The Retiree Health Benefits Working Group began meeting in January 2018 and submitted an interim report to UC President Napolitano on July 3. We received the President’s response to this report yesterday. I share both the interim report and the President’s letter with you now as attachments below. As you will note, given the projected very low rate of cost increase for health plans in 2019, few changes are recommended for next year.

The UC Office of the President has just released a compilation of background materials that have been reviewed by the Retiree Health Benefits Working Group over the last many weeks. This “Interim Summary” is in response to requests that information be provided that can be shared more broadly. John Meyer of UC Davis, the Retiree representative will be reviewing this deck along with Emeriti representative to the Work Group, Roger Anderson, to determine if clarifications are required.

The 2019 Retiree Health Benefits Working Group, with representatives from key universitywide stakeholder groups, is making progress toward its charge — exploring potential strategies and developing options for UC leaders to consider to ensure the long-term financial viability of the retiree health benefits program. The group will evaluate the potential implications of available options to both UC and retirees, and present its analysis to UC leadership by June 1, 2018.

Following an extensive nomination process, the Retiree Health Benefits Working Group has been formed to explore options that will ensure the long-term financial viability of the retiree health benefits program and the quality of the benefits offered. The work pertains only to retiree health benefits; it does not affect UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) pension benefits.