Please note that the summaries of news items posted on this page do not necessarily represent the official positions of CSU-ERFA or its affiliates.  Links contained within the summaries may take you to the original news sources.  CSU-ERFA is not responsible for the content of linked articles and cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of those articles.

May 2013

One of the problems of retirement is that it gives you more time to read about the problems of retirement. ~Author unknown.

CSU-ERFA’s Executive Committee has voted unanimously to endorse Harvey Robinson for the CalPERS board of administration position B, up for election in September. There is no endorsement as yet for position A as the candidates are not known at this time.  More details regarding the endorsement are available in the lead story of the May issue of the CSU-ERFA Reporter, which now is available online. _______________________ The CSU-ERFA Grant Awards Committee has announced that they will begin accepting applications for the CSU-ERFA Grant Awards Program for 2013-2014 on May 20, 2013.  The deadline for submitting applications is December 16, 2013. More details about the program and links to program guidelines and application forms can be found on our Member Services page. Typically, about four grants are awarded each year.  It is expected that about $6,000 in total will be available for the 2013-14 cycle. _______________________ Your CSU-ERFA webmaster finished updating the very useful CSU-ERFA links page today (May 8, 2013). Several dead links were updated, a few sites that no longer exist were replaced with equivalent new sites, and a very useful link to Long Term Care Information and Resources was added. This page has links to a host of useful information for CSU-ERFA members and retirees in general. _______________________

Members who are enrolled in the CalPERS Long-Term Care Program will receive a letter from CalPERS early in May describing their options with regard to upcoming premium increases if they hold a policy that is subject to the premium increases. CalPERS also has posted a short video online explaining some of the new options. You should read the information in the letter carefully before deciding how you wish to proceed. _______________________

April 2013

Don't play too much golf.  Two rounds a day are plenty.  ~Harry Vardon

The Los Angeles Times reported today (April 18, 2013) that the CalPERS Board has voted to offer four new HMO plans in addition to the existing Blue Shield HMO and Kaiser-Permanente HMO plan starting next year. In addition, the Board voted to continue the contract with Anthem Blue Cross to administer the CalPERS PPO Plans (PERScare, PERSchoice, and PERSselect) for five more years. The four new plans will include an Anthem Blue Cross HMO plan that will be available in most parts of California.  United Health will offer an HMO plan that will be available in 21 counties, some in southern California, some in northern California.  HealthNet will offer an HMO plan available in six southern California counties, and Sharp will offer an HMO plan available in San Diego County. The Blue Shield HMO plan that covers most parts of California will continue as before, as will the Kaiser-Permanente Plan that covers parts of southern and northern California. _______________________ The Sacramento Business Journal reported today (April 17, 2013) that CalPERS may offer up to three additional HMO health plans to members and retirees next year following a vote by the CalPERS Pension and Health Benefits Committee this week.  A final decision is expected to be made by the CalPERS Board next week. _______________________

March 2013

Q. How many retirees does it take to change a light bulb? A. Only one, but it might take him or her two or three days. ~Author unknown.

An extensive story in the Los Angeles Times on March 19, 2013 reports on the indictment by a federal grand jury of former CalPERS Chief Executive Federico Buenrostro Jr. and former board member Alfred J.R. Villalobos on charges of mail and wire fraud and obstruction of justice.  Both Buenrostro and Villalobos deny the charges, and say they will fight them. Commentary by Michael Hiltzik in the same issue of the L.A. Times questions whether current CalPERS Board Members Feckner, Diehr, and Mather should continue on the Board, since they were members when the alleged malfeasance took place. _______________________

February 2013

Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life.  ~Herbert Asquith

The CSU-ERFA Grant Awards Committee chaired by Sally Hurtado of Sonoma State University, recommended five awards from the eight applications received for the 2012-13 grant cycle.  A total of $6,000 was awarded. The CSU-ERFA Executive Committee agreed with the recommendation at its winter meeting on February 7th.  Awards were made to the following: • Prof. Donald Warrin of CSU East Bay for work on a book entitled The Many Lives of the Bark Kaiulani: Last of the American Square Riggers, the story of the transition from the age of sail in the early 20th century. • Prof. Julia M. Allen of Sonoma for a biographical study of the lives of Anna Rochester and Grace Hutchins, to be published by the SUNY Press in 2013. • Prof. David Maciel of CSU Dominguez Hills for a study of Mexico’s policy toward its diaspora in the U.S. • Prof. Elizabeth Kenneday-Corathers of CSU Long Beach for a “multifaceted, collaborative art installation” called “The Repository of Wonders.” • Prof. Philip Silverman of CSU Bakersfield for travel support to present a paper entitled "Bridging Generations: Family History and Lifestyle of Taiwanese Women." _______________________

January 2013

Retire from work, but not from life.  ~M.K. Soni

CSU-ERFA Colleagues, The Academic Senate CSU (ASCSU), is celebrating its Golden Anniversary this year!  The "Statewide Senate," as most of us called it for many years, is planning a commemorative event to acknowledge ASCSU's fifty years (1963-2013) as the representative voice of the faculty on academic matters in the CSU. John Tarjan, CSU Bakersfield, is chairing a task force to organize this celebration.  As part of it, we are developing a slide show with pictures from this half-century of faculty leadership.  Many members of CSU-ERFA were involved in the Senate.  If you are one of them and have pictures or documents that might be added to the presentation and/or to the ASCSU archives, please send them to me electronically (wblischke@csudh.edu) or hardcopy (2801 Sepulveda Blvd, Unit #102, Torrance, CA 90505).  Since the celebration is in conjunction with the ASCSU March Plenary Session, I need them ASAP. Thank you for helping us revive and relive the evolution of our systemwide faculty senate during the last 50 years! Bill Blischke, CSU-ERFA Vice President and CSU-ERFA Liaison to ASCSU" _______________________ We have received the very sad news that CSU-ERFA Founder Sidney P. Albert has passed away at age 98.  Sidney is survived by his sister Beverly Cooper Silvers, sons Larry, Alan, daughter Vivian, his former wife Lucy Ann Albert, four grandchildren and his longtime friend Elaine Amromin.  A memorial service for Sidney will be held at noon on Sunday (January 13, 2013) at Mount Sinai Memorial Park 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068.  CSU-ERFA members are invited to attend.  Donations in memory of Sidney may be made to the CSU-ERFA Foundation c/o CSU-ERFA headquarters at The Retiree Center, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8339. Sidney Albert received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in philosophy from Syracuse University, and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Yale just at the outbreak of WWII.  He served five years in the army before beginning his teaching careers with a series of temporary appointments.  Albert began his tenure as a Professor of Philosophy at California State University, Los Angeles in 1956.  One of his major areas of scholarship was the study of George Bernard Shaw.  He developed an extensive collection related to the works of Shaw that he sold to Brown University in 1992.  The Sidney P. Albert - George B. Shaw collection at Brown remains a significant source of material for Shaw scholars to this day.  Sidney continued his scholarly work on Shaw throughout his retirement, publishing books, scholarly articles, and delivering presentations into his late nineties His book Shaw, Plato and Euripedes: Classical Currents in Major Barbara was published just last year by the University Press of Florida. Albert received emeritus status at CSULA in 1979.  As he approached retirement he developed a strong interest in issues related to emeriti faculty members; and, he was instrumental in the development of the Emeriti Faculty Association at CSULA.  Albert has described in detail the issues associated with the establishment of an emeriti faculty association at CSULA.  One of the thorny issues at the time was the notion that the emeriti should be considered a class of faculty with privileges similar to those of active faculty members.  The reason was that faculty members who retired were deemed to have terminated their connection with the university.  Thus, there were questions about whether it would be legal to support the activities of emeriti faculty members even though the level of support would be minimal.  This was a question that was not fully settled on a state-wide level until more than a decade later. A few years after the establishment of the emeriti group at CSULA, Albert saw the need for the establishment of a statewide association of California State University emeritus faculty members.  This organization would be open to emeritus faculty from all campuses in the CSU system, which would work on their behalf on issues of importance to all emeriti faculty members.  Albert took inspiration for the development of the CSULA emeriti association and the statewide Emeritus Faculty Association (later to become CSU-ERFA) from the UCLA emeritus faculty group and from his association with AAUP. Some of the details of the issues associated with the establishment of the statewide Emeritus Faculty Association can be found in this 2007 interview of Albert by Judd Grenier, who is the current CSU-ERFA archivist.  This interview was carried out for the CSULA Emeritimes shortly after Albert donated his papers relating to the establishment of both the emeritus group at CSULA and the statewide EFA.  Albert strongly favored a model wherein the groups would be open only to retired faculty members holding emeritus status, similar to the situation at UCLA.  Other associations of retired faculty both within the system and elsewhere had a broader membership, and often included retired staff and administrators as well as retired faculty members with and without emeritus status.  Although the statewide Emeritus Faculty Association soon expanded its membership to include all retired faculty members as well as retired staff and administrators from those campuses whose local associations included them, Albert remained closely associated with CSU-ERFA until his death. _______________________

We have learned that some people have experienced difficulty obtaining new or refilling old prescriptions at CVS pharmacies under the new CalPERS Medicare Part D prescription drug program.  We have been advised by CalPERS that anyone experiencing such a problem should have the pharmacy call the CVS/Caremark helpline at 1-855-479-3660.  CVS/Caremark has added a large number of agents to help with these calls, and they should be able to ensure that the member receives his or her prescription. We also have learned that CVS/Caremark has been experiencing delays in implementing the new plan.  For example, temporary ID cards have not yet been issued for spouses of members.  Spouses should receive their temporary ID cards by mid-February. Spouses of members who have not received a temporary ID card for the new plan should continue to use their old ID card (with the old prescription drug program information).  Again, if any problem is encountered filling or refilling a prescription at a CVS pharmacy, have the pharmacy call the 1-855-479-3660 number. We also have been assured by CalPERS that any errors in co-pay amounts incurred during this transition period will be refunded once the new system is fully operational. CSU-ERFA members, of course, can call our headquarters at (818) 718-7996 if they need further assistance resolving problems with the new prescription drug program.  Note also that members who are in the Kaiser Medicare Advantage program are not affected by this situation. _______________________

 December 2012

O, blest retirement! friend to life's decline - How blest is he who crowns, in shades like these, A youth of labor with an age of ease! ~Oliver Goldsmith

An article published today (12/30/12) in the L.A. Times reports extensively on the "mixed legacy" of departing CSU Chancellor Reed. _______________________ As we have reported previously, CalPERS will be raising premium rates for its long-term care program by as much as 85% come the new year.  And, we also have reported that CalPERS will be offering policyholders the option of switching to more restrictive program options to avoid these large premium increases.  Generally, these new options provide LTC coverage for shorter periods of time and do not offer a yearly cost-of-living adjustment to the benefits. A recent article by Elizabeth O'Brien of MarketWatch provides an overview of the current LTC market along with information that may help those of you with CalPERS LTC policies to decide which of the new options will be best for your individual circumstances. _______________________

October 2012

One of the problems of retirement is that it gives you more time to read about the problems of retirement. ~Author unknown.

The Sacramento Bee reported today (Oct. 16, 2012) that the CalPERS pension and benefits committee voted 9 to 0 to increase premiums for the CalPERS Long Term Care Program by 85% in two steps beginning in 2015.  Policyholders would have the option of absorbing the increase in one year.  With that choice the premium increase would be 79%. The committee also voted allow policyholders to choose a plan that caps benefits at 10 years, with no increase in premiums.  According to CalPERS, only 1% of policyholders who require long term care need it for more than 10 years. This proposal will be considered by the full CalPERS Board at its next meeting. _______________________ We have learned that the CSU Board of Trustees has appointed Timothy P. White, who currently is Chancellor of U.C., Riverside to replace Charles Reed as Chancellor of CSU System. _______________________ The Sacramento Bee reported today (Oct. 4, 2012) that CalPERS is considering substantial increases to the premiums for most policyholders in the CalPERS Long-Term Care Program.  According to the article, premium increases may exceed 70%.  However, policyholders may be given the option to switch to more restricted benefit levels to avoid the increase. The article also notes that premium increases, once adopted, may be phased in over a three year period. We will provide more information on this issue as it becomes available. _______________________

_______________________

 September 2012

One of the problems of retirement is that it gives you more time to read about the problems of retirement. ~Author unknown.

We have more information regarding the CalPERS prescription drug program change that will go into effect on January 1, 2013 for members currently in the CVS/Caremark and Blue Shield drug plans.  On that date CalPERS will switch from Medicare Part D Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) programs to Medicare Part D Employer Group Waiver Plans (EGWP). The differences between the two are rather technical.  Under the RDS plans CalPERS directly subsidized the drug benefits and contracted with CVS/Caremark to administer the plan (or another vendor for the Blue Shield plan).  Under the EGWP type plan, the vendor (such as CVS/Caremark) offers and operates the Part D drug plan, while CalPERS pays all or part of the plan premium to the vendor.  In most cases, members will see no change in the cost for covered prescription drugs. However, there will be changes in how the plans are administered.  For example, disputes about coverage for certain drugs that now are decided by CalPERS instead will be decided by the vendor in accordance with Medicare rules and within the Medicare appeals process.  In addition, while the basic premium for the Part D drug plan will be covered by CalPERS, some members with high incomes may find that they have to pay a small monthly supplement to the premium similar to the supplement that they are charged for Medicare Part B coverage. If you have not already received information in the mail describing the new plan, you will shortly.  Please note that there is a "opt-out" form in the packet.  This is required by Medicare.  It is very important that you DO NOT SEND THIS FORM IN.  In other words DO NOT OPT OUT.  If you do opt out, you will lose your Medicare Drug Coverage.  Simply DO NOTHING but read the booklet and accompanying information.  You will be transitioned to the new plan AUTOMATICALLY! Click here to see a brief list of questions and answers about the transition to the new drug plans that we have received from CalPERS _______________________

The Open Enrollment Period for CalPERS health plans and the CSU Dental Plans runs through October 5, 2012.  If you are satisfied with your current plan you do not need to do anything.  You automatically will be continued in your plan. If you want to change to a different plan, or if you want to add an eligible family member to your plan, now is the time to do that. For those of you who want make health plan changes, go to the CalPERS website.  Then click on the green "Health Open Enrollment link on the right side of the page. You should already have received information in the mail regarding the CSU Dental Plans along with a form to file if you wish to change dental plans. _______________________ Special note regarding Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.  CalPERS will be transitioning to new prescription drug programs for those who are in CalPERS Supplement to Medicare plans or CalPERS Medicare Advantage plans (such as Kaiser).  You will be receiving an enrollment packet with information about your new drug plan sometime in the next month or so.  Note that enrollment is AUTOMATIC.  You do not need to do anything when you receive the packet other than reading the information. In particular, be sure that you DO NOT OPT OUT of the new plan.  If you do, you will lose prescription drug coverage. _______________________