2025 KEITH CONCANNON SCHOLARSHIPS
The application deadline for this year’s scholarship is April 1, 2025. Please contact the REAOC office at (714) 840-3995 or email REAOC at reaoc@reaoc.org to obtain a scholarship application and the scholarship informational packet.
Please click here for additional information regarding this scholarship.
2025 HEALTH PLAN INFORMATION
If you have any questions about your coverage for 2025, County of Orange retirees can visit the Employee Benefits website, hrs.ocgov.com/retiree.benefits or click here. For your 2025 Grant amount (if applicable), refer to your Confirmation of Benefits sent in early October. Please be aware that REAOC does not administer the health plan program.
If you receive a monthly Medicare Part B Reimbursement, please make sure you submit your 2025 Medicare Part B premium statement by January 15, 2025, to the Benefits Service Center.
The 2025 rate charts can be accessed by clicking here for the Excel charts or here for the PDF version.
REAOC prepared comparison charts comparing the 2024 rates to the newly approved 2025 Health Plan Rates. You may review these comparison charts by clicking here. Please note that the worksheet has several tabs on the bottom that will show all of the comparisons by health plan type.
If you have questions regarding your health plan, contact the Benefits Service Center at 1-833-476-2347 or they can be reached on-line by clicking here. Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
LUNCHEON REMINDER
Our luncheons are held at the Elks Lodge located at 1751 South Elks Lane, Santa Ana, CA 92705. All the luncheons will provide a main dish, a salad with vegetables, rolls and dessert. Coffee, tea, and ice water will also be served.
The Elks Lodge is next to the OC Credit Union building on St. Andrews Place. The major cross streets are Grand Avenue and Edinger in Santa Ana. You will find plenty of parking spaces!
We hope to see you at our next luncheon on January 22, 2025. The Elks Lodge will be serving chicken piccata, rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, green salad w/ranch on the side, roll and butter and chocolate mousse for dessert. Reservations for the January 22, 2025 luncheon must be received by no later than January 15, 2025.
For more information, please click here.
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.
REAOC BOARD OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The REAOC Board monthly meetings are held monthly via the online Zoom platform. You may see the meeting dates by clicking here. 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 DECEMBER 23, 2024
Millions of people may get expanded Social Security benefits. Who are they and how would it happen?
This article was published by the OC Register on December 19 before the US Senate approved the Social Security Fairness Act and sent it to President Biden for his signature. The article contains some useful information assuming the President does sign it into law. (Read More)
Editorial – Union workers raid Social Security under the guise of ‘fairness’
Holding true to its decades-long history of anti-public sector employees and hate of unions, the Orange County Register predictably editorialized on the Social Security Fairness Act after headlining it a raid on Social Security by union workers. (Editor’s Note: The Register has inserted a pay wall on this Editorial on-line preventing access from non-subscribers. However, the Pasadena Star News ran the same editorial without a pay wall, so that is the link provided here.) (Read More)
Santa Paula doctor sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for role in Hospice fraud that bilked Medicare out of $3.2 million
An announcement from the US Attorney’s Office spells it out: “A Ventura County physician who worked for two Pasadena hospices was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for defrauding Medicare out of more than $3 million through claims for medically unnecessary hospice services. Dr. Victor Contreras, 69, of Santa Paula, was sentenced today by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr., who also ordered him to pay $3,289,889 in restitution. Contreras pleaded guilty on July 24 to one count of health care fraud. From July 2016 to February 2019, Contreras and co-defendant Juanita Antenor, 62, formerly of Pasadena, schemed to defraud Medicare by submitting nearly $4 million in false and fraudulent claims for hospice services submitted by two hospice companies: Arcadia Hospice Provider Inc., and Saint Mariam Hospice Inc. Antenor controlled both companies. Medicare only covers hospice services for patients who are terminally ill, meaning that they have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illness ran its normal course.” (Read More)
It takes $349,200 income to buy an Orange County home, 3.5 times the US salary
Among several companion stories to the one above, this Lansner article says: “Orange Countians need 3.5 times the annual income of a U.S. homebuyer to qualify for a typical house. A homebuyer would have to make $349,200 to buy the county’s $1.37 million median-priced, existing single-family home in the first quarter, according to affordability stats from the California Association of Realtors. – – – – – Contrast that required bounty to the $99,600 that house hunters require nationally. Yup, OC’s threshold is 252% higher.” (Read More)
Three promising drugs for treating Alzheimer’s Disease bring hope
This is a post by the Alzheimer’s Society that appears to be based in England. (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
Please note that we have a new venue for our REAOC luncheons. We will hold our luncheons at the new Elks Lodge in Santa Ana! The Elks Lodge is located at 1751 South Elks Lane, Santa Ana, CA 92705. All the luncheons will provide a main dish, a salad with vegetables, rolls and dessert. Coffee, tea, and ice water will also be available.
The Elks Lodge is right next to the OC Credit Union building on St. Andrews Place. You will find plenty of parking spaces! Attend and have fun visiting with your friends and guests at the Elks Lodge. Please see your upcoming Informer newsletter for additional information.
For directions, 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. You may also make reservations and pay for your luncheon by sending the form found in the Informer newsletter along with your payment via Zelle.
WHEN
For 2025, the luncheons will be held on Wednesdays on the dates listed below:
January 22, 2025
March 19, 2025
May 7, 2025
September 17, 2025
December 17, 2025
To ensure a parking spot please arrive by 11 a.m. Please carpool if possible.
We hope to see you at the REAOC luncheon!
Cost for the luncheon is $20.00 per person. A reservation form is provided in The Informer (on the current Luncheon page),or you can click here to obtain a reservation form to mail into the REAOC office or you may email the REAOC office of your request (reaoc@reaoc.org).
Reservations for the January 22, 2025 luncheon must be received by no later than January 15, 2025.
HEALTH CARE PLANS AND RATES FOR 2025
The County Board of Supervisors were presented with the proposed new Health Plan Rates for 2025 at their July 23, 2024 Board meeting. The 2025 rate charts can be accessed by clicking here.
REAOC prepared comparison charts comparing the 2024 rates to the newly approved 2025 Health Plan Rates. You may review these comparison charts by clicking here. Please note that the worksheet has several tabs on the bottom that will show all of the comparisons by health plan type.
HEALTH CARE PLANS AND RATES FOR 2024
The Board of Supervisors approved the new Health Care Plans and Rate for 2024 at the Board meeting on July 18, 2023. The rate charts can be accessed by clicking here.
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
