THIS MONTH’S HOT TOPICS

Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) Approved

The Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) posted the following on their website:

At its February 19, 2019 meeting, the Board of Retirement approved a 4 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase for retirees and eligible survivors. Eligible payees will see a 3 percent increase to their benefit with the additional 1 percent going into their COLA Bank.

The increase, effective April 1, will be reflected on the May 1 payment. Click here for information on the COLA – how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) affects the COLA, as well as to see the percentage in your “COLA bank.”

REAOC Scholarships for 2019

The Keith L. Concannon Scholarship application period is now open.  Please click here to obtain the 2019 Scholarship Informational Packet.

Please note that the deadline to apply for the application is explained in the packet.  All applications must be sent by electronic mail by no later than Monday, April 1, 2019.  All material that must be sent through the mail (your official transcripts, the reference letter) must be postmarked by no later than Monday, April 1, 2019.

To view additional information regarding the scholarship process, please click here.

New Medicare App

Is your medical item or service covered by Medicare Part A and/or Part B?  Now there’s a quick way to check!

Download Medicare’s official “What’s Covered” app – available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

Use the app at the doctor’s office, in the hospital, or anywhere you use your smartphone or tablet.  Once it’s installed, you can use “What’s Covered” even when you are offline.

Search or browse in the app to learn what items and services are covered, how to get covered benefits, and basic cost information.  Learn more about the new app at Medicare.gov.

Good news from Medicare: They have finished mailing new Medicare cards across the country! You should’ve received your new card by now. 

Here’s what to do next:

•      Carry and use your new Medicare card when you need care.
•      Protect your Medicare Number and card, just like you would protect your credit card.
•      Destroy your old Medicare card to help protect your identity.

Haven’t gotten your new Medicare card yet?

Sign in to your secure MyMedicare.gov account to see your Medicare Number and print your official card. If you don’t have a MyMedicare account yet, sign up for free at MyMedicare.gov today!

Alternately, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE and our call center representatives can help you get your new card.

Note: If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, like an HMO or PPO, keep using your Medicare Advantage Plan ID card whenever you need care. If you have a Medicare drug plan card, keep that, too. However, you should also carry your new Medicare card — you may be asked to show it.

Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

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.

Class Action Lawsuit

On September 5, 2018 the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal provided a ruling in the Harris v County of Orange Class Action Lawsuit.  The ruling is available below for your review together with an article entitled “9th Circ. Partially Revives Orange County Retiree Benefits Suit.”

BACKGROUND:  At this point the claim for “age discrimination” has been dismissed; however, part of the information relied upon for the dismissal did not accurately reflect history and prior documents provided to the Court.  Additional action may be taken to bring this to the Court’s attention. 

The 9th Circuit panel reversed the district court’s ruling regarding the “grant” and remanded the case back to the District Court (in which Judge Guilford presides). That claim will now move forward.

Note:  The Retiree request to reassign the case on remand was denied.

More to follow……….

Click here to read the ruling from the Court of Appeal

Click here to read the article about the ruling

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT UPDATE

The Ninth Circuit panel has denied the request to reconsider its dismissal of the age discrimination claim in this case.  No explanation was provided by the panel for the decision.  The case is now ready to return to the trial court to proceed on the contract claim regarding the significant reduction of the vested grant benefit in 2007.   Further updates will be made available as the lawsuit proceeds through the judicial system.

REAOC Informer Newsletter

Click here to read the latest Informer newsletter.

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

Bakersfield voters misled on sales tax increase?

According to this story on the web site of Bakersfield’s Eyewitness News TV stations the citizens of Bakersfield approved a sales tax increase of 1% for increased law enforcement and fire services, but now the City Council is using some of that new revenue to fund employee pensions.  Read the fine print of what the article says the voters approved to see if you think the voters have been tricked or not. (More)  

Editorial – Watch out when pensioners outnumber workers

The Chicago Tribune says that Cook County property tax bills present the “staggering shortfalls in government employee pension and health care funds” and that increases pressure to increase property taxes.  Then it reports that many government agencies in the region have more pensioners than workers paying into the pension system and says that is evidence that it is time for “elected officials at all levels of government to make substantive, serious and unpopular decisions to right-size pension benefits and lift the brick off taxpayers“.  (More)

Is it time to remove John Wayne’s name from OC Airport?

This column in the Los Angeles Times argues that actor John Wayne’s stated views about gays and blacks and other sensitive subjects are reasons to remove his name from Orange County’s commercial airport. (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, December 18th at 11:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall 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 December 11th, 2018.

Luncheons for 2018 are listed below:

February 20         April 17             June 19           October 16           December 18

Luncheons for 2019 are listed below:

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 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