Category: Uncategorized

The VCCCDRA membership should be receiving the Spring 2023 Monitor in the US mail.

Here a link to the digital version.

With sadness, VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Dr. Al Fernandez on February 14, 2023. Dr. Fernandez was chancellor of the VCCCD in the 1980s, before he went on to be chancellor of the Coast Community College District.

Viewing is March 16 from 4-8pm, with vigil service at 7pm, at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks at 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91362. The funeral mass is Friday, March 17 10:00am at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 32032 Lindero Canyon Rd, Westlake Village, CA. Flowers may be sent to Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks, address above.

Dr. Fernandez daughter, Christina, invites all to a luncheon at Boccaccio’s Yacht Club,  across the street from St Jude’s Church.

Please use this link to read Dr. Fernandez obituary, printed in the Ventura County Star.

Recording of the April 27, 2022 VCCCDRA General Meeting Available Here on the Blog

In case you missed it and you would like to see old friends, your Executive Board has posted a recording of the April 27, 2022 VCCCDRA General Meeting here on our blog. (See the video link below.)

If you want to view only one portion of the meeting, the recording is broken into segments — our speaker, Greg Barker, talking about how the California Retired Teachers Association protects our benefits at the state level; elections of Susan Bricker as President, Marie Soo Hoo as Secretary and David Magallanes as Treasurer; reports by Executive Board members; and a pre-meeting catch-up with attendees as they log onto Zoom .  On our attorney’s advice, we were required to delete the Legal Team report by Dr. Lyn MacConnaire, as we continue to pursue negotiations with the District over health benefits.

If you would like to streamline your viewing, you may move the circle on the line at the bottom of your screen to forward to various parts of a recorded section.  Many thanks to Rene Rodriguez for recording, editing and posting the general meeting.  We look forward, hopefully, to an in-person general meeting in the Spring of 2023, so we can enjoy more fully socializing with each other.

 Dr. Diane Moore, VCCCDRA President

The videos are available thru this link.

Please refer to the email sent by VCCCDRA and President Diane Moore for the login information for the General Meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.

Posted here are the links for the meeting agenda, last year’s meeting minutes, and speaker Greg Barker’s handout.

Agenda for 2022 VCCCD General Meeting

2021 Annual General Meeting Minutes (03/17/2021) 

CalRTA Application — Greg Barker handout

Lester Tong was kind enough to email us his summary of the Zoom meeting sponsored by the District on 10/7/2020.

On 10/7/2020 9:50 PM, Lester & Mae Tong wrote:

Today from 10:00am till 11:00am, I attended the “CalPERS Medical Plan Open Enrollment” Zoom Meeting (along with 47 others) presented by Katy Lyon.  I found it to be very helpful.  This Zoom Meeting was recorded and will be made available for playback at the District’s Benefit website at: https://www.vcccd.edu/departments/human-resources/benefitsLook for the section “CalPERS MEDICAL”Then subsection “Retirees”Under the “Zoom meeting Q&A – Recording 7/17/2020” (when they get it posted).
Also, I would encourage all retirees to go to this website and review the “CalPERS MEDICAL – OPEN ENROLLMENT” section for more detailed information.
Here are the highlights from my notes:
__ CalPERS Health Benefit is on a Calendar Year which is from Jan 1 to Dec 31.
     Open Enrollment for 2021 is from Sep 21 to Oct 16, 2020.     Any changes to your existing Medical Plan must be completed during Open Enrollment.     Changes are done online with your account login at www.calpers.ca.gov
__ For CalPERS Anthem “PPO Basic Plans” (without Medicare), it is either “PERS Choice” or “PERSCare”    Comparision of Benefits is found in “2021 CalPERS Health Benefit Summary” starting on page 16.  It can be downloaded from the District’s Benefit website (see link above). 
__ For CalPERS Anthem PPO with Medicare, it is either “PERS Choice” or “PERSCare”    Comparision of Benefits is found in “2021 CalPERS Health Benefit Summary” starting on page 24.  It can be downloaded from the District’s Benefit website (see link above). 
__ If you are over 65 and do not have both Medicare parts A & B,

Regarding Medicare eligible by age but not enrolled – CalPERS allows newly contracting members to enroll in a Basic plan until they can secure Medicare. They must then enroll in the required Medicare during the upcoming general enrollment, January 1, 2021 – March 31, 2021.

 Upon receiving Medicare, that is a qualifying event for retirees to change plans. For example, if a retiree becomes effective for Medicare July 1, 2021, that would be a qualifying event for them to change plans.

 Additional information can be found at http://www.calpers.ca.gov/newhealthmember.
__ Medicare Part B (Non-hospital cost) monthly premiums including IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount based on your tax returns) will be reimbursable with proof of payment starting September 2020.    Also, Medicare Part D (Prescription cost) IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount based on your tax returns) will be reimbursable with proof of payment starting September 2020.     Reimbursements will be handled by a 3rd party, BCC (Benefit Coordinators Corporation) using the SMARTCARE program.  VCCCD can not pay these premiums directly as it is prohibited by law.  Further instructions from BCC are mailed to your home address.

__ MES Vision & Delta Dental will remain the same and separate from CalPERS Medical.
Lester Tong, Classified Retiree, June 2016

Please note that a page has been added to the BLOG for the purpose of providing updated information on the lawsuit regarding CalPERS Long Term Care.  You can find this page on the right side of this post, scroll down to the PAGES section.  It is the second page listed in this section.

A big THANK YOU to Harry Culotta, VCCCDRA Past President, for providing updates on this lawsuit regarding long term care.

From Rene Rodriguez, VCCCDRA President

Dear VCCCDRA Retirees,

This email is intended only for local retirees who are QUALIFIED to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, but are currently NOT enrolled in Medicare, or only enrolled in Part A.

I KNOW THIS IS VERY SHORT NOTICE, BUT IF YOU GET THIS TODAY, THERE IS TIME FOR YOU TO CONSIDER PARTICIPATING.  ALL IT REQUIRES IS THAT YOU SHOW UP TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TOMORROW AND READ A STATEMENT.

You may have recently received a letter from the District involving “IMPORTANT BENEFIT INFORMATION” from Katy Lyon.  Patricia Parham, former head of Human Resources at the District, emailed me last evening saying that she was “outraged” by the letter, and suggested other retirees may feel the same way that she does, and may wish to express this to the Board of Trustees at their meeting tomorrow evening.

For this purpose, Patricia included a statement that she plans to read to the Board that could serve as a template for other retirees to use and rewrite as desired and read to the Board.

Gary Johnson and I reviewed Patricia’s suggestion and we think that it would be a VERY GOOD IDEA for as many retirees who are qualified for Medicare but are not currently enrolled, to make their feelings known to the Board of Trustees regarding the prospect of the District forcing Medicare upon them.

What we find new and powerful in this statement, is that it is coming from the individual retiree exerting his or her individual rights.  It is an expression from an individual retiree insisting that the District uphold his or her rights as it applies to Medicare.

Below you will find Patricia’s statement for your review and use.

I hope to see as many of you that can make the Board of Trustees meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10 at 5 pm.  The address is 761 E Daily Dr, Camarillo, CA 93010, on the frontage road between Carmen and Las Posas.  PLEASE SHOW UP BEFORE 5 PM SO THAT YOU CAN FILL OUT THE SIGN UP SHEET TO SPEAK.

Rene G. Rodriguez
VCCCDRA President

Good Evening Members of the Board of Trustees and Administrators.

My name is _____________.  I worked as ______________ at ______________ and retired after _______ years of service to the District.  I have a vested right to lifetime health benefits for myself and my dependents. I recently received a letter from the District benefits office saying the District may require me to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. My employment contract with VCCCD provides me medical coverage that does not require me to enroll in Medicare Parts A or B.

You do not have the right to impose a Medicare mandate on me. You do not have the right to tell me and my dependents must enroll and pay for Medicare Part B with all penalties and you will reimburse me at a future date. You do not have the right to negotiate or persuade any group about my benefits. I have an individual right.

If you proceed with the plan that requires me and/or my dependents to enroll in Medicare A and B, you will violate the contractual Agreement you have with me. I urge you to read all the contract language you have with me before you proceed.  If you actually violate our agreement, I will take whatever steps are necessary to enforce it as written.