April 2022

Volume 56

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Highlights

SBCERS ANNUAL PHOTO COMPETITIONALL MEMBER SUBMISSIONS WELCOMED

NEW BLUE SHIELD BENEFIT: HINGE HEALTH

VIRTUAL MEMBER SERVICES APPOINTMENTS & IN-PERSON POP UP APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

Also in this edition...


  • 2022 COLA Results
  • March 2022 Investments Results
  • March 30, 2022 Board of Retirement Meeting Highlights
  • April 27, 2022 Board of Retirement Meeting Agenda Available
  • CareCounsel Information
  • RESBC Membership Information

SBCERS ANNUAL PHOTO COMPETITIONALL MEMBER SUBMISSIONS WELCOMED

SBCERS is looking forward to opening our new office on Robin Hill Road in the months to come, and is launching a photo gallery to showcase the talents of our members! We invite all SBCERS members to submit entries for our first-ever annual photo competition. Between 12 and 15 winning entries will be printed and hung throughout the SBCERS Lobby and meeting spaces.


We hope our gallery reflects the varied perspectives and passions of our membership, be it the natural beauty you discover on a walk through your neighborhood, the thrilling sites and scenes you discover in your travels, and everything in between! 


Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:

  • Architecture
  • Landscape
  • Events
  • Abstracts
  • Black and White
Click Here to Submit!

Important dates and details:


  • JPEG and PNG files only. File size limit is 16 MB
  • Tuesday, May 31, 2022: Deadline for submissions. 
  • Monday, June 20, 2022: Winning entries announced via email notice to each winning entrant, and Announcement to www.sbcers.org.
  • Summer 2022: Winning entries will be printed to wrapped canvas (sizes may vary from 16” x 20” to 18” x 24”) and hung within the SBCERS gallery at Robin Hill Road.

NEW BLUE SHIELD BENEFIT: HINGE HEALTH

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We are thrilled to partner with Hinge Health to offer free, innovative digital programs to help you reduce back, muscle & joint pain, recover from injuries, prepare for surgery, or stay healthy and pain free. Their programs are available to you and your eligible dependents on a Blue Shield of California medical plan at no cost.


To give you an opportunity to learn more about Hinge Health’s programs and how they could have a positive impact in your life, we’d like to invite you to a Hinge Health Program Overview webinar. This webinar is scheduled for Thursday, April 28th at 12:00 PM and will cover:

  • Who Hinge Health helps
  • How Hinge Health treats
  • What to expect
  • FAQs
  • Q&A


If you’re interested in attending, please register for this webinar at www.hingehealth.com/sbcountywebinar.

 

Hinge Health goes above and beyond traditional physical therapy to help you take control of back and joint pain. Join the thousands of people who have cut their pain by nearly 70% through easy-to-do 15-minute exercise therapy sessions. You can sign up here.

 

Your custom Hinge Health plan may include:

  • App-guided exercise therapy: 15-minute sessions to reduce pain and increase strength and mobility
  • No cost wearable sensors: Wearable sensors give you live feedback on your form in the Hinge Health app
  • Personal care team: Connect with your personal health coach or physical therapist at any time

 

Your Hinge Health care plan can be done from anywhere, and whenever works best for your schedule in their convenient app. That means never rushing to an appointment or worrying about copays!

 

If you have any questions, contact Hinge Health at (855) 902-2777 or [email protected].

 

To learn more about Hinge Health, visit www.hingehealth.com/sbcountyforyou.

 

Participants must be 18+ and enrolled in Blue Shield of CA medical plan through the County of Santa Barbara.

VIRTUAL MEMBER SERVICES APPOINTMENTS & IN-PERSON POP UP APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE


SBCERS Member Services Representatives are available for in-person "Pop Up" appointments in Santa Barbara on May 11 and Santa Maria on May 26. All upcoming pop up dates are updated at www.sbcers.org/pop-up.


Member Services Representatives are also available for virtual appointments on Zoom or over the phone on other dates.

 

SBCERS asks that members please wear a mask and practice social distancing during their in-person appointment. Masks will be available at each pop up location if needed.

Click Here to Book an Appointment

Members may choose between 20-minute or 60-minute appointments.


Example 20-Minute Topics:

  • Service purchase of medical leave or extra help time
  • Divorce
  • Tax withholding changes
  • Health reimbursement claims
  • Direct deposit changes
  • Insurance questions


Example 60-Minute Topics:

  • Pre-retirement or retirement counseling sessions
  • Death benefit claims
  • Continuance onboarding
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2022 COLA Results


For March 2022, Los Angeles Area Inflation (year over year) was 8.50%. The average monthly increase for 2022 to date is 7.80%.


View monthly inflation figures compared to last year.


Want to track the COLA on your own? On the 15th of each month, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor statistics releases CPI data for Los Angeles.


Read the current Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

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March 2022 Investment Results


The Total Fund returned 1.48% for the month of March 2022.


Since July 1, 2021, the portfolio has returned 5.30%, generating over $204 million for our beneficiaries.


Read the full March 2022 Investment Flash Report.

March 30, 2022 Board of Retirement Meeting Highlights


At the March 30, 2022 Board of Retirement meeting, the Board received a private real estate quarterly investment report and strategic plan, a presentation regarding the impacts of the Ukraine/Russian Conflict on investments, and a monthly public markets update. The Board approved revisions to the SBCERS Investment Policy Statement and Conflict of Interest Code. The Board of Retirement also authorized the CEO to enter into a written contract engaging the firm Milliman to perform independent auditing services and a written contract extending Brown Armstrong CPAs to perform independent auditing services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.


Read the draft March 30, 2022 Minutes.

April 27, 2022 Board of Retirement Meeting Agenda Available


The next Regular Board of Retirement meeting will be held in the Riviera Ballroom at the Canary Hotel on April 27, 2022.


Members of the public who would like to make a public comment may do so via Zoom or in-person at the meeting location. Please email [email protected] for instructions. The Board of Retirement meeting will also be livestreamed via YouTube at https://www.sbcers.org/board-of-retirement/watch-live/.


Click HERE to access agendas and board materials on our agenda management website.

WANT HELP WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE INQUIRIES & CONCERNS?

Looking for a stress-free solution to your healthcare inquiries and, or concerns? CareCounsel is our health advocacy partner and is a service offered as part of your benefit package. CareCounsel works independently from your insurance carrier and is a completely confidential resource. 


It’s easy, call: (888-227-3334), or email [email protected] Monday through Friday 6:30 am to 5:00 pm PST. After hours, you can leave a message and they will get back to you the next business day.


A few examples of why you should contact CareCounsel:

  • Education
  • Making Sense of Medicare
  • Benefits and Coverage Questions
  • Claims and Billing Assistance
  • Eligibility Status
  • Quality Concerns
  • Grievances and Appeals
  • Assistance with Locating Healthcare Providers

RETIRED EMPLOYEES OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY (RESBC)

RESBC is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of county retirees by providing information on critical retirement issues and offering educational/cultural social opportunities. Membership in RESBC is $2.50 monthly. Dues are deducted from the member’s Santa Barbara County pension payment. County employees may join RESBC by completing the RESBC Membership Deduction Authorization form at the time of their retirement exit conference.


Retirees may join at any time by requesting a membership form from SBCERS, 130 Robin Hill Road, Suite 100, Goleta, CA 93117, 1-877-568-2940 or, by clicking HERE and sending the completed form to [email protected]. 


RESBC Membership benefits include:

  • 4 issues of the RESBC newsletter per year.
  • 4 subsidized luncheon meetings per year held at various county locations.
  • Opportunities to participate in subsidized day trips and special events.
  • Attendance at special presentations on critical issues such as health insurance, pension litigation, pension-related court decisions, etc.
  • Opportunity to socialize and have fun with former co-workers and friends.

Have a question about an item in this newsletter?

Call a Benefit Representative at 1-877-568-2940. We are ready to help you!


Want to look at prior newsletters?

Click HERE to visit the SBCERS Newsletter Archive.