_{Council of University of California Retiree Associations (CUCRA)}

_{Executive Committee
Sue Abeles (UCLA), Chair
Emily Galindo (UCD), Vice Chair
Elise Woods, (UCB) Secretary
John Dahl (UCLA), Treasurer
Pat Price (UCI), Information Officer
John Meyer (UCD), Past Chair}

_{April 7, 2025}

  _{An Update to Our Membership: April 2025}

 _{From Sue Abeles, Chair, CUCRA}

1. _{ERAC Update}

_{The Emeriti/Retiree Advisory Committee (ERAC) has bimonthly meetings scheduled through 2025.  The first meeting was held on February 18.  Bill Perez, the new Executive Director of the RASC replacing Bernadette Green was introduced.  The agenda included a discussion of the Return to Active Duty (RTAD) policy and plans for counseling prospective retirees who may be affected, status of VIA benefits funding increase request, status of various Requests for Proposals (RFPs), an update from the RASC, re-establishing bimonthly meetings with the RASC, and information regarding the newly formed Benefits Survey Workgroup and the Remuneration Study Workgroup.  With regard to the latter, we expressed concern that neither CUCRA nor CUCEA is represented on either of these workgroups despite having representatives that participated in the RFP process.  The response from Vice President Cheryl Lloyd and her staff was that the focus of these efforts is on current employees and that there is staff and faculty representation on both groups.  We pointed out that the Benefits Survey RFP included surveying the out-of-state retirees using VIA Benefits.  It was acknowledged that this survey would follow at a later date and that there would be representation from CUCRA and CUCEA at that time.  Cheryl also indicated that she was discussing a possible increase in the VIA benefits funding with others at the Office of the President for 2026.  She further indicated that she would work with Bill Perez to reinstate bimonthly meetings with the RASC and the leadership of CUCRA and CUCEA.}

2. _{Return to Active Duty Policy (RTAD)}

_{The University recently issued a policy that affects the health benefits of those retirees and emeriti that return to active duty (e.g., recall status) and are benefit-eligible.  The policy was promulgated to comply with the Affordable Care Act and Medicare rules. Implementation of the policy will impact those retiring during this July cycle who return on recall status prior to a six-month hiatus and those who have already retired and continue working on recall more than a threshold number of hours, as reviewed on an annual basis.  Information about the policy and its implications for retirees and emeriti are outlined on UCNet at} New benefits eligibility rules for rehired retirees | UCnet_{. CUCRA and CUCEA have representatives on the work group tasked with the policy implementation.  Both representatives have been very vocal about the lack of clarity in many of the communications, the adequacy of the training, and have expressed concerns that the policy and implications for retirees and their departments have not been disseminated effectively in every location.  The Joint Benefits Committee Spring, 2025 report also addressed concerns regarding the rollout and offered suggestions to improve the process for retirees/emeriti.}

3. _{RASC Update}

_{The RASC provided an update on their performance at the February UCRS Advisory Board meeting.   As indicated in the Joint Benefits Committee Spring, 2025 report, the information shared at that meeting indicates the RASC continues to make improvements in timeliness of answering incoming calls and retirement processing, but timely survivor processing continues to be an issue.  The UCRS Advisory Board has asked the RASC to address the concerns about timeliness of survivor processing at their upcoming meeting in June and to explain the types of issues and requirements that cause delays in processing to see how improvements can be made.  The Joint Benefits Committee Spring, 2025 report also addressed these concerns.  A recommendation has been made that information about the survivor process be made available to prospective retirees at the time of their retirement  and that a checklist be developed for retirees and survivors to prepare them for what information is required to complete the process in a timely manner.}

4. _{Dental Request for Proposal (RFP)}

_{A RFP for dental services is underway.  Dianne Gregory of UC Davis is representing CUCRA on the workgroup.}

_{ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS}

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