ATTORNEY BENEFITS
Orange County attorneys receive an array of benefits from the County of Orange. These benefits are negotiated on your behalf by OCAA and are included in your employment contract to provide you and your family certain assurances and protections. Along with these negotiated benefits, you receive supplemental benefits provided by the Orange County Attorneys Association (OCAA) also. The following benefit information is offered to ensure that attorneys are aware of the benefits they receive:
SUMMARY OF NEGOTIATED BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY OF ORANGE
Within six weeks of being hired to the position of Attorney (I through Sr. Deputy Attorney) for the County of Orange, a benefit packet will be provided to you by County Employee Benefits. If you do not receive this packet within six weeks of employment - please call the County Benefit Center at 1-866-325-2345 to obtain your packet. In November of each year the annual new health plan enrollment will take place, to be effective the following calendar year - you will be advised each November for this "open enrollment period"; during this time, you may make changes to your health plan benefit choices from the previous year.
Retirement Benefits:
The Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) provides retirement benefits for the managers employed by the County of Orange. The County of Orange pays for your basic retirement benefit; the "enhanced benefit" portion of 2.7% at age 55 is paid by the attorney, at a cost of 2.48%. Additional information regarding your retirement benefit, including a "retirement calculator" for general retirement benefits that you will be paid upon retirement, can be obtained at the OCERS web-site which is www.ocers.org. Added to the calculation of your base salary for calculating your retirement benefit is additional compensation based on the "Ventura" decision. Ventura pay includes 120 hours of annual leave/vacation (if cashed or on the books), sick leave for those hired before 7-15-77, compensatory time (2 hours per yr.), and Special Duty Pay (if actually cashed out during the earnable year or if the hours are left on the books during the earnable year).
In addition to your retirement benefit payment, a retiree medical grant is available also. The current grant level is $ 18.22 per year, with a maximum of 25 years of service. You will be penalized for retiring prior to age 60 in regard to your retiree health grant benefit.
If you have additional questions, you may contact OCERS directly at 714-558-6200.
Health Care Coverage:
The County of Orange offers four health care plans. These plans are available to you and your immediate family. The County of Orange provides the employee's health care almost free of change (in general only a 5% deduction is changed to the employee); dependent coverage is paid by the employee.
The County offers two Preferred Provider Plans (PPO's): Premier Wellwise and Premier Sharewell. The County offers two Health Maintenance Organization Plans (HMO's): CIGNA Private Practice and Kaiser Health Plan. Additional information regarding each of these plans is available from www.oc.ca.gov/hr/employeebenefits. Upon accessing this web-site, click "Health Care" to review plan descriptions, plan costs, plan comparisons and/or obtain specific phone numbers or medical plan web-sites.
Dental Plan:
A dental plan for basic and major services is provided to attorneys for a maximum calendar year benefit of $ 1,500. In the first year of coverage, the plan pays 80%, the second year pays 90%, and the third year and thereafter, the plan pays 100%. This plan is provided to attorneys and dependents free of charge; however co-pays of 50% for major dental services must be paid by the employee. Questions regarding your dental plan can be answered by Blue Shield of California at 1-888-235-1767.
Basic Life and Basic Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D):
A $100,000 basic life insurance policy is provided at no cost to the attorney. This benefit covers a death or suffering a dismembering injury due to an accident. Additional life insurance for the manager or dependent is available on a voluntary basis. Questions regarding your life insurance can be answered by Standard Insurance Company at 1-800-628-8600.
Short Term and Long Term Disability Plans:
At no cost to you, a Disability Salary Continuance Plan is provided to you to protect your income if an injury or illness keeps you from working for an extended period of time. An Attorney would receive 60% of his/her salary and county benefits would continue. Also, a Long Term Disability Plan is available to you after you exhaust the short term plan (Disability Salary Continuance) plan. Upon approval, 60% of your salary will be paid to you. Questions regarding disability plans can be answered by Standard Insurance Company at 1-800-368-2859.
Defined Contribution Plan (Deferred Comp.):
The 457 Defined Contribution Plan is provided to allow you to contribute some of your salary through before-tax payroll deductions on a regular basis. This is a savings plan, with tax-deferred dollars that is controlled by annual IRS limits on the amount deposited.
Optional Benefit Plan:
An Optional Benefit Plan (OBP) is provided to attorneys in an annual amount of $ 2,000. Annually, you will have an opportunity to select your OBP benefits in a variety of ways, including: taxable lump sum payment (paid in the first payroll of the calendar year); payment for a portion of your voluntary AD&D elections; reimbursement for eligible medical, dental, or vision expenses; professional job-related conferences, memberships, licenses, certificates, journals, etc.; a lump sum amount can be allocated to your 457 Defined Contribution Plan (deferred comp.).
Annual Physical:
A complimentary annual physical medical examination is available at no cost to attorneys every 12 months. Your examination may be scheduled by calling the Employee Health Service desk at 714-565-3780 any weekday morning.
Employee Assistance Program:
An employee assistance program is provided by the County of Orange for all County employees. Your health insurance can be used to pay for services, which include counseling, family crisis, job related stress, etc. Services are provided in various locations in the County of Orange and are confidential. For additional information, you may call 1-800-221-0945.
For additional information regarding County benefits provided to attorneys, you may review the Employee Benefits Web-Site www.oc.ca.gov/hr/employeebenefits.
SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS PROVIDED BY
THE ORANGE COUNTY ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION (OCAA)
Certain benefits are offered exclusively to OCAA members. OCMA's benefit program is administered by Pacific Group, phone # 800.511.9065 or e-mail contact at OCAA@pgagencies.com. If you have questions/concerns regarding any of the following benefits, you are encouraged to contact Pacific Group directly. Newly hired OCAA members will receive a benefit packet in the mail, describing the benefit plans and providing enrollment forms. OCAA offers the following benefits:
Personal Accident Insurance, including Medical Evacuation Services (provided free of charge to members and their immediate family):
This Personal Accident Insurance helps protect you against losses due to accidents. A covered accident is a sudden unforeseeable event that results in injury or death. It pays benefits for accidental loss of life, paralysis, dismemberment, loss of eyesight, speech or hearing and helps survivors of severe accidents adjust to new living circumstances. This plan includes medical evacuation services, world-wide, upon death or serious injury. The policy covers the attorney and his/her immediate family. OCAA provides this insurance free of charge in an amount of $ 10,000 for the attorney and immediate family upon completion and receipt of a simple enrollment form. Additional supplemental coverage may be purchased by the manager on a voluntary basis.
Vision Plan (Voluntary):
The OCAA "Ameritas PPO Vision Plan" uses the VSP Network, but you may see any vision care provider that you prefer. The plan covers eye exams, frames, lenses - including bifocal, trifocal, lenticular and contact lenses. The plan does not cover surgical procedures. The monthly premium is $ 11.64 for the attorney only, and increases to $ 32.74 for an entire family.
Supplemental Dental Plan (Voluntary):
The OCAA "Ameritas PPO Dental Plan" is a dental plan offered to coordinate with your existing County provided dental plan. This plan covers preventive procedures (exams, cleaning, x-rays), basic procedures (sealants, amalgams, simple oral surgery, root canals, gums), major procedures (complex extractions, bridges, inlays, dental implants, crowns, etc.), and child orthodontia (with a 12 month waiting period). The monthly premium is $ 52.89 for the attorney only and increases to $ 159.60 for the entire family.
Aflac Insurance (Voluntary):
Plans are available to meet your long term care and other specialized insurance needs and will be customized to fit your particular circumstance. Coverage is available for a variety of needs. Please contact Pacific Group Agencies directly to discuss these plans in detail.
Pet Insurance (Voluntary):
OCAA offers comprehensive coverage for pets through The Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (VPI). Our group rate plan is lower than what could be obtained individually. Rate schedules are available on-line
Additional Benefit Plan Information:
In addition to the summary of benefits provided above, all members may access specific information on the benefit plan designs, costs (if any), or claim forms by clicking the following link: www.pgagencies.com/ocaa. Remember, all OCAA members who have completed the enrollment form are covered by our Personal Accident Benefit Plan; your policy can be printed directly from this web site, if desired.