THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS

South Orange County Senior Day 2020

When:  Friday, March 13, 2020

8:00 AM – registration and continental breakfast (provided by Coffee Importers of Dana Point)

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – program, break-out sessions, resource fair and lunch immediately following (provided by Panera Bread)

Where:  Norman P. Murray Senior Center

24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo

Presented By:

State Senator Patricia Bates & Assemblymember Bill Brough

Featuring:

Keynote Address: Dr. Ruth Benca, UCI MIND:  SLEEP AND THE AGING BRAIN

Providers:

Informational Booths By: Age Well Senior Services, Alzheimer’s Orange County, Automobile Club of Southern California, California Department Of Insurance, California Highway Patrol, CalOptima, Medicare, Orange County Office on Aging, Social Security

Click here to obtain additional information and/or to register for the event.

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

At the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) Board meeting on February 10, 2020, a COLA was approved!  For 2020, the COLA is 3 percent. This is based upon a change in the CPI of 3.07 percent which was rounded to 3 percent as is required by statute and provides that a maximum COLA of 3 percent be granted. ​OCERS will increase applicable benefit allowances by 3 percent. The COLA adjustment will appear on the May 1st check.

Beginning in 2020, there will be an exciting new way to vote.  The County of Orange Registrar of Voters  is rolling out new Vote Centers.  A Vote Center is more than a traditional polling place – it’s a full-service voting experience. Cast your ballot at any location, stop by on the weekend, even register to vote. Explore all of the benefits of Vote Center voting – all designed to improve the voter experience. 

Click here to go to the Registrar’s website to learn more.

Click here to find your nearest Vote Center.  Please note that on the map the blue symbol is a mail drop and the yellow symbol represents a voting center.

Click here to see the State of California’s Voter Guide.

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 FEBRUARY 17, 2020

A look at how our Legislators game the system 

CalMatters exposes a world in which California Legislators enjoy “steak dinners with lobbyists, trips overseas, favors for their spouses” via non-profits such as the Latino Caucus, the Irish Caucus,  the Jewish Caucus and so-on.  It reports that “Much of the money has come from corporations and unions with business before the Legislature.”  (More)

Big spending by special interests to get the legislator they want

CalMatters describes how “businesses, labor unions, mega-wealthy political donors and other coalitions of deep-pocketed interests seeking a say in state lawmaking have opened the spigots.”  This means spending to influence voters and to obtain the loyalty of candidates who will hopefully be office holders after the election is rampant.  (More)

What is 5G cellular service and what are the issues?

Governing explains in this informative article. (More)

Federal Judge rips PG&E

A story by AP news reports that “A U.S. judge ripped into Pacific Gas & Electric on Wednesday, saying its executives have put greed before safety and telling officials from the utility blamed for catastrophic California wildfires to plan to add at least 1,100 more tree trimmers to cut the risk of even more blazes.”  The story also says, “The judge told PG&E that he believes the fires could have been prevented had it upgraded and maintained its electrical system instead of funneling billions of dollars into shareholder dividends and executive bonuses.”  (Editor’s Note:  Perhaps a similar rebuke is due our state legislators and the state PUC for allowing this to occur on their watch?)  (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.

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, February 18th 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 February  4, 2020.

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

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

Supplemental Insurance Benefits