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power worker earning over $300,000 in overtime pay in one year and wondered how this could happen, the Orange County Register investigated further and explains it all in this July 12th article. (More)

More people leaving OC than coming in

So says this column in the June 24 and 28 editions of the Orange County Register written by columnist Jonathan Lansner. (More)

Pensions of states are better funded

The Plan Sponsor web site reports that “The aggregate funded ratio for U.S. state pension plans increased by 1.4 percentage points during the second quarter of 2019 ending at 73%, according to Wilshire Consulting. The quarterly change in funding resulted from a 2.6% increase in asset values partially offset by a 0.7% increase in liability values.” (More)

Middle class slammed by rising health costs

Rising health insurance deductibles are fueling middle class anger according to this story in the Los Angeles Times.  The article says that deductibles have more than tripled in the last decade.  The article focuses on working Americans who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid yet cannot keep up with rising health costs. (More)

Oregon negates single family zoning – is California Next?

In the last year we have seen proposed state legislation to negate local zoning control so the State can approve denser housing construction in communities near major transit stops.  That legislation is, to say the least, controversial.  This Los Angeles Times story reports that the voters in Oregon have gone further with by electing candidates that have enacted “Sweeping housing crisis legislation.”  Could this happen in California? (More)

OC Deputies sue over self-incrimination right

On July 19 the Orange County Register published this story reporting that “Orange County Sheriff’s Department leaders have threatened to discipline deputies solely for invoking their 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination, according to a federal lawsuit filed Friday seeking to halt the practice.”  The story cites three instances involving the jail house informant “snitch scandal” issue. (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