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Retiree health open enrollment for City of San Diego retirees will run from November 1st – 30th.
IMPORTANT: SDCERS is NOT administering City Retiree Health Open Enrollment this year – please do not send any enrollment or disenrollment forms to us!
Instead, please register your account with the City's new retiree health administrator, the City of San Diego Retiree Health Service Center, at SDRetireeHealth.com. See this guide for instructions.
You will need access to this account in order to participate in Open Enrollment electronically and, starting in 2025, to submit reimbursement requests if you have retiree health benefits through the City of San Diego (not including Option C trust accounts). If you need further assistance, please contact the City Retiree Health Service Center at (855)-380-5898, open on regular business days from 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (PST), or via email at info@SDRetireeHealth.com.
The calendar year 2025 City retiree health booklets have been mailed to all eligible City retirees and beneficiaries, and an electronic version of the booklet is also available here, as well as on your City Retiree Health Service Center account – please also register and log in to your account in order to submit enrollment and disenrollment forms. If you would like hard copies of these forms mailed to you, please contact the City Retiree Health Service Center (see phone and email contact information above). All enrollment and disenrollment forms must be received by the City Retiree Health Service Center by 3:00 p.m. (PST) on November 30th.
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, although the premiums may change. There are no new plans this year and no significant changes to existing plans in terms of coverage.
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.
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If you are a City of San Diego retiree, you are likely used to SDCERS managing your City retiree health benefits – this includes administering City Retiree Health Open Enrollment every year and processing health-related reimbursements. Although SDCERS has assumed the role of the City’s retiree health administrator for many years, this is not actually part of SDCERS’ mandate as the City’s pension plan administrator. After much collaboration and discussion, SDCERS and the City determined that it was in the best interest of the retirees to transition City retiree health to an outside vendor that specializes in benefits administration. This change is an enhancement to the City’s retiree health program and our goal is to provide retirees with the highest level of service available in the industry.
Therefore, in 2023, the City issued a Request for Proposals for the administration of retiree health benefits processing. We are pleased to announce that the City has selected Benefit Outsourcing Solutions as our new benefits administration partner, which will be operating under the name “City of San Diego Retiree Health Service Center” (“City Retiree Health Services”). SDCERS is committed to making this transition as smooth as possible and to providing you with timely information and updates.
Important Dates and Transition DetailsNovember 1 – 30, 2024: City Retiree Health Services will begin accepting enrollment and disenrollment forms during the Annual Open Enrollment period. You will receive the calendar year 2025 Annual City Retiree Health Open Enrollment Booklet via U.S. mail in late October and an electronic version will be available online by October 31st. City Retiree Health Services will also provide information about how to enroll or disenroll online, although you may still submit paper forms if you would like. Please contact City Retiree Health Services in November if you need assistance enrolling or disenrolling in a plan. As always, if you are not making any changes to your health plan, then you do not need to take any action at this time.January 1, 2025: City Retiree Health Services will begin administering retire health plan reimbursements, including reimbursements for privately secured healthcare plans and Medicare premiums. Starting in January 2025, contact City Retiree Health Services directly for any questions on these topics.Please continue to contact SDCERS for questions regarding retiree health plan reimbursements through December 31, 2024.What Will Stay the SameAll sponsored healthcare, dental, and vision providers and plans will remain unchanged for the calendar year 2025, although the premiums may be different. Look for the Annual Open Enrollment Booklet, which will be mailed in mid-October 2024.If you choose not to make any changes during Open Enrollment, your current plans will remain in effect through 2025. No action is required on your end.Payment for sponsored dental and vision plan premiums, as well as sponsored healthcare plan dependent coverage, will continue to be deducted from your monthly SDCERS pension payment.Reimbursements for privately secured healthcare premiums and Medicare premiums will continue to be paid through your monthly SDCERS pension payment.Continue to update your contact information via your SDCERS Member Portal – any changes made through the Member Portal will be reflected in City Retiree Health Services’ files as well.
If you have an Option C trust account, continue to submit reimbursement requests through your Option C trust administrator. What Will ChangeStarting January 1, 2025, all new reimbursement requests and sponsored healthcare, dental, and vision plan enrollments and disenrollments will be processed through City Retiree Health Services.Also beginning in January 2025, eligible retirees may begin applying for Medicare Part A reimbursements, retroactive to January 1, 2024.If you are currently paying $174.70 per month for your Medicare Part B premium, additional verification is no longer required. However, if your current monthly Part B premium is different (e.g., due to IRMAA or low-income subsidy), then you must send verification documentation to City Retiree Health Services.Beginning November 1, 2024, you can visit City Retiree Health Services’ website to review your retiree healthcare benefit information. You will not be able to register your account until you have received a letter from City Retiree Health Services with additional registration information and instructions.
In the coming weeks, you will receive a letter from City Retiree Health Services outlining these changes and providing contact information. Please be sure to open any letters you receive from City Retiree Health Services, as they will contain important information about your retiree healthcare benefits and plans.
We understand that transitions such as this can be stressful and you may have questions or concerns. We want to reassure you that SDCERS is working closely with City Retiree Health Services to ensure a smooth transition of your retiree health benefits administration. To stay up to date about this transition, visit the City Retiree Health page – this page will be updated periodically as we receive updates from City Retiree Health Services.
If you wish to speak to an SDCERS representative over the phone, please be advised that SDCERS anticipates callers will experience increased hold times between October and December. Therefore, we encourage you to utilize the Contact Us page on our website or send inquiries directly to health@sdcers.org rather than calling the main line. Electronic inquiries will generally be answered within three business days. Thank you in advance for your patience!
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As SDCERS staff teleworks for a portion of each week, there may not always be a retiree health staff member available in the office to assist members in person. Moving forward, please submit your retiree health documentation to SDCERS via our Retiree Health mailbox at health@sdcers.org. As always, please ensure any attachments are in PDF format, or your email may be blocked by our firewalls.
If you require immediate, in person assistance, you must travel to SDCERS’ downtown offices on a Tuesday or Thursday (not including holidays) between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You are encouraged to call ahead to confirm availability of a retiree health staff member. SDCERS’ Call Center is open on regular business days from 9:00 a.m. – noon, and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Also, if you have a retiree health reimbursement plan through your City employment, your annual reimbursement allowance may have changed for fiscal year 2025. See this chart for updated City retiree health reimbursement allowances, which vary depending on your specific health reimbursement plan. City retiree health reimbursement allowances are based on a fiscal year calendar (July 1st – June 30th each year) and the annual allowances listed in the document linked above are effective as of July 1, 2024 and will reset on June 30, 2025.
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If you receive anything in the mail from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”), it is extremely important that you open it immediately!
A small number of SDCERS’ retirees have experienced issues related to their Medicare Part B premiums. The affected retirees were required to pay their Medicare Part B premiums directly to CMS because they either 1) do not receive a monthly Social Security benefit, or 2) do receive a monthly Social Security benefit, but the amount is not enough to cover their Medicare Part B premiums. However, these retirees failed to make timely payments for their Part B premiums to CMS, resulting in the loss of their Medicare Part B coverage, and were subsequently either disenrolled from a sponsored Medicare Supplemental plan or they were switched to a much more expensive non-Medicare plan, with the higher monthly premiums owed retroactively to the date they lost their Medicare coverage.
If you fail to pay your monthly or quarterly Medicare Part B premiums in full and on time, you may become delinquent, causing your Medicare coverage to be at risk. Note that we have received reports from retirees stating that they never received information from the SSA regarding unpaid premiums before their Medicare coverage was terminated! Medicare may not send monthly or quarterly invoices – if you are paying all or a portion of your Medicare Part B premiums directly to CMS, it is imperative that you periodically check with the SSA to confirm your premiums are paid in full and on time.
If you have concerns about your status with Medicare, you should contact Social Security online at www.SSA.gov, go in person to any Social Security Office, or contact Social Security by phone at (800) 633-4227.
If you have not yet started your Medicare application process, please contact your local SSA office or visit www.SSA.gov to find out if you are eligible and see information on how to apply.
Please evaluate your healthcare coverage options carefully! Enrolling in a Medicare insurance plan may reduce your costs. However, note that you should not enroll in Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) if you are enrolling in a health plan that already includes prescription drug coverage, because enrolling in Part D may result in the termination of your current health insurance coverage.
Health plan experts are available at CareCounsel to assist retirees, free of charge, with any health plan questions including questions about Medicare – email staff@carecounsel.com or call (888) 227-3334 Monday – Friday, open from 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: https://carecounsel.com/medicare.html.
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Please remember that SDCERS staff teleworks for a portion of each week, and there may not always be a retiree health staff member available in the office to assist members in person. Moving forward, if you would like to speak with a retiree health staff member in person, you must travel to SDCERS’ downtown offices on a Tuesday or Thursday (excluding holidays) between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
You are encouraged to call ahead to confirm availability of a retiree health staff member, especially if you are requesting to have your documents reviewed. SDCERS’ Call Center is open on regular business days from 9:00 a.m. – noon, and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
You can also reach SDCERS’ retiree health staff via email, at health@sdcers.org.
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If you are a City retiree currently receiving health reimbursements from SDCERS for Medicare Part B premiums, you should have recently received a letter in the mail from SDCERS. The standard Medicare Part B premiums are increasing from $164.90 to $174.70 per month, beginning in January 2024.Please submit the 2024 Benefit Verification Letter to SDCERS as soon as possible, confirming the changes to your Medicare Part B premium. Note that if you are paying your premiums out of pocket, you will not have a Benefit Verification Letter, and instead will need to provide SDCERS with the statement you should receive from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). If your premium has not changed, you do not need to submit anything.
To obtain your 2024 Benefit Verification Letter, visit www.ssa.gov, and then either sign in or sign up for a personal “my Social Security” account. Once you’ve accessed your account, follow the instructions to download your Benefit Verification Letter. You can also call your local Social Security office. Please do not contact SDCERS for help accessing this letter, as SDCERS staff will be unable to assist.
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 and it is received by our office on or before January 10, 2024, we will do our best to have the updated premium amount reimbursement reflected on your January 2024 pension benefit payment. If your paperwork is received after this date, or if we were unable to process your paperwork in time, then the adjusted reimbursement amount will be included in the following payroll cycle, assuming all required documentation is received.
You may submit your 2024 Benefit Verification Letter to SDCERS in the following ways:*E-mail a copy (in PDF format) to: health@sdcers.orgFax a copy to: (858) 581-5314Mail a copy to: 401 West A Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101 Attn: Health *IMPORTANT: Email is the fastest way to provide SDCERS with your documents. However, 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 necessarily 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. The SDCERS 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 2024 pension payment, then please contact our Retiree Health Team at (619) 525-3600 or health@sdcers.org in February.
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Retiree health open enrollment for City of San Diego retirees will run from November 1st through November 30th. The calendar year 2024 City retiree health booklets have been mailed out to all eligible City retirees and beneficiaries, and an electronic version of the booklet is also 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 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 800
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, with the exception of the SCAN Medicare plan – please see this article for more information about upcoming changes to this plan.
SDCERS will not be holding any in-person open enrollment events. However, SDCERS will participate in the Retiree Help Day hosted by SDPEBA (San Diego Public Employee Benefit Association), which will be held on November 1st, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (PST). You can register for SDPEBA’s Retiree Help Day here.
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 9:00 a.m. to noon, and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. (PST), at (619) 525-3600 and (800) 774-4977. Remember that if you need to come into our physical offices for any reason related to retiree health, please ensure you come in on a Tuesday or Thursday, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (PST). 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. You can also submit electronic inquiries through our Contact Us page.
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City Retirees: 2024 City Retiree Health Open Enrollment will begin on November 1, 2023 and end November 30, 2023. The 2024 Retiree Health Booklets will be mailed in late October. This booklet provides details for all healthcare plans offered through the City of San Diego and the San Diego Public Employee Benefit Association (SDPEBA). You can also access an electronic version of this booklet on the City Retiree Health page. The electronic version will be available no later than October 30, 2023.IMPORTANT: Significant changes are coming to the City's SCAN retiree health plan.
Effective January 1, 2024, Scripps Clinics and Scripps Coastal will no longer be part of the SCAN Health Plan provider network.
The Scripps relationship will continue for the following facilities:Mercy Physicians Medical GroupScripps Physicians Medical GroupPrimary Care Associates of CaliforniaProspect Medical GroupOptum/PCAMGGreater Tri-Cities IPA (with some minimal changes)If you are currently enrolled in the SCAN health plan, you should receive a letter in the mail from SCAN and a separate letter from SDCERS regarding these changes. You will also find the most up-to-date Primary Care Physician listings on the SCAN Health Plan website at www.scanhealthplan.com. If you choose to remain in the SCAN health plan for plan year 2024 and your current provider is associated with Scripps Clinic or Scripps Coastal, you will need to select a new provider. Alternatively, you can choose to enroll in a different City-sponsored Medicare plan.
For assistance with plan comparisons and help making smart decisions when choosing providers, please remember to utilize the City’s free retiree health resource, CareCounsel. You can reach CareCounsel at 888-227-3334 or visit their website at www.carecounsel.com.
If you have any questions, you can contact SDCERS’ 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 and open enrollment is about to begin, we anticipate a higher than usual call volume over the next several months. If your question is not urgent, we encourage you to submit your request electronically via the Contact Us page. SDCERS staff will generally respond to electronic inquiries within one business day.
If you need to come into our physical offices for any reason related to retiree health, please remember to come in on a Tuesday or Thursday and we recommend calling ahead of time to ensure an appropriate staff member will be available to assist you.
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As SDCERS staff teleworks for a portion of each week, there may not always be a retiree health staff member available in the office to assist members in person. Moving forward, if you would like to speak with a retiree health staff member in person, you must travel to SDCERS’ downtown offices on a Tuesday or Thursday (not including holidays) between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You are encouraged to call ahead to confirm availability of a retiree health staff member, especially if you are requesting to have your documents reviewed. SDCERS’ Call Center is open on regular business days from 9:00 a.m. – noon, and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. You can also reach SDCERS’ retiree health staff via email, at health@sdcers.org.
Also, if you have a retiree health reimbursement plan through your City employment, your annual reimbursement allowance may have changed for fiscal year 2024. See this chart for updated City retiree health reimbursement allowances, which vary depending on your specific health reimbursement plan.
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As SDCERS staff teleworks for a portion of each week, there may not always be a retiree health staff member available in the office to assist members in person. Moving forward, if you would like to speak with a retiree health staff member in person, you must travel to SDCERS’ downtown offices on a Tuesday or Thursday (not including holidays) between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You are encouraged to call ahead to confirm availability of a retiree health staff member, especially if you are requesting to have your documents reviewed. SDCERS’ Call Center is open on regular business days from 9:00 a.m. – noon, and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. You can also reach SDCERS’ retiree health staff via email, at health@sdcers.org.
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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...