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If you are a City retiree currently receiving health reimbursements for Medicare Part B premiums, you should have recently received a letter in the mail from SDCERS. The standard Medicare Part B premiums are decreasing from $170.10 to $164.90 per month, beginning in January 2023. Please submit the 2023 Benefit Verification Letter to SDCERS, confirming the changes to your Medicare premium.
To obtain your 2023 Benefit Verification Letter, visit www.ssa.gov, and from the homepage sign in or sign up for a personal “my Social Security” account. Once you’ve accessed your account, follow the instructions to access your Benefit Verification Letter. You can also call your local Social Security office.
We are anticipating a large number of submissions this year due to the premium change. If you submit all of the proper paperwork to SDCERS by January 10, 2023, we will attempt to have the new premium amount reflected on your January 2023 pension benefit payment. If your paperwork is received after this date or we were unable to process your request timely, then the adjusted reimbursement amount will be included in the following payroll cycle once all required documentation is received.
You may submit your 2023 Benefit Verification Letter to SDCERS in the following ways:Fax a copy to: (858) 581-5314Mail a copy to: 401 West A Street, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92101 Attn: HealthE-mail a scanned copy to: health@sdcers.org IMPORTANT: If you submit your Benefit Verification Letter (and/or any other health-related paperwork) via email, please be sure any attachments are in PDF format only. You should receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours of your email submission; however, if you do not receive this confirmation email, it does not mean we didn’t receive your email. First, please check your spam or junk folder to see if the confirmation email ended up there.
Please refrain from calling us to confirm that your Benefit Verification Letter has been received, as the staff who answer the phones are also processing the documents, and additional phone calls may cause delays. If you believe you provided us with timely documentation, but are not reimbursed the increased amount in your January 2023 pension payment, then please contact our Retiree Health Team at (619) 525-3627 or health@sdcers.org in February.
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This year, health open enrollment for City of San Diego retirees will run from November 1st through November 30th. The calendar year 2023 City retiree health booklets have been mailed out to all eligible City retirees and beneficiaries, and should hit mailboxes this week. In the meantime, you can download an electronic version of the booklet here. You can also download and complete enrollment forms by visiting the City Retiree Health page. After you’ve completed an enrollment (or disenrollment) form, you must send it to SDCERS by November 30th – we prefer you scan your forms and email them as a PDF attachment to health@sdcers.org, but you may also fax them to (858) 581-5314, or mail them to our offices at:
SDCERS – Health Division
401 West A Street, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101
As always, if you do not wish to make any changes to your current healthcare coverage, you do not need to take any action during open enrollment and your coverage will remain the same. There are no new plans this year and no significant changes to existing plans in terms of coverage.
SDCERS will not be holding in-person open enrollment events. Instead, SDCERS will participate in a virtual health fair hosted by SDPEBA (San Diego Public Employee Benefit Association), which will be held on November 2nd from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PST). You can register for SDPEBA’s virtual health fair at https://go.sdpeba.org/retireeOE/.
We anticipate that the plan providers will once again record the presentations they would have given at SDCERS’ live open enrollment events. For the providers that choose to do so, you will be able to access their videos on our website – this article and SDCERS’ Facebook page will be updated with more information once we receive the video presentations.
If you are comparing different plans and trying to decide which is best for you, don’t forget about CareCounsel! CareCounsel Member Care Specialists are available for your healthcare inquiries and concerns. You can call them at (888) 227-3334 or e-mail staff@carecounsel.com Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST. CareCounsel also provides helpful videos on their website that may answer your questions about Medicare, here: https://carecounsel.com/medicare.html.
SDCERS’ Call Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at (619) 525-3600 and (800) 774-4977. Please be patient with our hard-working staff; we are working with limited resources and call wait times may be longer than usual due to an expected increase in health-related calls.
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This article is only applicable to City retirees who have a health reimbursement plan through the City.
The City of San Diego and the San Diego Public Employee Benefits Association (SDPEBA) are changing the effective date of their retiree healthcare plan offerings. Starting January 1, 2023, the sponsored retiree healthcare plans will be effective based on the calendar year, rather than the fiscal year. However, the annual allowances for retiree healthcare will continue to be offered on the fiscal year, resetting each July 1st.
Below are the fiscal year 2023 retiree healthcare allowances (effective July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023).
Remember, if you would like to change plans before this year’s Open Enrollment in November, you may do so from June 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. You will be able to choose from the current plan offerings. You can review information about the current plans and download enrollment/disenrollment forms on this page. All forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. (PST) on Thursday, June 30, 2022. All changes timely submitted will be effective August 1, 2022. You may submit your forms via email (attached as a PDF) to health@sdcers.org, by mail to SDCERS Health Division, 401 West A Street, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92101 or by fax to (858) 581-5314.
If you do not want to make any changes to your current healthcare, dental, or vision plan, you do not have to take any action during Open Enrollment and your coverage will remain the same.
For plans beginning in January 2023, you will receive the full Open Enrollment booklet in November 2022 with information on plans and premiums. If you do not want to make any changes to your current healthcare, dental, or vision plan for 2023, you do not need to take any action in November 2022 and your coverage will remain the same for 2023.
If you have any questions, you can contact the Call Center at (619) 525-3600, open on regular business days from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. PST. However, as this is a significant change to retiree health, we anticipate a higher than usual call volume over the next several months. If your question is not urgent, we recommend submitting your request electronically via the Contact Us page; SDCERS staff generally will respond to electronic inquiries within one business day. Please note that at this time, SDCERS’ physical downtown offices are still closed to members and the public.
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Note: This is only applicable to City retirees who are enrolled in, or plan to enroll in, a City retiree health insurance plan.
SDCERS recently mailed a letter to all City retirees explaining the upcoming changes to City retiree healthcare. Historically, the City’s retiree health insurance plans have been implemented according to the fiscal year, with open enrollment traditionally held in June and plan changes effective the following August. However, beginning January 1, 2023, the City’s retiree health insurance plans will be effective based on the calendar year instead.
This means the City’s retiree health plans will begin each January 1st, instead of August 1st. If you are currently participating in a City retiree health plan, or if you intend to enroll in a City retiree health plan in the future, the following applies to you:In order to smooth the transition, the City’s sponsored retiree healthcare plans and premiums will remain unchanged through December 31, 2022.The annual Open Enrollment period will now take place in November, rather than June – at this time, we expect this year’s Open Enrollment will begin on November 1, 2022 and end November 30, 2022; however, you will be notified via mail when the dates have been confirmed.The Comprehensive Retiree Health Book for plan year 2023 will be mailed to you around November 1, 2022.If you are satisfied with your current plan, you do NOT need to do anything right now – you will receive further instructions and information about available health plans and premiums for plan year 2023 prior to Open Enrollment in November.If you would like to change plans before this year’s Open Enrollment in November, you may do so in June 2022 – you will be able to choose from the current plan offerings shown in the 2021-2022 Comprehensive Retiree Health Book. Additional information about available plans can be found here, plan provider videos can be viewed here, and enrollment forms can be downloaded and printed at the bottom of this page.You can send health enrollment or disenrollment forms to SDCERS by mail, fax, or email – please review the directions for sending health-related documents on this page.Please be advised that if you change plans in June 2022, the effective date of your new plan will be August 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022. You may still participate in the November 2022 Open Enrollment. IMPORTANT: The annual healthcare allowances will continue to be effective according to the fiscal year (July 1st – June 30th). Keep in mind that your healthcare premium may change in December, but your allowance will remain the same until the following July. You will receive another letter in the next month or so regarding your fiscal year 2023 healthcare allowance, if applicable to you.
If you have any questions, you can contact the Call Center at (619) 525-3600, open on regular business days from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. PST. However, as this is a significant change to retiree health, we anticipate a higher than usual call volume over the next several months. If your question is not urgent, we recommend submitting your request electronically via the Contact Us page; SDCERS staff will generally respond to electronic inquiries within one business day. Please note that at this time, SDCERS’ physical downtown offices are still closed to members and the public.
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This article is only applicable to City retirees who have a health reimbursement plan through the City.
Beginning with plan year 2023, the City is allowing SDCERS to offer an Annual Privately Secured reimbursement option for certain health plans. This will allow eligible members to receive an automatic reimbursement each month throughout the plan year, without having to provide monthly proof of payment. Eligible City retirees will receive a letter in November 2022 describing the new Annual Privately Secured reimbursement option, which will be fully implemented in January 2023, when the new plan year begins.
In order to qualify for the automatic reimbursement, you must be a City retiree enrolling in a private health insurance plan that has the same monthly premium for a 12-month period. Retirees enrolled in a health plan with fluctuating premium amounts do not qualify and will need to continue submitting monthly reimbursement requests.
Note: If you are a City retiree enrolling in a new plan before January 2023, you may be eligible for early participation in the Annual Privately Secured automatic reimbursement option when your new plan begins – please contact the SDCERS Health Team at health@sdcers.org for more information. However, if you already enrolled in your new plan for 2022, you will not be able to begin participating in the automatic reimbursement process until your plan renews.
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If you are a City retiree currently receiving health reimbursements for Medicare Part B premiums, you should have recently received a letter in the mail from SDCERS. The Medicare Part B premiums are increasing from $148.50 to $170.10 per month, beginning in January 2022. In order for you to be reimbursed at the higher rate, you must submit the 2022 Benefit Verification Letter to SDCERS, confirming the changes to your premiums.
To obtain your 2022 Benefit Verification Letter, visit www.ssa.gov, and from the homepage sign in or sign up for a personal “my Social Security” account. Once you’ve accessed your account, follow the instructions to access your Benefit Verification Letter. You can also call your local Social Security office.
We are anticipating a large number of submissions this year due to the premium increase. If you submit all of the proper paperwork to SDCERS by January 10, 2022, we will attempt to have the new premium amount reflected on your January 2022 pension benefit payment. If your paperwork is received after this date or we were unable to process your request timely, then the adjusted reimbursement amount will be included in the following payroll cycle once all required documentation is received.
You may submit your 2022 Benefit Verification Letter to SDCERS in the following ways:Fax a copy to: (858) 581-5314Mail a copy to: 401 West A Street, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92101 Attn: HealthE-mail a scanned copy to: health@sdcers.orgIMPORTANT: If you submit your Benefit Verification Letter (and/or any other health-related paperwork) via email, please be sure any attachments are in PDF format only. You should receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours of your email submission; however, if you do not receive this confirmation email, it does not mean we didn’t receive your email. First, please check your spam or junk folder to see if the confirmation email ended up there.
Please refrain from calling us to confirm that your Benefit Verification Letter has been received, as the staff who answer the phones are also processing the documents, and additional phone calls may cause delays. If you believe you provided us with timely documentation, but are not reimbursed the increased amount in your January 2022 pension payment, then please contact us in February.
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Health open enrollment for City of San Diego retirees will run from June 1st through June 30th. As of May 24th, the fiscal year 2022 City retiree health booklets were mailed out to all eligible City retirees and beneficiaries. An electronic version of the booklet is available here, and the health plan comparison chart here. You can also download and complete enrollment forms by visiting the City Retiree Health page. After you’ve completed an enrollment (or disenrollment) form, you must send it to SDCERS by June 30th – we prefer you scan your forms and email them as a PDF attachment to health@sdcers.org, but you may also fax them to (858) 581-5314 or mail them to our offices at:
SDCERS – Health Division
401 West A Street, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101
As always, if you do not wish to make any changes to your current healthcare coverage, you do not need to take any action during open enrollment and your coverage will remain the same. There are no new plans this year and no significant changes to existing plans in terms of coverage.
Due to the continuing ban on public gatherings, this year’s open enrollment will similar to last year’s: SDCERS will not be holding in-person open enrollment events, such as the annual Open Enrollment Kickoff or Help Day. Instead, SDCERS participated in a virtual health fair hosted by SDPEBA (San Diego Public Employee Benefit Association), which was held on June 2nd.
Additionally, plan providers once again recorded the presentations they would have given at SDCERS’ live open enrollment events. You can access their videos via this page on our website.
If you are comparing different plans and trying to decide which is best for you, don’t forget about CareCounsel! CareCounsel Member Care Specialists are available for your healthcare inquiries and concerns. You can call them at (888) 227-3334 or e-mail staff@carecounsel.com Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST. CareCounsel also provides helpful videos on their website that may answer your questions about Medicare, here: https://carecounsel.com/medicare.html.
SDCERS’ Call Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at (619) 525-3600 and (800) 774-4977. Please be patient with our hard-working staff; we are working with limited resources and call wait times may be longer than usual due to an expected increase in health-related calls.
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Health open enrollment for City of San Diego retirees began on June 1st and will end on June 30th. The fiscal year 2021 City retiree health booklets were mailed out to all eligible City retirees and beneficiaries on May 29th and an electronic version of the booklet is available here. You can also download and complete enrollment forms by visiting the City Retiree Health page. After you’ve completed an enrollment (or disenrollment) form, you must send it to SDCERS by June 30th – we prefer you scan your forms and email to health@sdcers.org, but you may also fax them to (858) 581-5314 or mail them to our offices at:
SDCERS – Health Division
401 West A Street, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101
As always, if you do not wish to make any changes to your current healthcare coverage, you do not need to take any action during open enrollment and your coverage will remain the same. The only exception to this is for those of you currently covered by United Concordia for dental insurance – effective August 1st, you will automatically be enrolled in the new Delta Dental plan, which is replacing United Concordia. If you do not want to enroll in the Delta Dental plan, you must provide SDCERS with a disenrollment form.
There is only one new plan this year – SDPEBA (San Diego Public Employee Benefit Association) is offering a new non-Medicare plan through Sharp. You can find details about this new plan, as well as all existing plans, in the City retiree health booklet referenced above. If you are comparing plans and trying to decide which is best for you, don’t forget about CareCounsel! CareCounsel Member Care Specialists are available for your healthcare inquiries and concerns. You can call them at (888) 227-3334 or e-mail staff@carecounsel.com Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST. CareCounsel also provides helpful videos on their website that may answer your questions about Medicare, here: https://carecounsel.com/medicare.html.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this year’s open enrollment will be a little different than usual. Unlike years past, SDCERS will not be holding in-person open enrollment events this year, such as the annual Open Enrollment Kickoff or Help Day. Instead, the plan providers have recorded the presentations they would have given at SDCERS’ live open enrollment events, which you can access here.
SDCERS’ Call Center will be open for Open Enrollment, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at (619) 525-3600 and (800) 774-4977. Please be patient with our hard-working staff; we are still working with limited resources and call wait times may be longer than usual.
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Health Open Enrollment ran from June 4 to June 29, 2018.
Booklets containing rates and additional information were mailed. You can access an electronic copy here and the comparison charts.New for 2018: Health Net was replaced by Cigna and SCAN Health Plan.The Open Enrollment kick-off event was Wednesday, May 30. The event featured formal presentations by Kaiser, Cigna, SCAN Health Plan, Sharp and CareCounsel. Annual Help Day was held Friday, June 22, from 10a.m. to noon at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom.CareCounsel is there to help! CareCounsel Member Care Specialists are available for your healthcare inquiries and concerns. You can call them at (888) 227-3334 or e-mail staff@carecounsel.com Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST. Click here for additional information.
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Reminder for Annual Health Allowance: effective July 1, 2017, your healthcare allowance is being applied on an annual basis, to comply with San Diego Municipal Code requirements. This means that SDCERS will no longer divide your annual allowance into 12 payments; rather your entire annual allowance will be available to you each July 1, as explained in the 2017 Open Enrollment materials on pages 9 and 12. You can read additional information here.
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SDCERS hosted a Medicare and Social Security presentation on Friday, October 6 at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom. Click here to access the presentation.
Be sure to join us Friday, October 20 from 11:00am to Noon at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom for the SDCERS Annual Meeting! No RSVP is necessary. We look forward to seeing you there.
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Open Enrollment is Monday, June 5 – Friday, June 30. Take a look at these five facts - they’ll help you understand whether or not you need to take action during this year’s Open Enrollment period. And don't forget to join SDCERS on Friday, June 16th for our annual Open Enrollment Help Day from 10 a.m. to noon at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom.
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Join SDCERS and City health providers for an overview of retiree health coverage to assist you with planning for Open Enrollment 2017. Learn More...
Open Enrollment is Monday, June 6 – Thursday, June 30. Take a look at these five facts - they’ll help you understand whether or not you need to take action during this year’s Open Enrollment period. And don't forget to join SDCERS on Tuesday, June 14th for our annual Open Enrollment Help Day from 10 a.m. to noon at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom.
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Around 200 retirees attended SDCERS’ second annual City Retiree Health Coverage Presentation on April 8. Presenters from SDCERS, City of San Diego Risk Management, Health Net, Sharp and Kaiser shared a comprehensive overview of all health coverage services offered through SDCERS, in preparation for Open Enrollment, to be held June 6 through June 30. Don’t miss our next event, Open Enrollment Help Day, on June 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom. Learn More...
Join SDCERS and City health providers for an overview of retiree health coverage to assist in planning for Open Enrollment 2016. The Retiree Health Presentation will be held on Friday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom. Learn More...
If you recently received an increase or decrease to your Medicare Part B premium, you will need to submit to SDCERS your 2016 Benefit Verification Letter from the Social Security Administration to be reimbursed for this increased or decreased amount. If you do not submit it, you will continue to receive the reimbursement amount SDCERS has on file. Click the title for more information. Learn More...
Click the title for the 5 most important facts you need to know, all enrollment details, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
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More than 400 retirees attended SDCERS’ first-ever City Retiree Health Coverage Workshop on April 20. Click here for more information. Learn More...
Monday, April 20, 2015 10 a.m. to Noon at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom
SDCERS invites you to a Retiree Health Coverage Workshop on Monday, April 20. Click here for more information.
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Date:
Jun 13, 2014
Categories: Health
Open Enrollment is Monday, June 9 - Thursday, July 3rd. Take a look at these five facts - they’ll help you understand whether or not you need to take action during this year’s Open Enrollment period. Learn More...
Eligible retirees wishing to make changes to their health insurance plans are encouraged to save the date for Health Enrollment Help Day on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. Learn More...
Date:
Feb 07, 2014
Categories: Health
SDCERS members are eligible for the California Public Employees' Retirement System’s (CalPERS) revitalized Long-Term Care (LTC) Program now open and available statewide. The LTC is designed to make it easier to receive home medical care through tailored health plans that suit individual needs and budgets, while providing affordable options that help keep pace with the rising costs of long-term care. Learn More...
The AffordableCareAct (ACA) was signed into lawin March 2010 to provide access to health care for those who are uninsured, to createamoreefficient wayto administerhealthcareand to contain the growth of futurehealth care costs.Thereareanumberof ways that this isbeingdone,but one in particularthat directly impacts SDCERS retirees at this time. SDCERS’ retirees are required to have access toinformationabout thenewHealthInsuranceMarketplacein preparation fortheIndividual Mandate requirement ofthelaw. Learn More...
Date:
Jul 24, 2013
Categories: Health
City of San Diego retirees will note fiscal year 2014 health insurance rates are in effect and reflected on pension checks issued July 31, 2013. The new rates reduced the net pay amount for some retirees who selected a Health Net plan. Learn More...
Date:
May 30, 2013
Categories: Health
Open Enrollment is Monday, June 3th - Friday, June 28th. Take a look at these four facts - they’ll help you understand whether or not you need to take action during this year’s Open Enrollment period. Learn More...
Note: This year, SDCERS has adjusted the format to include a brief presentation by sponsored providers at the conclusion of Help Day. The presentation will be at 12 p.m. in the Santa Fe Room. Learn More...
Date:
Feb 08, 2012
Categories: Health
On February 6, 2012, SDCERS sent the following letter to Deferred Members providing important information about upcoming changes to the City of San Diego’s Retiree Health Benefits. If you are a Deferred Member and want to determine your eligibility for retirement, please contact SDCERS’ Call Center at 619.525.3600 or review the attached letter and then log onto the SDCERS Member Portal and view your account to determine your current service credit. Learn More...
Date:
Sep 30, 2011
Categories: Health
City of San Diego employees who participated in the September retiree health benefits election voted in favor of the proposed changes, in an election conducted by SDCERS on behalf of the City. Out of nearly 9,000 Members who received the materials, 1,901 voted in favor of the proposed changes, while 119 voted in opposition. Learn More...
Date:
Jan 03, 2011
Categories: Health
Open Enrollment is June 6 through June 30, 2011. The Open Enrollment Home Page houses information related to Open Enrollment, as well as PDF files of the Open Enrollment booklet, related forms and other materials. Learn More...
A recent decision by the San Diego Superior Court has ruled that benefit changes made by the City in 2005 – but which were not codified by ordinance into the Municipal Code until 2007 – have a retroactive effective date back to July 1, 2005. (A PDF of the ruling is available at the end of this article) Learn More...