The conference was held on Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3, 2022. This conference was a virtual conference. We had a terrific lineup of speakers including:
✓ CRCEA’s longtime friend Hank Kim, Executive Director of NCPERS;
✓ Keynote Speaker Tom Sullivan, American singer, actor and motivational speaker. A regular on ABC’s Good Moring America and a dear friend of Betty White.
✓ Neil Sahota, IBM Master Inventor, United Nations Artificial Intelligence (AI) and UCI professor; he discussed how AI impacts us individually and our pension systems.
✓ Sara Mednick, Ph.D., a well-regarded researcher on sleep at UCI and author of Take A Nap! Change Your Life.
The recording of the conference will be posted on the REAOC website once it is made available by our vendor, Advanced Media.
HELPFUL RESOURCES FROM THE COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Click here to review a one-page resource sheet that was developed by the County of Orange, Employee Benefits. They are sharing this information that may lend support to the County retirees if they should need it. So much is going on in the world today and, at some point, we all may need some assistance.
The County has also provided some information regarding self-help including resources for stress management and mental health.
Click here to see the flyer on Mental Health and Wellness in English
Click here to see the flyer on Mental Health and Wellness in Spanish
Click here to see the flyer on Stress Management Webinars
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.
The County of Orange Health Care Agency has continued to update their web site titled Covid-19 Vaccine Resources to keep the public informed. Please click here to read more.
REAOC BOARD OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The REAOC Board will continue to meet on a monthly basis although we will follow the CDC guidelines and not meet in person. Our Board meetings will continue to be held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month and we will utilize the online Zoom platform. 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 16, 2022
Inflation dealing a gut punch to money-strapped Californians
A Story at Capital and Main focuses on the community of Lemon Hill, 7 miles south of downtown Sacramento, with 15,000 residents living in poverty who are grappling with the sticker shock of inflation. “Inflation is biting into consumers’ purchasing power in a way that hasn’t been seen in nearly half a century. Meat prices alone have increased by 16% in the past year. Gas prices hover near $6 a gallon and utilities keep climbing. For individuals and families with no financial cushion, when staples soar in price, bills don’t get paid, textbooks and prescription medicines don’t get bought and life is constant anxiety.” (Read More)
Gas prices spike, notching largest increases since late February
The Los Angeles Daily News reported. On May 16, a Union station in Tustin had higher prices than those reported in the article! (Read More)
$2.7 billion settlement in CalPERS long-term care insurance lawsuit is canceled
A Sacramento Bee article reported “The settlement in the class-action lawsuit, reached last July, gave policyholders a choice: they could give up their plans and get a refund of all premiums they had paid — up to about $50,000 — or they could opt out of the settlement and keep their coverage, which got even more expensive last year. The agreement included the caveat that if more than 10% of policyholders chose to keep their plans, CalPERS could exit the deal. Last month, attorneys representing the plaintiffs announced 30% had decided to stay, and both sides had agreed the settlement was off. (Read More)
Future COVID variants will likely reinfect us multiple times a year, experts say — unless we invest in new vaccines
Yahoo News reports the grim picture: But now experts say something is changing. Since the start of 2022, the initial version of Omicron, known as BA.1, has been spinning off new sub lineages — BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, BA.5 — at an alarming pace.” (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
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.
Please Note: The Fountain Valley and Hemet luncheons have been cancelled. In light of the unknown facts and drivers surrounding the Coronavirus REAOC strongly believes caution is of utmost importance when it comes to the health of our membership. This is a challenging time for us all. Being mindful of recommendations by health experts to avoid crowds, the REAOC Board of Directors unanimously agreed that cancelling the upcoming luncheons is the most pro-active, appropriate action to take at this time. An update will be posted when we can once again hold our luncheons in both Fountain Valley and in Hemet.
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 noon. 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 20th at 11:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church.
Make your reservation for the next luncheon by calling Mary Little at 951-485-7738 or Jane Pabitzky at 951-237-3240 by no later than October 6, 2020.
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 PLAN RATES FOR 2022
The County of Orange Board of Supervisors approved the new rates for the retiree health plans for 2022 at their meeting on July 13, 2021. The rate charts may be seen below.
Click here for the PPO rate charts (Wellwise and Sharewell)
Click here for the HMO rate charts (Kaiser, Scan and Blue Cross)
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
