THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS

NEW INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT YOUR MEDICARE CARD

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS – WEEK OF JUNE 18, 2018

Transparent California analysis exposed as flawed 

A think tank effort named the Nevada Policy Research Institute but focuses on California is named Transparent California.  Its principal researcher, Robert Fellner, generates so-called studies that portray public sector pay and benefits as excessive.  Small newspapers (and this week even the OC Register – see next story) that lack the investigative staff to look closely at these works often pick up Fellner’s press releases and print it verbatim, presenting a one-sided picture. Pension reformists have heralded these “studies” and use them to help prove their belief that public-sector employees have it much better than their counterparts in the private sector.   Finally, one newspaper, the Marin Independent Journal dug into Fellner’s work and exposed some of its weaknesses and flaws. (More)

Court OK’s pension cuts for convicted public employees 

Increasingly taxpayers have been irked to read that public officials and employees convicted of job related crimes were able to draw their full retirement benefits, so the legislature passed a law a few years ago that specified that pension benefits can be cut for these scoundrels. Now a Court of Appeal has ruled that this law is valid as long as the person gets advance notice and an opportunity for a hearing. (More)

Camp Pendleton may house 47,000 migrants  

As more and more migrants are being detained for evaluation and hearings for possible deportation, the country is faced with where to put them pending those actions.  This article in the San Diego Union Tribune says that Camp Pendleton, in northern San Diego County, might house as many as 47,000 of them.  Old timers will remember that the base housed tens of thousands of Vietnamese refugees in the 1970’s after the fall of Saigon and wonder if history is repeating.  (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 2018 are listed below:

   January 24         March 28          May 23          September 26          December 5

Please Note:  Reservations by phone or mail for the September 26th luncheon must be at the REAOC office by Wednesday, September 19th, 2018.

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 16th 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 Mary Little at 951-485-7738 or Jane Pabitzky at 951-237-3240 by no later than October 9th,2018.

Luncheons for 2018 are listed below:

February 20         April 17             June 19           October 16           December 18

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 2018

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 2018 Health Plan rates:

HMO & PPO Health Plan Tables for 2018

Sharewell and Wellwise Health Plan Rate Tables for 2018

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