Author: Rocky Gonzalez

February is Heart Health Month

February isn’t just for celebrating Valentine’s Day! February is also Heart Health Month and February 2nd is National Wear Red Day!

These campaigns were designed to bring awareness to heart disease, which is a leading cause of death for many Americans. An important goal of these campaigns is to educate men and women about the risk factors surrounding heart disease and providing information on how to prevent and reduce heart disease.

For both men and women, heart disease is the leading cause of death but it is also a preventable disease. 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year.1

One of the most common types of heart disease is coronary artery disease – also called coronary heart disease or cardiovascular disease – where plaque, made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances in the blood, builds up and can lead to atherosclerosis, a thickening and hardening of the arteries.2 Plaque can build up end up causing blockage in the blood vessels, resulting in a heart attack or possible sudden cardiac death.

Law enforcement officers have an even more heightened liklihood of heart disease than the general population, with risk factors that include acute and chronic physical and psychological stress, sleep deprevation due to shift work, increased obesity and more.3 Studies have shown that officers suffer heart attacks at a younger age than their civillian counterparts, and those attacks are much more likely to be fatal.4

Heart disease is common, but it is also a preventable disease. Many organizations, including the American Heart Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Dignity Health all agree that choosing a heart healthy lifestyle is the best decision you can make.

The good news is that there are several small steps you can take to reduce your chance of heart disease:

  1. Exercise regularly and moderately for at least 20 to 30 minutes; if you have heart disease, contact your physician for a safe exercise regimen;
  2. Incorporate a diet that is low in salt, sugar and saturated fats, such as a Mediterranean Diet;
  3. Maintain a body weight that is within the normal range in accordance with organizations like the National Institute of Health and the American Heart Association and be aware of the number of calories in the foods you eat and make needed adjustments to maintain a healthy weight;5
  4. Reduce stress by getting sufficient sleep and learning and practicing relaxation techniques;
  5. Avoid smoking, recreational drug use and drinking alcohol excessively, and,
  6. Know your family health history and review your risk factors with your physician.

Knowing that heart disease remains the nation’s most preventable medical condition, it’s important to adopt a healthy lifestyle and take positive steps to stay healthy and prevent heart disease. A 1% change is better than no change at all.

For more information on a heart-healthy lifestyle, please visit the resources on the Anthem Blue Cross website.

PORAC and the Insurance and Benefits Trust wish you all a happy and healthy New Year and we hope that this information will be both helpful and encouraging!

Featured in the February 2024 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.

1. Retrieved from Dignity Health, dignityhealth.org ↩
2. Retrieved from The Heart Foundation, theheartfoundation.org ↩
3. Retrieved from Tara A. Hartley, et al., “Health Disparities in Police Officers: Comparisons to the US General Population.” ncbi.mlm.nih.gov ↩
4. Retrieved from John M. Violanti, et al., “Life Expectancy in Police Officers: Comparisons to the US General Population.” ncbi.mlm.nih.gov ↩
5. Retrieved from The National Institutes of Health, nhlbi.nih.gov/ ↩

VSP Vision Care

Whether it be sunglasses, reading glasses or contact lenses, we don’t often think we need to see an eye care specialist if we don’t wear corrective vision lenses. However, as we get older, visits to the eye doctor are important to diagnose early symptoms of vision problems such as chronic dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts or age-related macular degeneration, which can blur your central vision.

If you experience any symptoms, such as itchy, watery or dry eyes, don’t put off seeing your eye care specialist. It’s crucial to see your eye care specialist for these symptoms to prevent permanent injury or rule out chronic vision issues.

The Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC provides access to vision insurance coverage through its trusted provider, VSP, to subscribed PORAC members, providing access to routine eye exams, eyewear and well care exams.

Both active and retired PORAC members have access to the IBT’s sponsored VSP coverage.

The VSP coverage is offered as group coverage to individual RAM members and Group Active Associations who are active employees and whose Associations have opted into the IBT sponsored vision plan have access to this VSP coverage.

VSP has been a trusted partner of the IBT for many years and provides access to a wide range of in-network optometrists and services.

Below is a brief summary of some of the more common benefits covered under the VSP Plan:

With so many in-network choices, VSP makes it easy for our members to get the most out of their benefits. You’ll have access to preferred private practice, retail, and online in-network choices.

If you are already enrolled in the IBT’s sponsored VSP insurance plan, using your VSP benefits is easy! Just create an account at VSP.com and view your available benefits, file a claim to request reimbursement and find a network or out-of-network doctor in your area and view other special offers and savings!

For more information on the VSP vision plan sponsored by the Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC, call an IBT insurance services representative at (800) 655-6397 or visit our Vision page.

Featured in the February 2024 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.

2022 Summary Annual Report

for
Insurance and Benefits Trust of the Peace Officers Research
Association of California – Non-Safety Plan

This is a summary of the annual report for the INSURANCE AND BENEFITS TRUST OF THE PEACE OFFICERS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA NON-SAFETY PLAN, (Employer Identification No 68-6068469, Plan No. 502) for the period beginning January 1, 2022 and ending December 31, 2022.

The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

SELF-FUNDED BENEFIT INFORMATION

The Trust maintains long term disability and death benefits under a self-funded program.

INSURANCE INFORMATION

The plan has a contract with ReliaStar Life Insurance Company to pay life insurance and AD&D claims incurred under the terms of the plan. The total premiums paid for the plan year ending December 31, 2022 were $100,490.

BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Plan expenses were $239,998. These expenses included $103,988 in administrative expenses, and $136,010 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries.
The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $825,721 as of December 31, 2022, compared to $824,277 as of January 1, 2022. During the plan year the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $1,444. This increase includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan’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. During the plan year, the plan had total income of $241,442, including employer contributions of $60,232, employee contributions of $256,527, losses from investments of ($92,087), and other income of $16,770.

YOUR RIGHTS TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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:

  1. An accountant’s report;
  2. Financial information;
  3. Assets held for investments;
  4. Transactions in excess of 5% of plan assets;
  5. Insurance information including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers.

To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of the Insurance and Benefit Trust of the Peace Officers Research Association of California Non-Safety, 2960 Advantage Way, Sacramento, CA 95834, or by telephone at (800) 655-6397. The charge to cover copying costs will be $0.00 for the full annual report, or $0.00 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 at 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 January 2024 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.

2022 Summary Annual Report

For
Insurance and Benefits Trust of the Peace Officers Research
Association of California – Safety

This is a summary of the annual report for the INSURANCE AND BENEFITS TRUST OF THE PEACE OFFICERS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY PLAN, (Employer Identification No 68-6068469, Plan No. 501) for the period beginning January 1, 2022 and ending December 31, 2022.

The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

SELF-FUNDED BENEFIT INFORMATION

The Trust maintains long term disability and death benefits under a self-funded program.

INSURANCE INFORMATION

The plan has contracts with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, and ReliaStar Life Insurance Company to pay life insurance, long-term disability, and AD&D claims incurred under the terms of the plan. The total premiums paid for the plan year ending December 31, 2022 were $7,001,760.

BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Benefits under the Trust are provided by the Trust and insurance. Plan expenses were $8,865,666. These expenses included $1,697,001 in administrative expenses, and $7,168,665 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $6,266,648 as of December 31, 2022, compared to $8,877,203 as of January 1, 2022. During the plan year the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $2,610,555. This decrease includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan’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. During the plan year, the plan had total income of $6,255,111, including employer contributions of $1,836,576, employee contributions of $5,774,931, losses from investments of ($1,656,888), and other income of $300,492.

YOUR RIGHTS TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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:

  1. An accountant’s report;
  2. Financial information;
  3. Assets held for investments;
  4. Transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets;
  5. Insurance information including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers.

To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of the Insurance and Benefit Trust of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, 2960 Advantage Way, Sacramento, CA 95834 or by telephone at (800) 655-6397. The charge to cover copying costs will be $0.00 for the full annual report, or $0.00 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, Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC, 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 December 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.

2021 Summary Annual Report

for
Insurance and Benefits Trust of the Peace Officers Research
Association of California – Non-Safety

This is a summary of the annual report for the Insurance and Benefits Trust of the Peace Officers Research Association of California – Non-Safety, (Employer Identification No 68-6068469, Plan No. 502) 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).

SELF-FUNDED BENEFIT INFORMATION

The Trust maintains long term disability and death benefits under a self-funded program.

INSURANCE INFORMATION

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 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 $16,009.

BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENT

The value of Trust assets, after subtracting liabilities of the Trust, was $827,959 as of December 31, 2021 compared to $787,197 as of January 1, 2021. During the Trust year the Trust experienced an increase in its net assets of $40,762. 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 $467,712. This income included participant contributions of $312,187, gains on investments of $131,364, and other income of $24,161.

Benefits under the Trust are provided by the trust and insurance. Trust expenses were $426,950. These expenses included $91,757 in operating expenses, $5,143 in investment expenses, $314,041 in benefits paid directly to participants and beneficiaries, and $16,009 in insurance premiums charged by insurance companies.

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.

YOUR RIGHTS TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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:

  1. An accountant’s report;
  2. Assets held for investments;
  3. Insurance information including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers.

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, 4010 Truxel Rd, Sacramento, CA 95834. The charge to cover copying costs will be $.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, 4010 Truxel Rd, 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.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Featured in the November 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.

Police & Fire Health Plan 2024 Rates Comparison

CalPERS Open Enrollment Runs September 18th through October 13th

The 2024 rates for the Police & Fire Health Plan sponsored by the Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC were finalized in July. Our rates are some of the lowest rates available to our members and in some cases, lower than some HMO plans!

The Police & 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.

If your employer is a member of the CalPERS health plan network, your association is an Association of PORAC and you are a member of PORAC, you may be eligible to enroll in the plan.

If you were previously covered by the Police & Fire Health Plan, but are not now, or you wish to be covered, open enrollment is the only time you can change plans (with little exception). The 2023 open enrollment period will run from September 18, 2023 through October 13, 2023.

Please review the rates and compare PORAC’s rates in your area. We encourage you and your family to consider joining the over 26,000 current subscribers enrolled in the Health Plan.

The Insurance and 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.

We also have a dedicated staff whose only job is to make sure you and your family receive the best care and service available.

For questions about the plan, contact our Insurance Services Representatives at
(800) 655-6397 option 1.

Featured in the October 2023 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.

Delta Dental’s Data Breach

June 1, 2023

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.

Delta Dental Data Breach

Delta Dental Data Breach FAQs

IBT Board of Trustees Set Police and 2024 Fire Health Plan Rates

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.

Public Agencies

  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

State Agencies

  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

Open Enrollment for 2024 coverage will be from
September 18, 2023 through October13, 2023

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.

Summary Annual Report: PORAC IBT Safety Plan

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).

SELF-FUNDED BENEFIT INFORMATION

The Trust maintains long term disability and death benefits under a self-funded program.

INSURANCE INFORMATION

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.

BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENT

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.

YOUR RIGHTS TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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:

  1. An accountant’s report;
  2. Assets held for investments;
  3. Insurance information including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers.

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.

IBT Board of Trustees to Review and Set Health Plan Rates for 2024

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 ↩