Delta Dental of California experienced a HIPAA data security incident that may affect your personal protected health information (PHI), because its account was accessed and information was acquired without authorization (through its third party provider, MOVEit). Please read Delta Dental’s notice and FAQs, so you can protect you and your loved ones from possible identity theft.
The Board of Trustees of the Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC (the “IBT”) have set the 2024 health plan rates for its sponsored Police and Fire Health Plan.
The Trustees met in May and June to review the experience for each region and Plan for active employees and retirees. The experience of all regions and Plans were thoroughly considered.
The cost of medical services rose in 2022 and 2023, as the health insurance industry as a whole, has seen an increase in services and costs due to post pandemic factors.
Although industry rate trends increased, the 2024 rates for the Health Plan still remain lower than some HMO plans and the Plan’s Special Reserves remain strong.
No changes were made to the coverage of the Police and Fire Health Plan for 2024.
The Police and Fire Health Plan proudly serves over 26,000 Safety members and their families with one of the most comprehensive health plans available in the CalPERS System. We also have a dedicated staff whose only job is to make sure you and your family receive the best care and service available.
| EmployeeOnly | Employee+1 Dependent | Employee2+ Dependents | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | $931 | $2,117 | $2,651 |
| Region 2 | $926 | $1,863 | $2,371 |
| Region 3 | $926 | $1,863 | $2,371 |
| Out of State | $1,056 | $2,144 | $2,540 |
| Supplemental Plan to Medicare | $465 | $1,030 | $1,395 |
Region 1: Northern California
Region 2: Central California
Region 3: LA, Riverside & San Bernardino
| Employee Only | Employee+1 Dependent | Employee2+ Dependents | |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $853 | $1,708 | $2,220 |
| Out of State | $1,056 | $2,144 | $2,540 |
| Supplemental Plan to Medicare | $465 | $1,030 | $1,395 |
If you were previously covered by the Police and Fire Health Plan, but are not now, or you wish to be covered or make changes to your coverage, open enrollment is the only time to do so.
We encourage you to contact your Human Resources Department or CalPERS, if you are retired, and make the change to one of the most comprehensive health plans offered under the CalPERS umbrella.
The Insurance & Benefits Trust of PORAC is committed to serving its members and we look forward to serving you and your family’s insurance needs now and into the future.
Featured in the September 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
This is a summary of the annual report for the Insurance and Benefits Trust of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, (Employer Identification No 68-6068469, Plan No. 501) for the period beginning January 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2021.
The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
The Trust maintains long term disability and death benefits under a self-funded program.
The following brief description of the Trust benefits are provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Trust document for more complete information.
The Trust has contracts with Standard Insurance Company to pay long term disability and life insurance claims, with ReliaStar Insurance Company for life insurance and AD&D. The total insurance premiums charged to the Trust for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $5,312,903.
Benefits under the Trust are provided by the Trust and insurance. Trust expenses were $7,180,808. These expenses included $1,438,106 operating expenses, $32,426 in investment expenses, $397,373 in benefits paid directly to participants and beneficiaries, and $5,312,903 in insurance premiums charged by insurance companies.
The value of Trust assets, after subtracting liabilities of the Trust, was $9,036,558 as of December 31, 2021 compared to $6,859,168 as of January 1, 2021. During the Trust year the Trust experienced an increase in its net assets of $2,177,390. This increase includes unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the value of Trust assets; that is, the difference between the value of the Trust’s assets at the end of the year and the value of the assets at the beginning of the year, or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The Trust had total income of $9,358,198. This income included participant contributions of $7,518,056, gains on investments of $1,347,702 and other income of $492,440.
Benefits and eligibility rules will change from time to time. Be sure to use the most recent Trust booklet and to read any special notices about your coverage. Do not rely on outdated information. If you lost your coverage you may be entitled to continue it by making self-payments. Consult your booklet or the Trust office for details.
You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:
To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of the Board of Trustees, Insurance and Benefit Trust Fund of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, 2960 Advantage Way, Sacramento, CA 95834. The charge to cover copying costs will be $0.25 per page for any part thereof.
You also have the right to receive from the Contract Administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the Plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the Contract Administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are furnished without charge.
You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the Plan, 2960 Advantage Way, Sacramento, CA 95834, and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N-1513, Employee Benefit Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.
Featured in the August 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
The 2023 Open Enrollment dates for the Police and Fire Health Plan sponsored by PORAC are scheduled for September 18th through October 13th, 2023. New enrollment and changes made during Open Enrollment will take effect January 1, 2024.
The Police and Fire Health Plan proudly serves approximately 12,900 members and their families for a total of approximately 26,600 covered lives. This Health Plan is one of the most comprehensive health plans available in the CalPERS System. The IBT has a dedicated staff whose only job is to make sure you and your family receive the best care and service available.
The Insurance & Benefits Trust of PORAC is committed to serving its members and looks forward to serving you and your family’s insurance needs now and into the future. In order for the Plan to be sustainable, the IBT must review the Plan’s annual experience to set rates while remaining competitive.
The cost of medical services continued to rise in 2022 and into 2023 and the health insurance industry continues to see an increase in services and costs.
According to Mercer Marsh Benefits, the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor, there are several factors that are influencing the 2024 health plan rate changes in California and across the US. One being the return of typical medical trends following the COVID-19 pandemic. Per-person medical cost increases are back to pre-pandemic levels; COVID-19 continues to impact claims experience as insurers report an increase in later-stage diagnosis of illness due to deferred care. In addition, mental health gaps persist as many insurers report not providing plans that cover mental health services.1
These factors all contribute to high experience and high medical costs which translate to higher costs to insure individuals.
In 2022, the Health Plan paid over $139 million in medical claims and year-to-date for 2023, the Health Plan has paid over $62 million in claims.
The experience of all regions and plans will be thoroughly considered by the Trustees as they meet to review the experience for the past year. The rates should be finalized and published in the August 2023 issue of the PORAC Law Enforcement News magazine. Please watch for that issue to review the 2023 Health Plan rates.
If you were previously covered by the Police and Fire Health Plan, but are not now, or you wish to be covered or make changes to your coverage, open enrollment is the only time to do so.
We encourage you to contact your Human Resources Department or CalPERS, if you are retired, and make the switch over to have access to one of the most comprehensive health plans offered under the CalPERS umbrella.
As always, the IBT thanks PORAC members and its participants for supporting the IBT’s benefits.
Featured in the July 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
1. Mercer Marsh Benefits (2022, August) “Global Insurer Survey Report, MMB Health Trends 2023: Navigating Cost Trends and Using Innovation in Employer-Provided Healthcare.” Retrieved from Mercer.com ↩
From the AFLAC for PORAC Team – It is our honor and privilege to serve our law enforcement community. We have been serving PORAC since 1977. Today we offer PORAC members Accident, Cancer, Critical Care and Hospital. We also offer Short Term Disability to help replace lost income, accessible in specific circumstances.
With injuries usually happening more often than sicknesses, the Accident plan is by far our most popular plan as it covers injuries on or off the job and will pay benefits based on the severity of your injury. These benefits include hospitalization, follow up visits, physical therapy, as well as accidental death and dismemberment and much more. With this plan, Aflac will also pay one wellness benefit per year of $60 just to have an exam, one per family.
Statistics state that 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetime. This is why the Cancer plan is so popular. It covers all types of cancer, from minor skin cancers to serious internal cancers. Coverage includes benefits for diagnosis, surgeries, hospitalization, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, approved experimental treatments and much more. There is also an annual wellness benefit each year for every covered family member, when having a cancer screening. With cancer diagnoses on the rise, this is an excellent plan to protect your family.
We never plan for a catastrophic event to happen, but when they do, Critical Care Protection covers specific catastrophic events like heart attacks, strokes, major third-degree burns, comas, and paralysis, to name a few. This policy also covers any ICU stay for events like premature birth, car accidents or even gun shots and includes continuing care if needed once out of the hospital. These benefits can help with medical bills and lost income, so you can be by your loved one’s side in times of need.
The Hospital Choice plan has benefits for emergency room, surgeries, hospital, and ICU stays. It also has benefits for physician visits, major diagnostic exams, labs and x-rays, and ambulance. This plan complements your major medical insurance, helping you with co-pays and deductibles and other out of pocket costs.
The AFLAC for PORAC team is here to help you file claims, from what documents you need, to getting them uploaded to AFLAC. We can also help with coverage changes, questions regarding benefits, enrollments, and more.
To learn more about AFLAC plans and how they can help you and your family, please visit the Supplemental page or call (858) 344-4331 to find your local AFLAC for PORAC agent.
Featured in the June 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
It may not seem important but forgetting to make an auto or home insurance payment or having a lapse in coverage can have serious repercussions.
Let’s say you don’t drive that much anymore, so you miss an insurance payment or two, but then you get into an accident… If your premium goes unpaid, your insurance policy is void. Meaning, your insurance company is not obligated to rewrite your policy. You’ll be left without coverage and will likely have a higher rate when you do find a new carrier because the lapse has now left you labeled as “high risk.”
Your cancel notice gives you the date that payment must be received by, and if that date occurs with no payment, the system will automatically cancel your policy. Once you’re canceled, your carrier will not take you back unless they are required by law.
Let’s dive further into more facts and answer some questions every vehicle or homeowner should know about their coverage.
While home insurance isn’t required by law, your lender will require you to be insured if you have a mortgage. Your policy will need to cover wind, hail, fire and vandalism. The lender will be named as an additional insured. Should you file a claim for damage or loss, the insurance company will issue a two-party check naming you as the insured along with the mortgage company.
If you fail to pay your home insurance, you could have a lapse in coverage. Your policy will cancel, which is a violation of your mortgage agreement, and there will be no coverage in the event of a loss or claim. Also, the homeowner’s insurance is a package, which covers the home, other structures, your personal property, additional living expenses, and provides personal liability. You will lose all of that if the policy cancels.
In every state except New Hampshire, you’re required to have car insurance. You have to have minimum coverage in case you get in an accident, though what you are required to carry does vary by state.
When you register your car, you submit proof of insurance. When you buy a car, you can’t leave the lot without signing up for insurance. It’s just along the way that you might accidentally, or on purpose, miss a payment and cause your insurance to lapse.
You pay for a specific time period on your insurance. It may be six months, a year or other timeframe. In all cases, you will have a start date and end date. As long as you are paying the bills on time, all is well.
Featured in the May 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
To protect your future earning ability, disability insurance helps protect your income and pays a portion of that income if you are unable to work due to an injury or illness. Disability insurance protects anyone who relies on their income to make a living because without protecting your income, your other assets could be at risk.
The probability of missing months or years of work because of an injury or illness may not seem unimaginable when you are healthy, however, one-in-four individuals in the US will experience a disability before reaching retirement age and Peace Officers may experience periods of disability at a higher rate due to their line of work.
There are several different types of disability coverage available. Short-term and long-term disability both replace a portion of lost income up to a maximum amount. Short term disability plans usually provide benefits for a few months up to one year. Long term disability plans may provide benefits until the disability ends or until one reaches
retirement age.
As a PORAC member and through members’ participating Associations, members can access the IBT’s short- and long-term disability plans. The IBT currently has approximately 22,400 members enrolled in these Plans. On average, the IBT processes approximately 270 disability claims per year and in 2021 paid out over $5,587,000 in disability claims.
The IBT’s Disability Plans offer Associations the option of several group plans from which to choose to implement the plan that best meets their specific needs. The Plans provide monthly disability benefits of up to 66 2/3% to 70% of a member’s salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $10,000. Each of the group Disability plans also provide accidental death benefits of up to $65,000, which covers you 24/7 on and off duty and up to $50,000 for natural death benefits.
For additional information, click HERE.
Or for questions regarding disability plan coverage, contact the IBT plan administrator, Myers-Stevens & Toohey & Co., Inc. at (800) 827-4695.
Featured in the April 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
The Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC (the “IBT”) is pleased to announce that the Dental and Vision plan rates for 2023 will remain the same with no increases or plan changes. That’s welcomed news amidst the rising price of goods and services!
We hope this will prompt our members to take advantage of these benefits and schedule their annual dental and vision appointments.
Along with annual physical checkups, it’s important to schedule your dental and vision appointments as part of your overall health care.
If you enrolled in the IBT’s VSP plan during open enrollment, remember to schedule your eye exam and have your optometrist check your vision to take preventive measures to improve your vision health!
Annual eye exams with an optometrist are essential, whether you wear corrective lenses or not as there are several factors that may affect your vision, such as a vitamin or mineral deficiencies, excessive exposure to sunlight, excessive screen time and other health issues.
The VSP Vision plan is available to all active employees who are PORAC members and whose Associations have opted into the IBT’s VSP plan. The plan is also available to Retired Associate Members.
In addition, the IBT’s dental plan includes a Delta Dental HMO plan as well as a PPO plan, giving you a wide choice of dentists and offering comprehensive dental coverage, quality care and excellent customer care.
The IBT’s Dental plan is available to only to PORAC Retired Associate Members as a package plan with the VSP vision plan.
For more information on dental and vision coverage click HERE.
Featured in the March 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
PORAC members deserve unparalleled service, rates and coverages when it comes to their auto/home/renter’s insurance. That’s what you’ll get with California Casualty and why customers choose to renew their policies with us year after year, at a rate far exceeding the industry average.
With 99% customer service satisfaction, you’ll find that we deliver on our promise to protect you and your loved ones with exclusive benefits.
Included in our policies for PORAC members is:
California Casualty knows the long hours you work protecting our communities and that’s why we’ve made it even easier for you to manage your personal auto insurance. With California Casualty you can shop and purchase your auto insurance online when it’s convenient for you. Quick and simple, our online quote portal is available 24/7.
Visit: www.calcas.com/porac to receive your online auto policy comparison. Call (866) 680-5142. Shopping for the best value and purchasing an auto policy designed with you in mind has never been easier. California Casualty looks forward to serving you.
Featured in the February 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
Happy New Year from the IBT of PORAC!
The Trustees and staff of the Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC (the “IBT”) wish to take this opportunity to wish all of our participants and their families a very healthy and prosperous New Year!
On November 15th and 16th of 2022, the Board of Trustees of the IBT, held its annual meeting in conjunction with the PORAC Annual Conference and Board of Director’s meetings in San Diego, CA.
Our re-elected Trustees were sworn into office and we congratulate Trustee Bryan Hubbard of Region I, Trustee Michael Boyd of Region II, Trustee Roger Garcia of Region III and Trustee Rick Buss of Region IV on their elections to the Board of Trustees! In addition, we congratulate our Trustees on their re-elected seats on the Board: I, Trustee Richard Buss of Region IV will remain as the IBT Chairman, Trustee Bryan Hubbard of Region II will remain as the IBT Vice Chairman and Trustee Roger Garcia of Region III will remain as the IBT Treasurer. Trustee Franco Vado of Region I remains on the Board of Trustees as the re-appointed Retired Associate Member Representative. Trustees Damon Kurtz and Gary Frace also remain re-appointed Trustees by the President and PORAC Board of Directors. Congratulations to you all on your re-elected seats and appointments!
We would also like to thank outgoing Trustee Patrick Martin of Region II for his three years of hard work and dedication to the Board of Trustees and wish him the very best. Thank you, Patrick!
For years now, the IBT has been providing PORAC members with exceptional benefits designed by peace officers for peace officers. These benefits provide comprehensive coverage and affordable insurance products for our member participants.
As we move ahead into the New Year, the IBT’s sponsored Police & Fire Health Plan is happy to have survived its first year under the much-anticipated Joint Administrative Arrangement with Anthem Blue Cross. All Police & Fire Health Plan claims are now being processed in-house, ensuring a higher level of customer service with added savings to the Plan and allowing the Plan to further control administrative costs. This conversion was not without its difficulties, but the Health Plan worked closely with Anthem in resolving the hurdles encountered with taking on such an arrangement, involving the over 24,000 covered lives it insures. We thank our participants for their patience as we worked to resolve these issues.
The IBT’s Health Plan Department is now fully staffed with personnel who are fully trained to process claims and the entire Health Plan Department is available to assist members with any Health Plan issues.
The Police & Fire Health Plan provides major medical insurance for PORAC members whose employers have contracted with CalPERS for health coverage. The Police & Fire Health Plan, offered through Anthem Blue Cross, is a comprehensive 80/20 PPO health plan.
Dental and vision coverage are also offered through Delta Dental and VSP. The vision plan is available for active employees and a dental/vision package is available to our Retired Associate Members. Delta Dental offers retired members both an HMO and a PPO plan.
In addition, the IBT has also partnered with California Casualty to provide auto and homeowners insurance plans to our members. We are proud to partner with California Casualty who have been a big presence and of great assistance to our members over the years, particularly during the devastating wildfire seasons.
The IBT also provides a variety of supplemental insurance plans administered by AFLAC. These supplemental plans are designed to assist in offsetting the costs of medical expenses and pay benefits directly to the employees. The plans include Accident Advantage, Cancer Care and Hospitals Advantage plans.
As always, the IBT remains committed to providing quality products and services to all its members through our business partners and we will continue to find ways to enhance these products and services to best suit our member’s needs.
Featured in the January 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.
