Author: Rocky Gonzalez

Take Advantage of Aflac’s Plans Today

The Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC (IBT) sponsors specialized supplemental insurance plans through Aflac, providing members with access to coverage such as Accident Advantage, Cancer Protection Assurance, Aflac Hospital Choice, and Critical Care Protection. These plans are available to PORAC members to assist with unexpected expenses not covered by major medical insurance plans. All these plans will pay cash benefits directly to the member to assist with out-of-pocket costs.

Aflac’s Accident Advantage plans help cover accidental injury related expenses like emergency treatment, hospital stays and physical therapy, and follow-up visits, as well as other expenses like transportation and lodging, should a member be away from home when treatment is needed.

Aflac’s Critical Care Protection plan provides peace of mind should you experience a serious health event or need hospitalization. This plan provides financial assistance should you experience a serious health event, such as a heart attack or stroke. This plan pays subscribers a lump-sum benefit upon diagnosis of a covered event, with additional benefits payable for things such as a hospital confinement, intensive care unit confinement, ambulance, transportation, lodging, and therapies.

The Cancer Protection Assurance plan was developed to provide members with cash benefits during covered cancer treatments and can help protect members’ income and savings from expenses that are not covered by major medical insurance, including deductibles and co-pays, experimental cancer treatments, and transportation and lodging, to name just a few of the 30 separate ways this plan can help during a cancer illness.

The Hospital Advantage Plan is a hospital-confinement indemnity insurance policy that provides cash benefits to members. Benefits are paid regardless of any other insurance members may have. This policy is customizable based on individual or family needs and is compatible with other AFLAC plans.

In 2021, Aflac paid a total of 5,037 claims to PORAC members with paid benefits totaling $1,311,484. For more information on Aflac-sponsored products, call (858) 344-4331 or visit the website at Aflac.com/PORAC to review detailed plan information and enroll in any of these products.

If you are interested in any other benefits provided by the IBT, such as the health plan (Anthem Blue Cross PPO), dental, vision, short-term disability, life insurance and AD&D insurance or home and auto coverage, please contact Customer Service at (800) 655-6397.

As always, the Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC remains committed to providing quality products and services to all members through our business partners.

Featured in the March 2022 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News

Seven Tips to Reduce Auto Insurance

People across the nation are getting a shock when they open up their annual auto or home insurance renewal letters – rates are going up. Some are seeing modest increases while others are seeing a significant jump in rates. Premiums are going up even if you haven’t had an accident, moving violation or claim.

So, what’s up (besides rates)?

New technology has also escalated the cost of repairs, even in minor auto accidents. It used to take a few hundred dollars to fix a bumper or a back hatch after a rear-end collision. But now, thanks to cameras and driving sensors, the same repair can cost thousands of dollars. Add to that the lack of availability and increase cost of materials, along with the rise in legal, labor, and medical costs, and many insurers have been forced to raise their rates to make up for the losses.

Here are seven things you can do that may lower your auto insurance premiums:

  1. Keep a clean driving record. Insurance companies look at your driving experience and how well you drive. The fewer tickets and accidents that you have, the better rate you are likely to receive.
  2. Increase your deductibles. Sure, the amount you will pay will be a little more if something happens to your vehicle, but the amount you’ll save each month could be substantial, especially if you are incident-free for a number of years. Just make sure you have an emergency fund to cover that higher deductible.
  3. Check for good driver/good student discounts. If you’ve been accident free, most insurance companies will give you a good driver discount, but make sure you tell them. The same goes for students with good grades.
  4. Check insurance costs when buying a new vehicle. If you are planning on purchasing a new car or truck, research what it could do to your insurance. Depending on numerous criteria, including the power of the engine, the model’s safety rating and the loss history of that particular vehicle, your rates could change. A good place to check is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – Highway Loss Data Institute’s vehicle safety ratings. It’s also a good idea to contact your insurance company and ask them what buying that dream car, SUV, or truck will cost you in future insurance premiums.
  5. Cut your driving. Ride a bike, take mass transit or move closer to where you work. How many miles you drive each year can affect your auto insurance rates; the less you drive, the greater the possible discount.
  6. Get a policy review. Has your commute changed? Did you install a security device? Did you get married? Did a traffic ticket come off your record? All of these can lower the rate you pay for insurance. Talking with your insurance advisor at least once a year is the best way to make sure you get the discounts you’re entitled to.
  7. Compare your current insurance to California Casualty. They are a 108-year-old policyholder-owned company. California Casualty offers auto and homeowner/renters insurance with competitive rates, award winning service, and policies that reflect your professional lifestyle with benefits through your PORAC membership not available to the general public:
    • Reduced deductibles for vandalism or accidents that occur when your vehicle is parked at work
    • Personal property damaged or lost in a collision, fire or taken from your car is covered up to $500
    • Rates guaranteed for a full year (not six months)
    • Free identity theft protection with each policy
    • Multiple payment options including EZ Pay and holiday or summer skips
    • Superior customer service –with high satisfaction ratings, seen here.

You might be surprised at the savings and all the benefits that you qualify for. Contact a California Casualty advisor today by calling toll-free at (833) 989-0551 or vising California Casualty.

Featured in the February 2022 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.

Information for this article was sourced from the Insurance Information Institute, seen here.

A New and Exciting Year for the IBT of PORAC

The Trustees and Staff of the Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC (IBT) want to take this opportunity to wish all members and their families a very healthy and prosperous New Year!

On November 20, 2021, the Board of Trustees of the IBT held its annual meeting in conjunction with the PORAC Board of Director’s meeting in Monterey. The newly elected Trustees were sworn into office, and congratulations go to Trustee Dave Wilson of Region I, Trustee Steve Latham of Region II and Trustee Dustin Bruzee of Region IV on their election to the Board of Trustees! In addition, congratulations are extended to the Trustees on their newly elected seats on the Board: Trustee Richard Buss of Region IV is the new IBT Chairman, Trustee Bryan Hubbard of Region II is the IBT Vice Chairman and Trustee Roger Garcia of Region III is the IBT Treasurer. Trustee Franco Vado of Region I remains on the Board of Trustees as the newly appointed Retired Associate Member Representative. Damon Kurtz and Gary Frace also remain appointed Trustees by the President and PORAC Board of Directors. Congratulations to you all! The IBT thanks you for your hard work and dedication!

The trustees all look forward to serving the IBT and are committed to continuing the work of the IBT in providing exceptional benefits to our PORAC members. 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 are affordable for our members.

As we move ahead into the New Year, the IBT’s sponsored Police & Fire Health Plan also announces its much anticipated move into a joint administrative arrangement with Anthem Blue Cross. In this arrangement, all claims processing will now be done in-house, starting January 1, 2022. Processing claims in-house will ensure a higher level of customer service with added savings to the Plan and will allow the IBT to further control administrative costs.

The IBT’s Health Plan Department is now fully staffed with personnel who will be fully trained to process claims, and the entire Health Plan Department is available to assist members with any Health Plan issues.

The IBT is very excited to enter into this new arrangement to enhance the Police & Fire Health Plan’s services. The Police & Fire Health Plan provides major medical insurance for PORAC members whose employers have contracted with CalPERS for health coverage. Offered through Anthem Blue Cross, it is a comprehensive 80/20 PPO health plan.

As always, the IBT remains committed to providing quality products and services to all its members through their business partners, and will continue to find ways to enhance these products and services to best suit members’ needs.

Featured in the January 2022 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.