Retiree 1099-R Forms Will Be Available Online January 31
If you’re an ACERA retiree, survivor, or payee, ACERA reports income to you on a 1099-R form. Your 1099-R for 2015 will be mailed no later than January 31, 2016.
Additionally, you will be able to get your 1099-R form online on January 31, 2016 by logging into your ACERA Web Member Services (WMS) account. If you’ve already created a WMS account, simply use your username and password to log in. If you need an account, click the Need an Account link to create one.
ACERA Open Enrollment Continues After November For a Few Plans
ACERA’s Open Enrollment has ended for non-Medicare medical plans in California as well as dental and vision plans. But Open Enrollment is still going for a short time for the ACERA plans listed below. For enrolling in plans outside of Open Enrollment, review the When Can I Enroll page.
2015 ACERA Board of Retirement Election Results
The nomination period for the 2015 Board of Retirement election closed on September 14, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Ms. Elizabeth Rogers, the incumbent Second Member, was the only person to submit the required nomination papers and be certified as a candidate for the election of the Second Seat to represent the General Members on the Board of Retirement. Pursuant to Government Code Section 31523 and ACERA’s Board Election Policy, on October 6, 2015, the Board of Supervisors directed the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to cast a unanimous ballot in favor of the nominated member. Ms.
Notice of Election For ACERA Board of Retirement
An election will be held from November 9, 2015 through December 16, 2015 to elect the Second Member representing the general members on the ACERA Board of Retirement for the calendar years 2016 through 2018.
Limited ACERA Office Access During Warriors Celebration
Go Warriors!
Access to ACERA’s offices will be limited on Friday, June 19, 2015 due to street closures and festivities as part of the parade and celebration for the Golden State Warrior’s NBA Championship victory. Members are advised to take extra time and caution if they are planning to visit ACERA’s offices on Friday. Since parking will be extremely limited and buses will be rerouted, members are further advised that it may be better to postpone your visit to ACERA until next week.
New Healthcare Options Coming for Early Retirees Outside of California Group Plan Areas
ACERA’s Board of Retirement has decided to move ahead with a plan to provide individual medical plan coverage to our retirees who are not eligible for Medicare and who live outside of California or in parts of rural California outside the service areas for our group medical plans. This new coverage through the OneExchange private health insurance exchange will take effect in 2016, and open enrollment for the new plans will be in November of 2015.
Update: Exploring a Private Healthcare Exchange for Early Retirees
ACERA is exploring the option of providing individual medical plan coverage to early retirees (not eligible for Medicare) through a private health insurance exchange for those who live outside the ACERA sponsored group plans’ service areas. Benefits facilitators in the exchange would help members enroll in an individual medical insurance/prescription plan and use their Monthly Medical Allowance to offset the cost of the plan if eligible.
Exploring a Private Healthcare Exchange for Early Retirees
ACERA is exploring the option of providing individual medical plan coverage to early retirees (not eligible for Medicare) who live outside the ACERA sponsored group plans’ service areas through a private health insurance exchange. Benefits facilitators in the exchange would help members enroll in an individual medical insurance/prescription plan and use their Monthly Medical Allowance to offset the cost of the plan if eligible.
March 31, 2015 is Last Day to Submit Reimbursements for 2014 Claims in Medicare Exchange Plans
If you’re an ACERA member enrolled in a medical insurance plan (and probably a prescription drug coverage plan) through OneExchange, you pay a monthly premium for your plan(s) to your insurance company(ies). If you use your coverage to go to the doctor or get a prescription, you may have to pay deductibles or copays to the doctor or pharmacy.
Retiree 1099-R Forms Now Available Online
If you’re an ACERA retiree, survivor, or payee, you can now get your 1099-R Form by logging into your ACERA Web Member Services (WMS) account. If you’ve already created a WMS account, simply use your username and password to log in. If you need an account, click the Need an Account link to create one.
Retirees Will Receive 1099-R Forms in January
ACERA reports income to retirees and payees on IRS form 1099-R. The 1099-R forms for 2014 will be mailed to all retirees and payees no later than January 31, 2015. Form 1099-R should be filed with your 2014 tax return.
CEO to Depart ACERA for State Appointment in February
ACERA announced today that Vincent P. Brown will resign his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective February 27, 2015 to take up appointment as Deputy Treasurer, Administration, Finance, and Education Policy for the Treasurer of the State of California, John Chiang.
Mr. Brown has served as CEO since July 2011, coming from his prior position as CEO of Santa Barbara County Employees’ Retirement System (SBCERS) as well as a number of executive positions in California state government.
Last Chance to Enroll in or Change Healthcare Plans
ACERA’s annual Open Enrollment will conclude on November 30, 2014 for group healthcare plans and December 7 for individual Medicare plans through OneExchange. Enrollment forms for group plans that are mailed to ACERA must be postmarked by November 30, 2014.
Chief Counsel Hired to Head ACERA Legal Department
Joseph W. Fletcher has been recruited as ACERA’s Chief Counsel, and will begin work during November. As Chief Counsel, Mr. Fletcher reports directly to CEO Vincent P. Brown and serves as legal advisor to the Board of Retirement and ACERA Staff, and represents ACERA in civil cases, advises them in matters of civil law, and manages ACERA’s legal department.
Open Enrollment is the Month of November
Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to consider your benefit needs and options and to make changes, if needed. ACERA’s Open Enrollment period is November 1 – November 30, 2014, and you can change your Kaiser Permanente or UnitedHealthcare medical plan and Delta Dental plan and add or drop medical, dental, and vision coverage for your eligible dependents. ACERA’s Open Enrollment for an individual medical plan through OneExchange is October 15 – December 7, 2014.
Safety Members Must Wait 90 Days Before Returning to Work After Retirement
In order to comply with IRS regulations, ACERA will be requiring that safety members wait at least 90 calendar days after retiring from ACERA before returning to work for any ACERA Participating Employer. This requirement will take effect June 1, 2014, which means that any member who wishes to retire prior to this commencement of this requirement will have to return to work on or before May 31, 2014.
Lump Sum Death Benefit Increased to $1000 Retroactively
Effective January 1, 2013, the Board of Retirement made a decision to eliminate the $4,250 non-vested portion of the former $5,000 Retired Member Lump Sum Death Benefit, thereby reducing the death benefit down to the $750 vested portion. In researching the accounts that the death benefit is paid out of, ACERA discovered that the Board of Retirement had adopted a section of code in 1992 approving a vested retiree death benefit of $1,000 to be funded by the SRBR as long as funds were available.
Exploring a Private Healthcare Exchange for Early Retirees
ACERA is exploring the option of providing medical care plans to early retirees (not eligible for Medicare) through a private health insurance exchange in order to control healthcare costs and offer plans in more service areas. Benefits facilitators in the exchange would help members enroll in an individual medical insurance/prescription plan and use their Monthly Medical Allowance to offset the cost of the plan if eligible.
Extend Health Changes Name to OneExchange
Extend Heath, ACERA’s private health insurance exchange for Medicare-eligible members, has changed its name. It is now called OneExchange. Participants should have received a notice in the mail announcing this change. OneExchange is only a change in name, and is not specifically accompanied by other changes. You can visit OneExchange on the web at:
IRS Determines That ACERA is a “Qualified” Retirement Plan
The U.S. Department of the Internal Revenue Service issued the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association (ACERA) a favorable tax determination letter on January 29, 2014. The favorable determination letter indicates that in the opinion of the IRS, ACERA satisfies the qualification requirements of Internal Revenue Code section 401(a) and is therefore is a qualified public retirement plan entitled to favorable tax treatment.