Retiree Matters: March 2020

News

The March 2020 edition of the Retiree Matters newsletter is focused on COVID-19 and has been mailed to retirees. Click here to read the digital version.

Highlights of the current edition include:

  • COVID-19 Resources, including two helpful websites:
  • COVID-19 and Your Insurance – see what your health insurance is offering, including telemedicine visits from Aetna.
  • Get the latest updates from the City by signing up for text messages by texting “COSAGOV” to “55000”.
  • Postponement of the Brown Bag session scheduled for April. Please save the date for the next scheduled Brown Bag session on Friday, August 14.
  • RECOSA’s monthly board meetings have been suspended indefinitely.
  • Reminder to complete your 2020 Census. Many can respond online at the U.S. Census 2020 website https://my2020census.gov/.

Stay Well,
RECOSA Board

Coronavirus Update: Your Health and Safety is Our Priority

News

We understand the growing concern surrounding coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across our communities and our hearts go out to all those who have been impacted. RECOSA knows everyone may have specific questions that may impact their families.

The attached article by AARP’s Rachel Nania provides excellent guidelines for staying healthy and mentions what the US is doing to prepare for the spread of COVID-19 and what older adults should do to reduce their risk of illness.

What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus (English)     PDF     AARP Link

Esto es todo lo que debes saber sobre el coronavirus (Español)     PDF     Hipervínculo del AARP

2020 City of San Antonio Retiree Benefits & Annual Enrollment

News

Your COSA health benefits information will be mailed to you soon. We have provided the following link to a presentation on 2020 retiree benefits by City of San Antonio Human Resources Director, Lori Steward.

Annual Enrollment Dates:

  • Non-Medicare (pre-65) Retirees: October 7, 2019 – November 1, 2019
  • Medicare (post-65) Retirees: October 21, 2019 – November 1, 2019

Please take note of the following:

  1. If you do not wish to make any changes to your health, dental or vision plans, you do not need to do anything; your coverage will roll over to 2020.
  2. If you have any questions:

Mark your calendars to attend our RECOSA Annual Membership Meeting & Brown Bag Session on Friday, November 15, 2019. City Manager, Erik Walsh, is slated to speak. Once the time and location have been finalized that information will be posted here and emailed to retirees.

Retiree Matters: Special Budget Edition – August 2019

News

Retirees will soon be receiving in the mail a Special Budget Edition of Retiree Matters, including proposed FY 2019-2020 retiree benefits and costs. Click here to read the digital version.

City of San Antonio City Manager, Erik Walsh, presented the FY 2019-2020 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget to the San Antonio City Council on August 8, 2019. Following is a summary of proposed retiree benefit changes:

ALL RETIREES

  • 1.3% ad hoc Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for retirees to be reflected in January 2020 TMRS annuity checks

  • no dental or vision plan premium changes for all retirees

PRE-65 (NON-MEDICARE) RETIREES

  • no premium increases for the New Value medical plan
  • decreased premiums for the Consumer Choice medical plan
  • third new medical plan, Blue Essentials HMO

  • additional medical plan features, including expert medical opinion and treatment options, as well as travel reimbursement

POST-65 (MEDICARE) RETIREES

  • increased rates due to restoration of health insurance fee by federal government 

  • new transportation benefit for rides to medical appointments

Retiree Open Enrollment is October 7-25, 2019. Pre-65 (non-Medicare) retirees will be receiving enrollment information from the City of San Antonio, while Post-65 (Medicare) retirees will be receiving information from Aenta.

Please note, if you do not wish to make any changes to your current medical, dental or vision plans, you do not need to do anything. Your coverage will continue (roll over) to 2020.

RECOSA invites you to a special proposed budget presentation for retirees at the Brown Bag event on Friday, September 6th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Mission Branch Library, 3134 Roosevelt Ave. (NOTE THE REVISED LOCATION FROM THE CENTRAL LIBRARY TO THE MISSION BRANCH LIBRARY). The Retiree RSVP Line is open, so to reserve your seat, leave a message at (210) 207-7000 or email AskHR@sanantonio.gov.

If you have any questions, please contact the Employee Benefits Office at (210) 207-0073 or Human Resources Customer Service at (210) 207-8705. You can also send an email to COSARetiree@sanantonio.gov.

RSVP Now for September 6th Brown Bag Session

News

The next Brown Bag session will be held Friday, September 6th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Mission Branch Library, 3134 Roosevelt Ave.

This session will include a presentation by City of San Antonio Deputy City Manager, María Villagómez, on the  FY 2019-2020 City of San Antonio Proposed Budget, presented to the City of San Antonio City Council on August 8, 2019.

In addition, City of San Antonio Human Resources Director, Lori Steward, will present the retiree benefit changes in the FY 2019-2020 City of San Antonio Proposed Budget.

If you would like to review the FY 2019-2020 City of San Antonio Proposed Budget, please click on the following links:
Presentation
Highlights (English)
Destacados (Español)
Budget
Employee Compensation and Benefits Section (incl. Retiree Civilian Benefits)

The City will provide a healthy snack, water, and coffee, but feel free to bring a bag lunch. Free parking will be available in the library’s parking lot. The Retiree RSVP Line is open, so to reserve your seat, leave a message at (210) 207-7000, or email AskHR@sanantonio.gov.

As always, spouses and domestic partners are welcome to attend this event.

Volunteer Opportunity: Migrant Resource Center

Etc.

Who: City of San Antonio Dept. of Human Services

What: The Department of Human Services, on behalf of the City of San Antonio, is coordinating efforts to assist migrants from Central America who are arriving in San Antonio on a daily basis. Volunteers are needed at the Migrant Resource Center to assist the families with their transition. As a CoSA retiree, we know that you continue to serve our community and seek opportunities to contribute.

When: Multiple shifts are available, 7 days a week:
• Opening/Overnight Relief (6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
• Morning (8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
• Evening (3:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.)
• Overnight (10:00 p.m. – 6:30 a.m.)
HIGHEST NEED IS EVENING, OVERNIGHT, and WEEKEND SHIFTS

Where: 400 N. St Mary’s St. San Antonio, TX, 78205 (across from the Greyhound bus station; storefront on the first floor of the St. Mary’s Garage). Click the following link for a Google Map https://goo.gl/maps/87YeSJHapz9CcAmBA.

How: Volunteers will assist with the following:
• Intake and Registration
• Local Transportation
• Donations Management
• Medical Liaison (Spanish speaking required)
• Food Distribution and Logistics

Questions/Contact: Email Jenny Garcia at jenny.garcia@sanantonio.gov or email Joe Vankuiken at joe.vankuiken@sanantonio.gov or call (210) 207-8198.

To sign up, click the following link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4caca82ba3fa7-city.

To view or download the Migrant Resource Center Volunteer Flyer, click the following link https://recosa.org/wp-content/uploads/Migrant-Resource-Center-Volunteer-Flyer.pdf.

Volunteers will be required to sign a City of San Antonio – Volunteer Agreement Including Waiver and Release, which can be viewed or downloaded by clicking the following link https://recosa.org/wp-content/uploads/SAVolunteers_release_liability_form.pdf.

Note: Spanish-speaking volunteers are strongly preferred, but not required. Those who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems are advised not to volunteer.